Taylor Swift's new song 'Actually Romantic' appears to respond to Charli XCX's earlier track 'Sympathy Is a Knife', reigniting a pop feud that began over 16 months ago. In 'Sympathy Is a Knife', Charli expressed anxiety about being around Swift during her brief relationship with Matty Healy, while Charli was dating 1975 drummer George Daniel. The song focused on Charli's insecurities and feelings of inferiority, not active disdain for Swift.
Swift's response, 'Actually Romantic', includes lines like 'High-fived my ex and then said you're glad he ghosted me' and 'Wrote me a song saying it makes you sick to see my face'. She also references a supposed insult, 'boring Barbie', and compares Charli to 'a toy chihuahua barking at me from a tiny purse'. Critics argue this is a graceless and vengeful move from the biggest pop star in the world, punching down on a smaller artist.
The feud traces back to June 2024, when Charli released 'Brat', including 'Sympathy Is a Knife'. Swift reportedly released exclusive deluxe reissues of 'The Tortured Poets Department' in the UK to block 'Brat' from debuting at number one, a tactic she previously used against Billie Eilish. Fans and commentators see this as a missed opportunity for growth, contrasting with Charli's earlier resolution with Lorde through a collaborative remix that showcased emotional intelligence.
