Featured Image Credit: Monica Schipper/Getty Images
Topics: Charli XCX, Taylor Swift, US News, Music, Celebrity
Rhianna Benson
Topics: Charli XCX, Taylor Swift, US News, Music, Celebrity
After Taylor Swift appeared to fire an utterly savage 'diss' track in her direction last week, Charli XCX has spoken out - well, sort of.
For those out of the loop with the chart-topping feud, following the release of Taylor's 12th studio album The Life of a Showgirl on Friday (3 Oct), fans couldn't help but notice a number of references to a certain star in one particular single.
We're, of course, talking about 'Actually Romantic', which appears to take aim at an unnamed woman for drug use, breaking girl-code, and fuelling an obsession with Taylor herself.
And whilst the 35-year-old opted not to name her frenemy outright, it didn't take long for Swifties to put 2 and 2 together, believing the song is wholly directed at British synth-pop hit-maker Charli XCX.
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But why?
Well, any fans of Charli's 2024 track 'Sympathy is a Knife' from her Brat album will recall that the 33-year-old seemed to throw insults in Taylor's direction - specifically with regards to her brief relationship with The 1975 singer, Matty Healy, in 2023.
Charlie sang: "Don’t know if I’m spiralling / One voice tells me that they laugh / George says I’m just paranoid / Don’t wanna see her backstage at my boyfriend’s show / Fingers crossed behind my back / I hope they break up real quick."
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(For reference, the 'George' mentioned is the star's now-husband, George Daniel, The 1975's drummer.)
Hitting back at last year's single with her own number, Taylor seemed to sing of Charli: "I heard you call me ‘Boring Barbie’ when the coke’s got you brave / High-fived my ex and then said you’re glad he ghosted me / Wrote me a song saying it makes you sick to see my face."
Elsewhere, she adds: "Some people might be offended / But it’s actually sweet / All the time you’ve spent on me."
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As we say, Charli appears to have since reacted to fan speculation that 'Actually Romantic' must be about her, by sharing a rather peculiar video on social media.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), the star shared a seven-second-long clip, which appears to have been filmed in a recording studio.
The video also featured some pretty tension-building acoustics, possibly implying that Charli could be set to continue fuelling her 'feud' with Taylor, with another 'diss' track.
Reacting to the social media upload, one fan penned: "OH IM SEATED FOR THE TAYLOR WHACKS."
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Another jibed, using Taylor's lyrics: "The coke's getting her brave."
And a third begged: "Drop that diss track sis."
Of course, neither Taylor nor Charli have confirmed their songs are aimed at one another and right now, it's just speculation... so we'll just have to wait and see if they speak out.