Taylor Swift and Charli XCX were once very close. They used to hang out at parties, pose for pictures, and even perform together. Over the years, fans loved seeing their friendship in public, but recent events have sparked speculation about tension between them. Some of it might be connected to their past and present relationships.
Their first public encounter was back in 2014 at the iHeart Radio Jingle Ball in New York. They were photographed together, smiling and friendly, not knowing what the future would hold. In 2015, Charli XCX covered Taylor’s hit Shake It Off for BBC Radio 1, which fans loved. She also joined Taylor on the 1989 world tour in Toronto and performed her song Boom Clap with her.
By 2018, their friendship had taken a professional turn. Taylor invited Charli XCX, along with Camila Cabello, to open for her Reputation Stadium Tour. Things got complicated in 2019 when Charli gave an interview suggesting she didn’t enjoy being an opening act. Fans read it as ungrateful, but she later clarified on social media that her comments were taken out of context. She praised Taylor for her kindness and said she was grateful for the opportunity. Another interview that year saw Charli XCX calling Taylor an incredible businesswoman and saying the tour felt like a supportive “girl gang.”
In 2023, their personal lives added more fuel to rumors. Taylor Swift began dating Matty Healy from The 1975, while Charli XCX was connected to a different member, George Daniel. These overlapping relationships became the basis for speculation about tension between them.
By 2024, Charli XCX released her album BRAT, and fans pointed to lyrics in the song Sympathy Is a Knife as possibly referencing Taylor. The lyrics hinted at insecurities and complicated dynamics, which fueled more rumors about a feud. Charli XCX later said the song was about her own feelings and anxiety, not specifically about anyone else. Taylor, meanwhile, publicly praised Charli, saying she admired her music and success.
In 2025, Taylor dropped her album The Life of a Showgirl, which some fans believe contains lyrics referencing their awkward dynamic. Songs like Actually Romantic have lines that seem to hint at past personal and professional conflicts between the two.
Even though fans are quick to read drama into every song, both singers have expressed admiration for each other at different times. What started as a friendship and professional collaboration now has a complex mix of past relationships, career competition, and fan speculation. Whether there is real tension or not, the public continues to watch every move and lyric closely.