Why Olivia Rodrigo Fans Think Her New Song 'The Grudge' Is About Her Rumored Fallout With Taylor Swift

Fans of Olivia Rodrigo are speculating that her latest song, "The Grudge," might be addressing a rumored fallout with her idol, Taylor Swift. Rodrigo's second album, "Guts," has been a massive hit, with fans appreciating her lyrics and emotional depth. However, it's the song "The Grudge" that has sparked intense speculation about a possible rift between Rodrigo and Swift.

This speculation began with Rodrigo's earlier release, "Vampire," in June, which led some listeners to believe it could be inspired by a supposed disagreement between Rodrigo and Swift. Their relationship had initially started with admiration and mutual support.

The speculation can be traced back to Rodrigo's debut album, "Sour," released in May 2021. Swift received credit on the track "1 Step Forward, 3 Steps Back" because it incorporated elements from Swift's 2017 song, "New Year's Day." Rodrigo openly acknowledged this inspiration and expressed her gratitude for Swift's approval. However, fans were surprised when Swift was later credited for another hit, "Deja Vu," allegedly due to similarities to Swift's "Cruel Summer."

The situation escalated in August when Hayley Williams and Josh Farro from Paramore were also given songwriting credits on Rodrigo's chart-topper, "Good 4 U," claiming similarities to Paramore's "Misery Business." Rodrigo reportedly agreed to share 50 percent of the royalties for each of these songs with the respective artists.

Despite these credit disputes being handled quietly, the once-friendly public relationship between Rodrigo and Swift seemed to sour. Rodrigo hinted at her disillusionment with the music industry's "mean girls" in an interview with Alanis Morissette in October 2021.

Now, two years later, fans believe that Rodrigo's song "The Grudge" from "Guts" reflects her feelings of disappointment and betrayal by someone she once idolized. In the song, Rodrigo alludes to betrayal, confusion, and feeling "not enough," potentially connected to the credit disputes.

Fans point to the opening lyric of "The Grudge," mentioning a "Friday in May" when her "entire world" changed following a phone call, which coincides with the release date of "Sour" (May 21, 2021). Rodrigo's lyrics express a sense of betrayal and a desire to confront those responsible for her pain.

Lines like "You built me up to watch me fall" and "You have everything, and you still want more" suggest Rodrigo may be addressing her disappointment with a more established star seeking credit for her work.

The reference to "flowers filled with vitriol" in the song hints at someone who appeared supportive on the surface but was insincere, similar to Swift's earlier public support of Rodrigo before the credit controversies.

Fans have taken to social media to share their thoughts, with one Twitter user saying, "the way 'the grudge' is soooo about Taylor. Yeeeshhhhh," while another tweeted, "Olivia Rodrigo's 'The Grudge' is about her feud with Taylor Swift, 100%."