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The rumored feud between Charli XCX and Taylor Swift appears to be escalating. Over the weekend, Charli made a surprise appearance on Saturday Night Live during Role Model’s performance. Fans celebrated her cameo and were also quick to notice her attire. Though Charli hasn’t commented publicly on Swift’s apparent diss track, “Actually Romantic,” she did seem to respond with her choice of shirt.

Many fans believe Taylor Swift wrote about Charli XCX on her latest album

On Oct. 3, Swift released her 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl. One of the tracks on the album is “Actually Romantic,” a song that many fans believe is about Charli. In her 2024 album, Brat, Charli sings about comparing herself to another woman on the song “Sympathy is a Knife.” Many, seemingly including Swift herself, believe the song is about the “Wildest Dreams” singer.

With “Actually Romantic,” Swift said she wanted to write “a love letter to someone who hates you” (per the BBC). 

“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,” she sings. 

Swift calls out the other artist for writing about how much they hate her. Notably, Charli also has a song called “Everything Is Romantic” on Brat.

Charli XCX appeared to make a jab at Taylor Swift

Neither Swift nor Charli has commented publicly about the rumored feud; in fact, they’ve spoken positively about one another over the years. Still, fans believe they are not on good terms and have taken sides. 

On Oct. 11, singer Role Model was the musical act on SNL. During his song “Sally, When the Wine Runs Out,” he asked, “Where’s my Sally tonight?” To the audience’s delight, Charli walked out onstage and danced while Role Model sang.

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Charli wore a black mini skirt and a Max’s Kansas City shirt. Many believe this is a response to Swift, as her fiancé, Travis Kelce, plays for the Kansas City Chiefs. 

The song ‘Actually Romantic’ has received criticism

When discussing “Actually Romantic,” Swift said the song is about “realizing that someone else has kind of had a one-sided, adversarial relationship with you that you didn’t know about” (via People).

“And all of a sudden they start doing too much and they start letting you know that actually, you’ve been living in their head rent-free and you had no idea,” she added.

Many people believe that Swift misinterpreted “Sympathy is a Knife,” though. Charli said she does not view the song as a diss track; instead, it explores her insecurities. People have seen the response as unnecessary and proof that the feud isn’t as “one-sided” as Swift has described it.

Still, a number of people have pointed to the fact that a feud between artists brings attention to both of them. Because of this, they doubt that Charli is all that upset that people have linked her to the song. Given her Kansas City shirt, she seems to be playing into the drama.

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