Why Taylor Swift and Olivia Rodrigo Are No Longer Friends
Taylor Swift and Olivia Rodrigo seemed inseparable not too long ago, with Swift fully embracing her mentor role with then fast-rising star Rodrigo. Rodrigo, who admitted she’s been a “Swiftie” ever since, jumps at every chance to acknowledge Swift’s influence on her music.
However, things turned sour (wink if you get that reference) when Rodrigo released her single, “deja vu.” So, what happened between Taylor Swift and Olivia Rodrigo? Let us help you with the deets.
A Timeline of Taylor Swift and Olivia Rodrigo’s “Feud”
January 2021
Rodrigo released “driver’s license,” which made her a star almost overnight. The song is about her heartbreak over her High School Musical: The Musical: The Series co-star Joshua Bassett, who moved on with Sabrina Carpenter, another pop star princess she had a feud with.
Rodrigo posted about her song being next to Swift’s “It’s Time to Go” and “Right Where You Left Me” on the US iTunes chart.
Swift congratulated Rodrigo, who, in response, was so overwhelmed that she nearly hyperventilated.
March 2021
In an interview published by Glamour, Rodrigo mentioned Swift sent her a package. “I got a package from her with this handwritten note. And she gave me this ring because she said she wore one just like it when she wrote Red and she wanted me to have one like it…and like all of this amazing stuff, she’s like hand-wrapped these gifts. I truly don’tunderstand…where she finds the time, first of all.”
She added, “But also, I feel so lucky that I just was born at the right time to be able to look up to somebody like her. I think she’s incredible and all of her support and, like, genuine compassion and excitement for me has just been so, so surreal.”
May 11, 2021
Taylor Swift and Olivia Rodrigo finally met in person during the 2021 BRIT Awards. Per CNN, Rodrigo also passed Swift a handwritten note.
May 21, 2021
Rodrigo dropped her album, Sour. Swift was credited in her song “1 Step Forward, 3 Steps Back” because Rodrigo interpolated her song “New Year’s Day” from her album, Reputation. In an interview with The Zach Shang Show (viaTeen Vogue), Rodrigo shared how they ended up using “New Year’s Day.”
“We interpolated ‘New Year’s Day,’ which is Taylor’s song from Reputation. I came up with the ‘1 Step Forward’ concept and I sort of wrote a verse and a chorus. I was in the car on a road trip, and when I got home, I decided to sing it over the chords of ‘New Year’s Day.’ I think they’re really beautiful chords. I was lucky enough to get that approved, and it’s on the record now.”
July 2021
Swift, Jack Antonoff and St. Vincent were retroactively credited for “deja vu” in July 2021 after Rodrigo was accused of plagiarism and copyright infringement since the song allegedly is too similar to Swift’s “Cruel Summer.” Swift’s close friend, Hayley Williams of the band Paramore and her band member Josh Farro were also retroactively credited for Rodrigo’s “Good 4 U” because of the similarity with the band’s 2007 song, “Misery Business.”
According to Billboard, Rodrigo lost millions because of these royalties.
June 2, 2023
Swift announced that Sabrina Carpenter would be joining the Eras tour. According to Life & Style (via Yahoo! Entertainment), Rodrigo was unhappy about the news. “While Olivia hasn’t come out and said it was true, she’s not happy that Sabrina is opening for Taylor on the Latin American leg of her Eras tour.”
June 30, 2023
Rodrigo released “Vampire,” the lead single to her second album, GUTS. Fans speculated it’s about Taylor Swift especially since some of the lyrics point to their alleged feud: “Bloodsucker, fame f—er/Bleedin’ me dry like a god— vampire.”
September 2, 2023
Rodrigo, in an interview with The Guardian, dispelled the rumor that “Vampire” is about Swift… well, sort of. “I mean, 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. I was very surprised when people thought that.”
September 8, 2023
Rodrigo launched GUTS. Fans immediately went to social media, speculating that “The Grudge” is about Swift. Understandably so with the first verse: “One phone call from you and my entire world was changed/Trust that you betrayed, confusion that still lingers/Took everything I loved and crushed it in between your fingers/And I doubt you ever think about the damage that you did/But I hold onto every detail like my life depends on it/My undying love, now, I hold it like a grudge.”
While the bridge goes: “You built me up to watch me fall/You have everything, and you still want more.”
September 12, 2023
Rodrigo gave a more direct answer about her alleged feud with Swift in an interview with Rolling Stone. “I don’t have beef with anyone…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.”
January 2024
During Rodrigo’s Grammy Awards performance (ironically, she sang ‘Vampire’), Swift can be seen singing along and clapping. When Swift’s album Midnights won for Best Pop Vocal Album, Rodrigo was seen clapping for her former mentor.
Showing support for one another publicly might be Taylor Swift and Olivia Rodrigo’s subtle way of extending an olive branch. However, both artists are focused on their respective projects, and it seems they are ready to put this chapter behind them.
