Taylor Swift has dismissed fan speculation that her song “Actually Romantic” from her 12th studio album The Life of a Showgirl was aimed at Charli XCX.
The track drew attention upon release for its opening lyrics: “I heard you call me ‘Boring Barbie’ when the coke’s got you brave. High-fived my ex and then you said you’re glad he ghosted me.” Though the lyrics do not mention anyone by name, many fans assumed it was Swift’s response to Charli XCX’s “Sympathy is a Knife” from her Brat album.
However, in an audio commentary provided to Amazon Music, Swift clarified that the song was not a diss track, but rather about a “one-sided rivalry.” She explained, “‘Actually Romantic’ is about realizing that someone has been competing with you without your knowledge. Then suddenly, they reveal it, and you understand that you’ve been living rent-free in their mind all along.”
Speaking with the BBC, Swift added, “As I’ve grown older, I’ve come to think, ‘Wow, how kind of them to think about me so much, even negatively.’ In my industry, attention is affection, and they’ve given me plenty.”
The alleged feud between Taylor and Charli dates back to 2024, when fans believed Charli’s “Sympathy is a Knife” referenced Swift’s short-lived relationship with The 1975’s Matty Healy. In 2019, Charli had also faced backlash from Swifties after commenting on the younger age of Swift’s concert audiences.
Charli, however, has denied targeting Swift, insisting: “‘Sympathy is a Knife’ is about me, my anxiety, and the stories my brain invents when I feel insecure. People will think what they want, but it’s not about her.”
Despite the fan-driven drama, both artists have spoken positively about one another in the past. In June 2024, Charli publicly defended Swift when fans in Brazil chanted “Taylor Swift is dead” during a concert, urging them to stop. Two months later, Swift praised Charli in an interview with Vulture, saying, “I was captivated by Charli from the first time I listened to ‘Stay Away’ in 2011. Her lyrics are always surreal and inventive.”
Sources: kenh14
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