Taylor Swift’s latest album The Life of a Showgirl has stirred major conversations online, especially after fans began connecting the dots between its lyrics and her rumored feuds. When the tracklist was first revealed, many assumed Taylor had written a diss track targeting her long-time friend Blake Lively. However, in a surprising twist, one particular song from the album, Actually Romantic, seems to point towards an entirely different feud — one with fellow pop star Charli XCX.
The tension allegedly began when Charli XCX released Sympathy is a Knife on her critically acclaimed Brat album. The track, which many fans believe references Taylor, sparked widespread speculation about an unspoken rivalry between the two artists. With Actually Romantic, listeners now believe Taylor has fired back, marking a new chapter in the rumored feud between the pop icons.
Charli XCX’s Sympathy is a Knife focuses less on attacking Taylor and more on Charli’s own insecurities. In the song, Charli sings about a “girl” who makes her question her worth — widely interpreted to be Taylor Swift — with the lyric, “Cause I couldn’t even be her if I tried.” The song reflects Charli’s internal struggle with comparison and fame rather than outright hostility. However, one particular line sparked major backlash among Swifties: “Don’t wanna see her backstage at my boyfriend’s show / Fingers crossed behind my back, I hope they break up quick.”
At the time, Charli was dating George Daniel of The 1975, while Taylor had a brief relationship with his bandmate Matty Healy. Fans quickly drew parallels, suggesting Charli was indirectly admitting she wanted Taylor and Matty to break up to avoid uncomfortable encounters. While Swifties found the lyric petty, Charli’s supporters defended her, arguing that it was more about expressing uncomfortable honesty than malice.
Taylor’s Actually Romantic, on the other hand, is believed to be her sharp yet calculated response. The song reportedly takes direct aim at Charli’s previous comments and music, with one line standing out: “High-fived my ex and then you said you’re glad he ghosted me / Wrote me a song saying it makes you sick to see my face.” The track expands on the idea that her critics are secretly fixated on her, with Taylor portraying the obsession as something “actually romantic.” Listeners interpret this as a clever, slightly mocking jab at Charli’s admitted insecurity — reframing it as a kind of twisted admiration.
When fans compared the two tracks, online discussions across platforms like Reddit leaned in favor of Charli XCX. Many argued that while Taylor’s song is polished and cutting, Charli’s Sympathy is a Knife feels more emotionally layered and self-aware. One user wrote, “There’s an extra level of ick to the ‘you’re obsessed with me’ thing because that’s what Charli was already saying — that she can’t let go of this insecurity even though she knows she should. Charli’s being raw and Taylor’s laughing at her for it.”
The general consensus online is that Charli’s approach offers a more nuanced and vulnerable look at fame and self-comparison, while Taylor’s feels more performative and defensive. Still, both artists have succeeded in turning their emotions into compelling pop storytelling — giving fans one of the most dissected musical rivalries of the year.