Are Olivia Rodrigo and Taylor Swift feuding? It’s a question that has launched more than a handful of social media conspiracies, but it’s not one Rodrigo is entertaining. Speaking to Rolling Stone, the Grammy winner addressed the alleged feud by saying she does not pay attention to the social media drama.
“I don’t have beef with anyone,” Rodrigo said when asked about Swift. “I’m very chill. I keep to myself. I have my four friends and my mom, and that’s really the only people I talk to, ever. There’s nothing to say…There’s so many Twitter conspiracy theories. I only look at alien-conspiracy theories.”
Why are many social media conspirators convinced Rodrigo and Swift are feuding? As recapped by Rolling Stone, the two singers appeared to be friendly ahead of Rodrigo launching her debut album, “Sour,” in May 2021. Rodrigo spoke openly about Swift being an inspiration and they posed for a photograph together after meeting in person for the first time at the BRIT Awards.
“Things got a little more complicated that summer, when Rodrigo gave Swift and Jack Antonoff two writing credits on ‘Sour’: first on ‘1 Step Forward, 3 Steps Back’ (which interpolated Swift’s ‘New Years Day’) and then ‘Deja Vu’ (which was inspired by Tay’s ‘Cruel Summer’; Rodrigo also gave a credit to St. Vincent, a co-writer on Swift’s song),” Rolling Stone recounts. “Even if it was unclear whether Swift demanded the credits, more obsessive fans were convinced this led to a falling out.”
Rodrigo also retroactively gave Paramore a songwriting credit on the single “Good 4 U” after it was released. When asked by Rolling Stone about these songwriting credits, Rodrigo admitted she was a bit blindsided at the time.
“I was a little caught off guard,” Rodrigo said. “At the time it was very confusing, and I was green and bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. Is that the phrase?”
Rodrigo did not answer if she was forced to add the songwriting credits to the “Sour” tracks, adding, “It’s not something that I was super involved in. It was more team-on-team. So, I wouldn’t be the best person to ask.”
But she did say, “I don’t think I would ever personally do that,” when asked if she would make another artist give her credit for a song that sounded similar to hers. “But who’s to say where I’ll be in 20, 30 years. All that I can do is write my songs and focus on what I can control.”
Prior to her Rolling Stone cover story, Rodrigo spoke to The Guardian and shut down fan speculation that “Vampire,” the lead single from her sophomore album “Guts,” is about the alleged Taylor Swift feud.
“I was very surprised when people thought that,” Rodrigo said. “I never want to say who any of my songs are about. I’ve never done that before in my career and probably won’t. I think it’s better to not pigeonhole a song to being about this one thing.”
Rodrigo’s “Guts” released Sept. 8 to critical acclaim.
