Taylor Swift’s 11th studio album, The Tortured Poets Department, was expected to feature songs calling out her exes, but it was Kim Kardashian who received the harshest blow. In a song titled “thanK you aIMee,” Swift capitalized certain letters to spell out Kim’s name. The song is filled with high school allegory, positioning “Aimee” as Swift’s teenage style bully that she dreamed of besting. Swift references feeling hurt by “Aimee” and the difficulties of their relationship.
The feud between Swift and Kardashian dates back to 2009 when Kanye West interrupted Swift’s award acceptance speech at the MTV VMAs. Swift and West have had an ongoing feud, with Kardashian getting involved by releasing a phone conversation between the two artists in 2016. The feud was further escalated in 2020 when a leaked phone conversation between Swift and Kardashian surfaced online. Swift accused Kardashian of manipulating the footage to frame her and put her through hardship.
In 2021, Kardashian surprised fans by praising Swift and her music during an episode of the “Honestly With Bari Weis” podcast. However, Swift’s song “thanK you aIMee” indicates that she has not moved on from the feud. The lyrics suggest that Kardashian’s words continue to haunt Swift. Swift also references her mother, Andrea, in the song, indicating her feelings towards Kardashian. Despite protecting Kardashian’s identity with a name change in the song, Swift’s lyrics make it clear that the song is targeting her.
The song ends with Swift speculating that one day, Kardashian’s children may come home singing a song about their mother, implying that the details in the song are specific to Kardashian. Swift finishes by thanking “Aimee,” or Kim, for the experiences they have shared. The Tortured Poets Department is now available, showcasing Swift’s ability to weave personal experiences and hidden messages into her music. The song “thanK you aIMee” serves as another chapter in the ongoing feud between Swift and Kardashian and highlights the complexity of their relationship.
