Olivia Rodrigo has finally addressed the persistent rumors of a feud with Taylor Swift, offering her most direct comments yet on the speculation that has followed her since the release of her debut album.
During an appearance on the Thursday, May 29, episode of the New York Times' "Popcast" podcast, the 23-year-old singer acknowledged the intense online scrutiny surrounding her relationship with Swift but maintained a philosophical perspective on the controversy.
"I think I tried to not let it get to me or upset me. I think I just try to keep it trucking," Rodrigo explained, speaking to the podcast. "It was so long ago. I think there's no use in harping on it."
The speculation stems from songwriting credit controversies that emerged following the 2021 release of Rodrigo's album Sour. While Swift, 36, was always credited on the track "1 Step Forward, 3 Steps Back" for its sampling of "New Year's Day," additional drama arose when Swift received a retroactive songwriting credit on "Deja Vu" after fans noticed similarities between the song's bridge and Swift's "Cruel Summer."
Rodrigo emphasized her commitment to maintaining positive relationships within the industry. "I just try to make songs that I love and try to be kind and good to other people and supportive of other people. I've always tried to be like that. At the end of the day, I think that's all you can do," she said during the podcast appearance.
This is not the first time Rodrigo has faced songwriting credit issues. A similar situation occurred with her song "Good 4 U," which led to Hayley Williams and Josh Farro being retroactively added as songwriters after social media users pointed out similarities to Paramore's "Misery Business." Reports indicate that Rodrigo forfeited millions in royalties by adding these additional songwriting credits.
The singer previously addressed the speculation in a September 2023 interview with Rolling Stone, stating that she does not have "beef with anyone" in the music industry. In that conversation, she described herself as "very chill" and noted that she keeps a small circle of friends.
During Thursday's podcast episode, Rodrigo reflected on the challenging period surrounding the songwriting controversies. "I think it's a really hard time just personally," she acknowledged. "I don't know, I'm a fan girl. I love music and nobody can take that away. That sounds so cheesy, but I love music and I feel so lucky that I get to do what I do."
The artist expressed gratitude for her musical influences and the opportunity to pursue her passion professionally. "I, like, love so many songs and have grown up being surrounded with awesome music and awesome bands, and I truly just do feel so lucky," she continued.
Rodrigo emphasized that songwriting remains central to her identity, regardless of commercial success. She stated that writing songs is something she would continue doing even without a career in music.
"You got to be a fan. It's so boring to not be a fan of music," she concluded. "There's so much good music to be a fan of."
Despite the online speculation and songwriting controversies, Rodrigo has maintained public admiration for Swift throughout her career. Her latest comments suggest a desire to move past the drama and focus on her music and creative relationships within the industry.
