Addison Rae Speaks Out on Charli XCX and Taylor Swift Feud Speculations: “Some People Act Strangely”
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In a recent interview with The Los Angeles Times, TikTok star Addison Rae addressed the rumored rivalry between her friend and collaborator Charli XCX and pop icon Taylor Swift. Rae highlighted the complexities of fame and the dynamics it can create among artists.
When questioned about the tension between the two artists, who previously toured together on Swift’s Reputation Stadium Tour in 2018, Rae responded, “I guess we’ll have to see.” She emphasized that she prefers to distance herself from unnecessary drama, stating, “There’s so much more to all these things… There are people that do weird things, and I try to avoid those people.”
Rae’s long-standing friendship with Charli extends back to their early collaborations, including the tracks “2 Die 4” from Rae’s debut EP, AR, and “Von Dutch” from Charli’s Brat remix album.
While public engagements concerning a feud between Charli and Swift have been rare, speculation has persisted since Charli released “Sympathy Is a Knife.” The song includes themes of insecurity in the presence of another woman, leading some fans to interpret it as a diss directed at Swift. In turn, Swift’s “Actually Romantic” has been perceived by some as a response.
Offstage, rumors have circulated among Charli’s fans that Swift intentionally hindered Brat’s chart performance in 2024 by releasing a limited U.K. version of The Tortured Poets Department. Additionally, Swift’s past relationship with Matty Healy, who is in The 1975 along with Charli’s husband, George Daniel, adds another layer to the narrative.
Rae reflected on the fascination with artist rivalries, noting, “It doesn’t have to be a thing, but I get it — it’s entertaining. Historically, there’s always been this friendly or maybe unfriendly competition. I think it’s a very natural human thing to want to exceed a standard that someone else has laid out.” Rae clarified, however, that she is not interested in indulging in such rivalries for her own career.
For context, Charli has previously defended Swift, including an incident in June 2024, when she reprimanded fans chanting “Taylor Swift is dead” at her concert in Brazil. In a show of support, Swift praised Charli in August, describing her as having “melodic sensibilities” and a unique approach to songwriting in a statement to Vulture.
Rae also shared insights about the “weird things” she has encountered in the music industry, particularly in the context of social dynamics. She elaborated, “This can be behind the scenes as well — producers and drama in writing and ideas and back-end conversations.”
In discussing specific experiences, she mentioned, “On my record [Addison] with producers Luka and Elvira, we had worked with someone — or tried to include them in something — and then we didn’t really feel like it was necessary. No bad blood. Then all of a sudden, this person had gone and worked with someone else, and things were sounding similar. The timeline of it all was very confusing and interesting.”
