Are Olivia Rodrigo and Taylor Swift at odds? That question has fueled numerous social media conspiracies, but Rodrigo isn’t buying into the speculation. In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, the Grammy-winning singer dismissed the rumors, emphasizing that she doesn’t get caught up in online drama.
“I don’t have beef with anyone,” Rodrigo stated when asked about her alleged feud with 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 are so many Twitter conspiracy theories. I only look at alien conspiracy theories.”
The speculation surrounding Rodrigo and Swift stems from their seemingly friendly relationship prior to Rodrigo’s breakout success with her debut album Sour, released in May 2021. At the time, Rodrigo openly credited Swift as an inspiration, and the two even posed for a photo together after meeting at the BRIT Awards.
However, things took a turn later that summer when Rodrigo added Swift and producer Jack Antonoff as co-writers on two Sour tracks: “1 Step Forward, 3 Steps Back,” which interpolated Swift’s “New Year’s Day,” and “Deja Vu,” which was reportedly inspired by Swift’s song “Cruel Summer.” Rodrigo also added St. Vincent as a co-writer on the latter track, since she had worked on “Cruel Summer.” While it was never publicly confirmed whether Swift requested these credits, some of Swift’s most dedicated fans speculated that the situation led to a falling out between the two artists.
Rodrigo also granted retroactive songwriting credits to Paramore on her hit single “Good 4 U,” after the song was released. When Rolling Stone asked about the crediting process, she admitted that she hadn’t anticipated how it would unfold.
“I was a little caught off guard,” Rodrigo said. “At the time, it was very confusing. I was young, new to the industry, and didn’t really know how everything worked.”
When asked directly whether she was forced to give the songwriting credits, Rodrigo sidestepped the question. “It’s not something that I was super involved in,” she explained. “It was more of a team-on-team situation, so I wouldn’t be the best person to ask.”
Despite the controversies, Rodrigo made it clear that she doesn’t hold grudges. When asked if she would ever require another artist to credit her for a song that sounded similar to one of hers, she responded, “I don’t think I would ever personally do that. But who’s to say where I’ll be in 20 or 30 years? All I can do is write my songs and focus on what I can control.”
Rodrigo’s statements appear to put an end to the swirling rumors, making it clear that she’s uninterested in feuds and more focused on her music. While social media may continue to theorize, the singer seems determined to keep her attention on what truly matters—her craft.