Taylor Swift shuts down rumors of bad blood with Charli XCX

Taylor Swift Dispels Rumors of Conflict with Charli XCX

Taylor Swift is addressing and dismissing rumors of any tension between herself and Charli XCX, putting an end to fan speculation about supposed discord.

In a statement featured in a New York Magazine profile of Charli XCX, Swift expressed her admiration for the singer’s creative prowess. “I’ve been blown away by Charli’s melodic sensibilities since I first heard ‘Stay Away’ in 2011,” Swift shared with Vulture. “Her writing is surreal and inventive, always. She takes a song to places you wouldn’t expect it to go, and she’s been doing it consistently for over a decade. I love to see hard work like that pay off.”

Charli XCX also denied that her latest album *Brat* contains any references to Swift. The album, which gained widespread attention over the summer—being embraced by Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign and even landing on former President Barack Obama’s summer 2024 playlist—sparked some fan theories. Specifically, some speculated that Track 3, “Sympathy is a Knife,” might hint at jealousy toward Swift, particularly with lyrics like, “Don’t wanna see her backstage at my boyfriend’s show.”

Charli, who is engaged to The 1975 drummer George Daniel, dismissed these rumors. Swift was rumored to have briefly dated The 1975’s frontman, Matty Healy, who is now engaged to Charli’s friend Gabbriette Bechtel. Reflecting on the situation, Charli told Vulture, “People are gonna think what they want to think. That song is about me, my feelings, and my anxiety—the way my brain creates narratives and stories when I feel insecure. It’s about how I don’t want to be in those situations physically when I feel self-doubt.”

Although neither artist has explicitly addressed the perceived rift, fan speculation has occasionally crossed the line, leading Charli to speak out. In a June Instagram Story, she condemned the behavior of some fans who chanted “Taylor is dead” at one of her shows, urging them to stop. “It is the opposite of what I want, and it disturbs me that anyone would think there is room for this in this community. I will not tolerate it.”

Charli also candidly discussed her feelings of comparison with The 1975’s success, admitting that she sometimes struggled with jealousy. “Sometimes I’d look onstage and think, ‘Oh my God, I’m never going to play these rooms, ever.’ That made me feel jealous,” she confessed. “I told Matty that. And George. They were both like, ‘Shut up. What are you talking about?’”