Olivia Rodrigo’s latest song, “The Grudge,” has sparked intense fan curiosity, leading to speculations about its possible link to her rumored conflict with Taylor Swift.
The relationship between Olivia Rodrigo and Taylor Swift has been the subject of much speculation in recent months, and the release of Rodrigo’s new track, “The Grudge,” has only intensified the curiosity surrounding their alleged discord.
Rumors began circulating months ago, suggesting that a copyright dispute over Rodrigo’s hit single, “Deja Vu,” might have caused a rift between the two stars. Initially drawing inspiration from Swift’s “Cruel Summer,” Rodrigo later quietly acknowledged Swift as a co-writer. This situation paralleled Rodrigo’s “Good 4 U,” where she retroactively credited and shared royalties with Paramore’s Hayley Williams and Josh Farro due to similarities with “Misery Business.”
In the early stages of her music career, Rodrigo openly identified as a fervent fan of Swift, even incorporating Swift’s “New Year’s Day” into her Sour track, “1 Step Forward, 3 Steps Back.” However, since the “Deja Vu” incident, Rodrigo has chosen to remain silent about her admiration for Swift and has even avoided addressing Swift-related questions during interviews.
For instance, in a recent New York Times profile, Rodrigo claimed she was too occupied to attend Swift’s Eras Tour and neither confirmed nor denied whether her song “Vampire” was about her once-revered idol. She did express surprise at people assuming the scathing track was directed at Swift.
Now, with the release of “The Grudge” on Rodrigo’s sophomore album, “Guts,” the speculation has resurfaced. The piano ballad delves into a strained relationship with someone she once admired, concluding with the admission that, “even after all this, you’re still everything to me.”
Lines like, “I have nightmares each week ’bout that Friday in May/ One phone call from you and my entire world was changed,” and “You have everything and you still want more,” have caught the attention of many listeners, suggesting a connection to Rodrigo’s rumored feud with the more established star, who initially supported Rodrigo’s early success before the “Deja Vu” controversy.
Fans have taken to social media to voice their interpretations, with one Twitter user stating, “Olivia Rodrigo’s new song ‘The Grudge’ is absolutely about Taylor Swift, right?” and sharing screenshots of the song’s most pointed lines. Another fan wrote, “The drama. The anger. I wasn’t on board with ‘Vampire’ being about Taylor Swift. But convinced by the lyrics of ‘The Grudge.'”
Rodrigo is no stranger to fans speculating about the subjects of her songs. “Vampire” also led to debates about whether it targeted Swift or one of Rodrigo’s rumored ex-boyfriends. Even her debut song, “Drivers License,” ignited a fan war online as listeners connected its narrative to her alleged breakup with Joshua Bassett.
However, Rodrigo has consistently emphasized that songs are often a blend of various influences and may not necessarily reflect personal experiences. In a recent interview with Sirius XM Hits 1, she stated, “Songs are just songs at the end of the day. Lots of the time I write something that’s kind of like an amalgamation of lots of different people, or I write a lot of songs out of fantasy sometimes too.”
While speculation continues to swirl, only Rodrigo herself holds the true meaning behind her music.