Is Taylor Swift's 'Actually Romantic' a diss on Charli XCX? Duo reported feud explored

With the release of her newest album, The Life of a Showgirl on October 3, Taylor Swift has already sparked rumors of a new feud. Keen fans and social media users’ attention was quickly grabbed by "Actually Romantic”, a track on Showgirl in which she seemingly fired veiled shots in the direction of beloved pop music contemporary Charli XCX.

Taylor Swift issued her scathing lyrics in response to allegedly being dubbed by Charli as “boring Barbie”. Her response to the moniker left no doubt as to how she felt about the nickname.

“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 sayin’ it makes you sick to see my face / Some people might be offended / But it’s actually sweet / All the time you’ve spent on me / It’s honestly wild / All the effort you’ve put in / It’s actually romantic / I really gotta hand it to you / No man has ever loved me like you do.”

Swift goes on to re-iterate her feelings as the song unfolds,

“You just give me so much … attention / It’s so romantic.”

As of this moment neither Taylor Swift nor Charli XCX has responded to the alleged shots fired.

Taylor Swift and Charli XCX feuding? An examination of subliminal shots

Taylor Swift’s response was also allegedly fuelled by a Charli XCX lyric from “Sympathy Is A Knife”. In It Charli sings,

“I couldn’t even be her if I tried.”

Later, in the second verse, she takes another shot at a fellow musician, ostensibly directed toward Taylor as well.

“Don’t wanna see her backstage at my boyfriend’s show / Fingers crossed behind my back / I hope they break up quick.”

After Charli’s ‘Brat’ album dropped, the internet assumed it was a reference to Swift as Taylor was in a relationship with 1975’s front man, Matty Healy at the time, while Charli’s fiancé, George Daniel, was also a member of the same band. This led many to insinuate the lyrics were about Taylor Swift, while Charli downplayed any possible links in an interview conducted by NY Magazine,

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“People are gonna think what they want to think. That song is about me and my feelings and my anxiety.”

At this point the alleged feud is purely speculative, and it should also be stated that both artists have also showed support for one another in the past.

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