People Will Think What They Want to Think

Pop stars Charli XCX and Taylor Swift have ended fan speculation of their rumored feud, which has primarily stemmed from the song “Sympathy is a Knife” by Charli XCX from her album Brat.

“People are gonna think what they want to think,” said Charli XCX in a recent New York Magazine cover story. She clarified that the song is about her personal insecurities and how her brain creates negative narratives when she feels anxious. The British singer-songwriter emphasized that the song reflects her internal struggles rather than any external conflict.

Rumors about a feud between the two musicians began when Charli XCX opened for Taylor Swift during her 2018 Reputation stadium tour. In a 2019 Pitchfork interview, Charli reflected on the experience, commenting that it felt like performing for young children. Although she later apologized for her remark, the statement sparked ongoing speculation.

In the lead-up to Brat’s release this summer, Charli confirmed on TikTok that the album contained no diss tracks. Despite her efforts to clarify, fans have continued to analyze her lyrics. Lines such as “I couldn’t even be her if I tried” and “Don’t wanna see her backstage at my boyfriend’s show” have been interpreted by some as references to Taylor Swift’s brief relationship with 1975 frontman Matty Healy and Charli’s drummer fiancé George Daniel.

Addressing the ongoing speculation, Taylor Swift expressed her admiration for Charli XCX. “I’ve been blown away by Charli’s melodic sensibilities since I first heard ‘Stay Away’ in 2011. Her writing is surreal and inventive, always. She just 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,” Swift remarked.

In June, Charli XCX defended Taylor Swift against hate chants during one of her shows in São Paulo. Fans had shouted “Taylor is dead!” in response to Swift’s surprise deluxe reissue of The Tortured Poets Department, which they believed stole the No. 1 spot on the UK charts from Brat. Charli XCX addressed the issue on social media, asking her fans to cease such behavior. “Can the people who do this please stop,” she pleaded. “Online or at my shows. 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.”

When questioned about potentially omitting the line concerning being backstage, Charli XCX responded that she wouldn’t consider leaving it out. She acknowledged the awkward silence tactic used by interviewers but affirmed her commitment to maintaining the integrity of her work.

The two artists have shown a mutual respect for each other, quelling the rumored tensions. While fans may continue to dissect their lyrics for hidden meanings, both Charli XCX and Taylor Swift have made it clear that there is no animosity between them.

Source: New York Magazine, Pitchfork