Taylor Swift’s new song “Actually Romantic” sparks frenzy as fans claim it secretly takes aim at Charli XCX.NN
Taylor Swift’s fans are convinced that leaked lyrics from a track off her “The Life of a Showgirl” album are about the pop superstar’s rumored foe Charli XCX.
Swifties took to Reddit and X Thursday to speculate about what Swift wrote in “Actually Romantic,” a song whose title bears a notable resemblance to Charli’s “Everything is romantic.”
Many people argued online that Swift’s line “I heard you call me ‘Boring Barbie’ when the coke’s got you brave” is a direct jab at Charli, as the latter has been open about her alleged drug use in her music.
On the smash hit “365” (from Charli XCX’s “Brat” album), for example, the British artist sings, “Should we do a little key? Should we have a little line?”
Swift, 35, and Charli, 33, have a long history together as the “Apple” singer opened up for the Grammy winner on her Reputation Tour in 2018. At the time, Charli even took the stage alongside Swift to perform “Shake It Off” together.
However, their friendship appeared to take a turn when the “Girl, So Confusing” singer formed a tighter bond with the “Bad Blood” singer’s ex Matty Healy.
Charli has spent more time with The 1975 frontman in recent years since she dated — and is now married to — Healy’s bandmate George Daniel. It’s also been widely reported that the “Boom Clap” hitmaker introduced the British rocker, 36, to his now-fiancée, Gabbriette Bechtel.
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Since 2024, fans online have also theorized about whether Charli’s song “Sympathy is a Knife” is about Swift, as the lyrics read, “This one girl taps my insecurities / Don’t know if it’s real or if I’m spiraling.”
However, Charli quickly debunked the rumors on TikTok, stating in May 2024, “I’m seeing online that some people think there are diss tracks on ‘Brat’ and I just wanted to come on here and clarify that there aren’t — apart from maybe ‘Von Dutch,’ which kind of is — but the other tracks in question aren’t diss tracks.
“They’re really just about how it’s so complicated being an artist, especially a female artist, where you are pitted against your peers but also expected to be best friends with every single person, constantly.”
Swift, for her part, praised Charli’s “Brat” album in an interview with Vulture in August 2024.
“I’ve been blown away by Charli’s melodic sensibilities since I first heard ‘Stay Away’ in 2011,” the “Fortnight” singer said at the time.
“Her writing is surreal and inventive, always. She just takes a song to places you wouldn’t expect it to go, and she’s been doing it consistently for over a decade. I love to see hard work like that pay off.”
Swift was also seen dancing to Charli’s 2025 Grammys performance, in which Betchel was also onstage.
Page Six has reached out to reps for both pop stars but did not immediately hear back. “The Life of a Showgirl” officially drops Friday.
