Charli XCX appeared to respond to Taylor Swift’s apparent dig in her new track by sharing a studio video online. Swift sings, “I heard you call me ‘Boring Barbie’ when the coke’s got you brave,” on Actually Romantic, the 15th track on her album The Life of a Showgirl. The song’s title echoes Charli’s Everything is Romantic from her album Brat, fueling speculation that Charli’s track Sympathy is a Knife was inspired by her complicated feelings about Swift.
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On Sympathy is a Knife, Charli addresses a woman she sees as the “opposite” of herself. Lyrics include: “This one girl taps my insecurities / Don’t know if it’s real or if I’m spiralling” and “Don’t wanna see her backstage at my boyfriend’s show / Fingers crossed behind my back, I hope they break up quick.” The song references George Daniel, Charli’s husband and drummer of English band The 1975, while Swift was briefly linked to Matty Healy, the band’s frontman, in 2023. Fans have long speculated that Swift was the woman Charli was uneasy to see at 1975 gigs.
Shortly after Swift’s track dropped, Charli hinted at her own musical comeback, posting a five-second studio clip on X with a heart emoji. Fans quickly interpreted the post as a potential “diss track” response. One commented: “Oh, Taylor gave you something to sing about,” while another added: “Taylor brought you out of retirement, huh?” Enthusiasts urged Charli to “drop that diss track,” anticipating a response.
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Charli and Swift share a history, with Charli opening for Swift on the Reputation Tour in 2018. Reflecting on the experience to Pitchfork, Charli said she was “really grateful” for the opportunity, but admitted that “as an artist, it kind of felt like I was getting up on stage and waving to five-year-olds.” The latest exchanges suggest the musical interplay between the two stars may continue to unfold in the public eye.
