4 min readAt long last, The Life of a Showgirl is finally here, and fans are overanalyzing ev-ery-thing. The track that has the most people talking? “Actually Romantic,” which many fans believe to be about Taylor Swift’s rumored feud with Charli XCX. Of course, if you’re one of the many people wondering, “Uh, since when are Taylor and Chari feuding?” then you’ve come to the right place.
The pair actually goes way back, and while neither singer has ever confirmed the alleged beef between them, their relationship timeline has included plenty of drama. Here’s a full breakdown of Taylor Swift and Charli XCX’s rumored feud over the years, including the most recent “Actually Romantic” drama.
December 2014
Ah, yes, the days of “Boom Clap” and 1989 taking over radio waves. Taylor and Charli posed for a photo at iHeart Radio’s Jingle Ball concert in New York.
February 2015
Charli covers “Shake It Off” for BBC Radio 1’s Live Lounge.
October 2015
Charli came out as a special guest on Taylor’s 1989 World Tour stop in Toronto, Canada to perform “Boom Clap.”
March 2018
Taylor announced the opening acts for her first stadium tour in support of her album, Reputation: Charli and Camila Cabello.
August 2019
The first hint of trouble! During an interview with Pitchfork, Charli made some remarks about Taylor’s crowds on tour that didn’t sit right with Swifties. “I’m really grateful that she asked me on that tour,” she said, “but as an artist, it kind of felt like I was getting up onstage and waving to five-year-olds.”
She also revealed that her gig on the Reputation Stadium Tour made her realize that she never wanted to be an opening act again. “I’ve done so much of it, and it really cemented my status as this underdog character, which I like now. But I need to just own my own fucking shit finally.”
Later that day, Charli clarified her quotes on Twitter, writing, “People on the internet have taken something I said out of context.”
She continued, “As I say in the article and have said many times before, I am extremely grateful to Taylor for inviting me to open for her. She’s one of the biggest artists of my generation and the Reputation tour was one of the biggest tours in history.”
September 2019
A month later, Charli appeared on the UK talk show, Sunday Brunch, where she gushed about touring with Taylor. “She’s an incredible businesswoman and she’s really kind. She makes us feel, like, so welcome. It feels like a girl gang on tour together, it’s really good,” she dished.
January 2023
Taylor made a surprise appearance at The 1975’s show at London’s O2 Arena to perform a cover of the band’s track “The City.” This was also the first time she performed “Anti-Hero” ahead of the Eras Tour!
Just a week later, Charli surprised the crowd at another 1975 show at Manchester’s AO Arena to perform “Vroom Vroom.”
May 2023
Taylor and The 1975’s frontman, Matty Healy, start dating, though the relationship only lasts a few months.
May 2024
The following year, Charli’s instantly ionic “360” music video was released, featuring model and Matty Healy’s soon-to-be-fiancée, Gabbriette Bechtel.
Gabbriette even reposted a meme about “360,” which referenced Taylor’s “Bad Blood” video:
June 2024
Charli released her album, BRAT, and fans theorized that the track “Sympathy Is a Knife” alluded to her relationship with Taylor, with lyrics like, “I couldn’t even be her if I tried” and, “This one girl taps my insecurities / Don’t know if it’s real or if I’m spiraling.”
Theories point to a certain verse that paints the scene at a 1975 show, as Taylor dated Matty at the same time that Charli was dating his bandmate, George Daniel (who she later married): “Don’t wanna see her backstage at my boyfriend’s show / Fingers crossed behind my back, I hope they break up quick.”
August 2024
Charli graced the cover of New York Magazine, where she talks all things BRAT—including her rumored rift with Taylor and “Sympathy Is a Knife.”
“People are gonna think what they want to think,” Charli told the publication. “That song is about me and my feelings and my anxiety and the way my brain creates narratives and stories in my head when I feel insecure and how I don’t want to be in those situations physically when I feel self-doubt.”
Taylor was also tapped by the mag to share her thoughts on Charli, who she ended up showering with compliments. “I’ve been blown away by Charli’s melodic sensibilities since I first heard ‘Stay Away’ in 2011,” Taylor said. “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.”
October 2025
The Life of a Showgirl drops…and theories immediately start circulating about Taylor’s track “Actually Romantic.” The predominate theory: the song is about Charli.
The lyrics in question:
I heard you call me ‘Boring Barbie’ when the coke’s got you brave
High-fived my ex and then you said you’re glad he ghosted me
Wrote a whole song saying it makes you sick to see my face
Some people might be offended
But it’s actually sweet
All the time you’ve spent on me
And let’s not forget that Charli has a track called “Everything Is Romantic” as well. Oh, and there’s this:
Of course, neither singer has commented on the theories, so for now, they’re just that—theories!
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