Taylor Swift and Charli XCX have a complicated relationship that has remained out of the public eye… until now. Swift released The Life of Showgirl on October 3rd to mixed reception. However, one song called “Actually Romantic” has fans theorizing that it’s a diss track about XCX.
Taylor Swift and Charli XCX in the beginning…
Swift and XCX first crossed paths at the Reputation tour in 2018, where XCX was one of the opening acts.
During several tour stops, the two would perform Swift’s hit song “Shake It Off” together on stage.
These stops totaled to nearly 50 concerts across the world, so how did the two go from besties to enemies?
Well, it might’ve actually been all about a boy: Matty Healy, the front man of band The 1975.
Healy and Swift dated for a period of time before breaking up.
The break up resulted in Swift writing several songs for The Tortured Poets Department theorized to be about him.
XCX married The 1975’s drummer and therefore a friend of Healy.
This connection to The 1975 resulted in the breakdown of XCX’s friendship with fellow British pop star Rina Sawayama.
Sawayama and Healy have a contentious relationship because he owns her masters and has made comments in the past that the “Hold The Girl” singer didn’t agree with.
Not only did XCX support Healy, but she has also released a song all about her impressions of Swift.
“Sympathy is a Knife” was on XCX’s Brat album and is about her own insecurities comparing herself to a more famous singer.
The general public speculated this famous singer to be Swift and there was no beef at the time because the lyrics are self-critical and not dissing.
Swift complimented XCX’s songwriting after the release of her album.
Fans believed the beef was officially done, due to this public compliment.
Flash forward to today, Swift released a song called “Actually Romantic” that is heavily speculated to be about XCX.
“Actually Romantic” isn’t actually romantic.
"I heard you call me "Boring Barbie" when the coke's got you brave."
- Taylor Swift in the opening line of "Actually Romantic."
In “Actually Romantic,” Swift insinuates that XCX talked to ex Healy and said she was “glad he ghosted” the global pop sensation.
Swift compares the person’s hatred in this song to that of a sweet valentine.
In Swift’s eyes all the time spent thinking about her is “actually romantic” and she is unbothered by the disses.
"And I know you think it comes off vicious,
But it's precious, adorable,
Like a toy chihuahua barking at me from a tiny purse,
That's how much it hurts."
- Taylor Swift, "Actually Romantic"
XCX hasn’t made a public diss, and it’s inferred that there is a mutual friend who leaked the information.
Swift is also a huge force in the music industry who you can’t say anything about without her finding out.
Fans divided, stan war declared.
XCX’s fans, the Angels, are on the defense and criticizing Swift for punching down on a fellow female pop artist.
XCX’s original song wasn’t dissing Swift, therefore some fans view her as petty with this response.
Swifties on the other hand are standing behind Swift and cheering on the brutal lyrics laid out in “Actually Romantic.”
There are the people who are fans of both pop singers and experiencing what it’s like to have parents bickering in public.
Fans have been making comparisons between this alleged feud and the movie Mean Girls.
Coincidentally, Swift’s new album released on October 3, which is Mean Girls day.
Depending on where this goes next, pop music fans might be experiencing their very own Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar style feud.
For now, fans can mark this down as another Swift feud in the books along with Kanye West, Kim Kardashian, Scooter Braun, among others.
What happens next?
XCX tweeted out a video cheekily teasing that she is in the studio, but it’s unsure if this is a reference to a future response track.
Swift will most likely not confirm or deny that “Actually Romantic” is about XCX’s betrayal.
Fans might be entering another pop star Cold War similar to Swift’s beef with Katy Perry, which reportedly inspired the song “Bad Blood.”
Eventually, that quiet standstill ended in a draw and both singers are on good terms.
Even if XCX pulls out a response diss track, not all hope is lost in a reconciliation of these pop trailblazers, because even Perry had a response track.
XCX even had a previous beef with Lorde, which ended with them working it out on the remix.
“Actually Romantic” remix coming soon? Probably not.
Whatever happens next, it’s clear that a Taylor Swift & Charli XCX collaboration won’t be coming anytime soon.
