Taylor Swift and Olivia Rodrigo have had a complicated relationship over the years. Rodrigo has idolized Swift since she was a child, covering her songs and attributing her early songwriting to Swift’s influence. Swift reciprocated the admiration by sending Rodrigo a handwritten note and gifts to celebrate the success of Rodrigo’s song “Driver’s License.” The two finally met in person at the Brit Awards in May 2021, where they posed for a picture together.
The budding friendship between Swift and Rodrigo appeared to hit a snag after Rodrigo released her second single, “Deja Vu,” which drew comparisons to Swift’s song “Cruel Summer.” Swift, along with her collaborators Jack Antonoff and St. Vincent, were given retroactive royalties on the song, but Swift and Rodrigo have not publicly addressed each other since. Despite this, Swift was seen singing along to Rodrigo’s performance at the 2024 Grammys and applauded Rodrigo when she won for Best Pop Vocal Album.
Rodrigo’s debut album, Sour, featured a song titled “1 Step Forward, 3 Steps Back,” which included an interpolation of Swift’s track “New Year’s Day.” Swift was always credited as a writer on this song. However, Rodrigo faced accusations of plagiarism and copyright infringement on her second single, “Deja Vu,” which led to Swift being retroactively credited on the song in July 2021. Rodrigo reportedly gave up “millions” in royalties on each of the songs involved in the copyright issue.
Speculation arose that Rodrigo’s song “Vampire” was about Swift, but Rodrigo has remained tight-lipped about the inspiration behind her songs. One track on her second album, Guts, titled “The Grudge,” prompted listeners to interpret it as referencing the copyright issue with Swift. The lyrics suggest feelings of guilt and resentment towards someone who has betrayed her trust.
Despite the ups and downs in their relationship, Swift and Rodrigo have expressed mutual admiration for each other. Rodrigo has described Swift as a mentor and a source of inspiration, while Swift has shown her support for Rodrigo’s music and performances. While there have been controversies and misunderstandings between the two artists, they have both continued to focus on their respective careers and maintain a level of respect for each other.
