Charli XCX Responds to Taylor Swift’s ‘Actually Romantic’ but Remains Tight-Lipped

Taylor Swift and Charli XCX have consistently dismissed rumors of tension between them, but speculation reignited with the release of Swift’s 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl.

Upon its debut in October 2025, fans quickly started to theorize that track 7, “Actually Romantic,” was about Charli.

“What do I do as a superfan of both Taylor Swift and Charli XCX?” tweeted one bewildered listener. Another user on X remarked, “Rumor has it Taylor Swift just dissed my wifey Charli XCX.”

While “Actually Romantic” may be the first hint of any alleged drama for some, the relationship between Swift and Charli stretches back nearly a decade. Keep reading for a comprehensive timeline of their history:

May 2018

Charli opened for Swift during her Reputation World Tour alongside Camila Cabello. At this time, Charli was recognized for hits like “Boom Clap” from the Fault in Our Stars soundtrack and her collaboration with Icona Pop on “I Love It.”

August 2019

Months after wrapping up the Reputation tour, Charli expressed her desire to headline her own tours, which some interpreted as a slight towards Swift and her fans. “I’m really grateful that [Taylor] asked me on that tour,” Charli stated to Pitchfork. “But as an artist, it felt like I was getting up on stage and waving to 5-year-olds. … I’ve played so many opening slots, solidifying my status as the underdog, which I appreciate, but I need to own my own f***ing shit.”

Following backlash, Charli reassured fans that she meant “no shade” and held “only love” for Swift. “In the printed version of this broader conversation, my thoughts on the tour got distilled into an odd sentence,” she clarified on social media. “I had been performing at a lot of 18+ venues, so being on a stage for all ages was new to me and influenced my performance energy. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity and how much fun I had performing for a new audience!”

Charli added, “Every tour with other artists has taught me invaluable lessons. It’s always enlightening to watch artists own their stage and connect with their dedicated fan bases, which was particularly true for the Reputation tour.”

April 2024

Swift rolled out her 11th studio album, The Tortured Poets Department, featuring songs that fans speculated were about her relationship with Matty Healy, the lead singer of The 1975. Charli was also linked romantically to Healy’s bandmate, drummer George Daniel. In “The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived,” Swift hinted at being ghosted by a man, potentially referencing Healy (which becomes crucial later).

May 2024

Days before launching her sixth album, Brat, Charli issued a TikTok “PSA” informing fans there would be no “diss tracks” on the project. “These songs depict how complicated it is being an artist, especially a female artist, where you are often pitted against your peers yet expected to be best friends with everyone. It’s an unrealistic expectation,” she expressed. “These songs reflect the emotional rollercoaster of being a woman in the industry, ranging from feeling on top of the world to battling insecurities.”

June 2024

With Brat released, Charli introduced “Sympathy Is a Knife.” Fans speculated it addressed Swift due to the lyric, “Don’t wanna see her backstage at my boyfriend’s show / Fingers crossed behind my back, I hope they break up quick.”

The chorus conveyed Charli’s insecurities around another woman, possibly an artist: “‘Cause I couldn’t even be her if I tried / I’m opposite, I’m on the other side / I feel all these feelings I can’t control.”

Following one of her shows after Brat’s release, Charli reprimanded fans for chanting “Taylor is dead” during a concert in Brazil. “To those doing this, please stop. Online or at my shows,” she wrote on her Instagram Stories. “This is not the message I want, and it deeply disturbs me that anyone thinks this is appropriate in our community. I won’t stand for it.”

August 2024

Charli officially stated that “Sympathy Is a Knife” was not about Swift, explaining to New York Magazine that it reflected her own struggles. “That song delves into my feelings and anxiety, illustrating how my mind crafts stories when I feel insecure. It’s about how I don’t want to be in those uncomfortable situations,” she shared, hinting it related to the scale of The 1975’s venues. “Sometimes, I’d look at the stage and think, ‘There’s no way I’m going to play these arenas.’ That made me feel envious.”

In the same article, Swift spoke highly of Charli, stating, “Charli’s melodic thoughtfulness has astonished me since I first heard ‘Stay Away’ in 2011. Her songwriting is effortlessly inventive and always pushes boundaries, a testament to her consistent brilliance over the last decade.”

October 2024

Charli defended Healy, who previously faced criticism for mocking Ice Spice and consuming raw meat on stage. “He’s like my brother now, you know?” she told Apple Music. “I have immense respect for him as a songwriter and as a person. That being said, I sometimes want to strangle him.”

She reiterated her long-standing admiration for The 1975, stating, “Even before my relationship with George, I was a fan of their music. His innovative thinking about their work and branding is impressive; it’s very comprehensive.”

October 2025

Swift unveiled The Life of a Showgirl, which features “Actually Romantic” (the title could also refer to Charli’s track “Everything Is Romantic” from Brat). Swift sang, “I heard you call me boring Barbie when the coke’s got your brain / High-fived my ex and then said you’re glad he ghosted me,” in the first verse. “Wrote me a song saying it makes you sick to see my face / Some might take offense.”

In the chorus, Swift implied she was unbothered by the other woman’s remarks: “But it’s actually sweet / All the time you’ve spent on me / It’s honestly wild / All the effort you’ve put in / It’s actually romantic / I really got to hand it to you / No man has ever loved me like you do.”

One week post-release, Charli made a surprise appearance on Saturday Night Live during Role Model’s performance of “Sally, When the Wine Runs Out.” Her T-shirt—displaying the logo of renowned NYC nightclub Max’s Kansas City—prompted speculation that it was a subtle dig at Swift.

Shortly after, Charli declined to comment on the song in a cover story for Vanity Fair. Regarding her earlier remarks to New York Magazine about “Sympathy Is a Knife,” Charli expressed, “I consider myself pretty straightforward and honest. I abhor the phrase, but what you see is what you get. Some perceive it as an act, but it isn’t; I’m not trying to perform. I think the messiness and imperfections of discussing struggles make me authentic and whole.”