Charli XCX has reignited online discussion about her relationship with Taylor Swift after liking a meme about the pop star on Instagram.
The move marks her first apparent response to the ongoing speculation surrounding Taylor Swift’s song “Actually Romantic”, widely interpreted as a diss track aimed at Charli.
Following the release of Swift’s album The Life of a Showgirl last Friday, fans quickly dissected the track’s opening lyric, “I heard you call me boring Barbie when the coke’s got you brave,” assuming it referenced Charli XCX. The lyric alludes to earlier rumours that Charli had described Swift in those terms, leading many to believe the song was a direct response.
The two artists’ names were previously linked when Charli released “Sympathy is a Knife”, which explored feelings of insecurity around a “big pop star.” Many speculated the song referenced Taylor Swift, who was dating Matty Healy of The 1975 at the time — the same band featuring Charli’s fiancé, George Daniel. Charli clarified the song was about her own anxieties rather than any personal attack.
Fans noticed Charli’s Instagram like on a meme about Taylor Swift and her engagement to Travis Kelce. Although the like was visible for several hours, it appears to have been removed by midday.
Screenshots of the interaction quickly spread across X and Reddit, sparking further debate about whether it was intentional or playful.
Taylor has since explained that “Actually Romantic” is “a song about realising that someone else has kind of had a one-sided, adversarial relationship with you,” describing it as “actually pretty romantic.”
The incident continues to fuel speculation over the pair’s relationship as fans await further clarification from both sides.
