The newest addition to this list comes from Olivia Rodrigo‘s second album, “Guts,” which came out in September 2023. Many believe the song is about the rumored drama that occurred with Rodrigo’s first album, “Sour.”
In July 2021, Rodrigo retroactively added Swift to the credits of her song “Deja Vu” after some pointed out similarities to Swift’s track, “Cruel Summer.” Until then, Rodrigo and Swift had appeared to get on well. The former posted photos they took together, once called herself the “biggest Swiftie,” and shared a handwritten note Swift had sent her, per The Standard. This is why the credits conflict may have hit Rodrigo hard, and resulted in the hurt feelings that are captured in “The Grudge” (if it is, in fact, about Swift).
The song opens with “I have nightmares each week ’bout that Friday in May,” and “SOUR” was released on Friday the 21st of May. Additionally, Rodrigo sings of “flowers filled with vitriol” and about how someone “built me up to watch me fall,” which may reference Swift’s apparent support for Rodrigo that was later retracted. In the bridge, Rodrigo sings, “You have everything, and you still want more,” which could certainly apply to Swift.
Neither party has referenced a feud, with Rodrigo telling The Guardian that she was “surprised” that her fans had linked her other song “Vampire” to Swift. She also told Rolling Stone in a September interview, “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.” Additionally, at the VMAs, Swift was filmed applauding Rodrigo’s “Vampire” performance.
But while it’s clear Rodrigo and Swift aren’t beefing, there’s still a chance “The Grudge” is about Swift. Rodrigo admitted to Rolling Stone that the song credits controversy involving Swift was challenging for her. “At the time, it was very confusing, and I was green and bright-eyed and bushy-tailed,” she said. “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.”