Joshua Goldman
Joshua Goldman
min read · October 6, 2025 · Entertainment

Pop Star Spat: Taylor Swift’s 'Actually Romantic' Targets Charli XCX?

Taylor Swift has added fuel to the rumours that her new song Actually Romantic is about fellow pop star Charli XCX after fans speculated they were feuding (pictured together n 2014)

POP STAR SHOWDOWN: TAYLOR SWIFT vs CHARLI XCX - WHO WILL COME OUT ON TOP?

The music world is abuzz with drama as Taylor Swift's new song "Actually Romantic" has sparked rumors that she's dissing fellow pop star Charli XCX. The seemingly pointed lyrics have left fans speculating about the nature of their relationship, and it seems like things are about to get messy.

According to insiders, the two women were once close friends after meeting through Taylor's 1975 tourmate, George Daniel. However, it appears that a feud has been brewing between them for years. The latest salvo comes in the form of "Actually Romantic," which features lyrics that seem to reference Charli's "coke habit" and her alleged behavior towards Taylor.

The former tour mates appear to be at the centre of a growing row, thanks to her seemingly pointed words about Charli's 'coke habit' in the track, which features on Taylor's new album, The Life Of A Showgirl (Taylor pictured in the video for her new song, The Fate of Ophelia)

The song's lyrics have left many fans wondering if Taylor is indeed dissing Charli, or if it's just a cleverly crafted pop anthem. Some have even pointed out that the song's title bears an uncanny resemblance to Charli's 2018 hit "Everything Is Romantic."

But what exactly did Taylor mean by these lyrics? In an interview with Amazon Music, she revealed that the song is about realizing that someone has been thinking about you negatively all along. She said: "[It's] a love letter to someone who hates you... It's flattering. That is, wow, that is very, very sweet of you to think about me this much, even if it's negative."

Taylor also hinted that the song was inspired by Charli's behavior towards her during their time together on tour. She mentioned that Charli had written a song called "Sympathy Is A Knife" which seemed to reference Taylor in some way.

In February, Taylor was seen dancing as Charli sang Von Dutch at this year's Grammy Awards - where her album Brat was nominated for a whopping eight gongs

Fans have been quick to weigh in on social media, with some defending Taylor and accusing Charli of being jealous. One fan wrote: "Taylor Swift making a diss track towards Charli xcx just proves she was never a feminist and released versions only to block women on billboard." Another fan chimed in: "F* you, Taylor “Boring Barbie” Swift. Just admit you’re jealous of Charli xcx."

But not everyone is convinced that Taylor's song is about Charli. Some fans have pointed out that the lyrics could be interpreted as a more general message about online trolls and haters.

As for Charli XCX, she has yet to respond directly to the rumors surrounding her relationship with Taylor. However, it seems like the feud has been brewing for years. In 2019, Charli spoke to Pitchfork about her experience opening for Taylor on her Reputation tour. She said: "As an artist, it kind of felt like I was getting up onstage and waving to 5-year-olds." Many interpreted this as a diss towards Taylor, who has been accused of playing down the age restrictions on her shows.

However, in a later statement on social media, Charli claimed that her comments were taken out of context. She wrote: "As I say in the article and have said many times before, I am extremely grateful to Taylor for inviting me to open for her."

The feud between these two pop stars is starting to get messy, with both women seemingly throwing shade at each other. But who will come out on top? Only time will tell.

In related news, Charli XCX has been enjoying a beach vacation with her husband George Daniel and their friends, including Matty Healy of The 1975. However, it seems like the drama between Taylor and Charli is about to take center stage.

UPDATE: We reached out to Taylor's representative for comment, but they declined to respond directly to the rumors surrounding "Actually Romantic" and its possible connection to Charli XCX.