Taylor Swift may have just stirred one of pop’s most unexpected controversies with the release of her new album The Life of a Showgirl. Fans are buzzing over the track “Actually Romantic”, where Swift appears to take aim at Charli XCX with lyrics that many believe reference their complicated history.
In the song, Taylor sings: “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 / Wrote me a song saying it makes you sick to see my face / Some people might be offended.”
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The pointed lines quickly set social media on fire, with Swifties and Angels (Charli’s fanbase) dissecting every word. Many fans immediately linked the lyrics to past comments Charli made about Swift, reigniting speculation about a feud that has lingered for years.
Their connection dates back to 2018, when Charli XCX opened for Swift on the Reputation Stadium Tour. While it looked like a major co-sign, Charli later admitted the experience felt “misaligned,” telling Pitchfork that performing before Swift’s largely young fanbase made her feel like she was “waving to 5-year-olds.” Although Charli later clarified that her words were taken out of context and emphasized her gratitude, the remark left a lasting impression in pop culture.
Tension resurfaced in 2024 with Charli’s critically acclaimed album Brat. The song “Sympathy Is a Knife” features the lyric, “Don’t wanna see her backstage at my boyfriend’s shows,” which many listeners speculated was about Swift during her brief relationship with The 1975’s Matty Healy.
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