Why Fans Think Taylor Swift’s New Song Is Nod to Kim Kardashian Feud

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Did Taylor Swift throw shade at Kim Kardashian on her The Life of a Showgirl album? 

Fans believe Taylor Swift subtly referenced her longtime rival, Kim Kardashian, in her new song “Actually Romantic.” The song explores how someone’s intense dislike can feel strangely similar to obsessive affection, and listeners think Swift is drawing a parallel to Kardashian’s feelings towards her.

In the second verse of the song, Taylor sings about receiving funny Valentine’s Day cards, acknowledging that the sender might think they’re being harsh, but she actually finds the gesture sweet and endearing.

Because of that lyric, many fans thought the Grammy-winning artist was referencing an incident from 2018, when Kim Kardashian sent Valentine’s Day presents to people who had publicly criticized her.

Okay, so I saw this really cute behind-the-scenes moment from Kim Kardashian recently. She was sharing who was getting a special, limited-edition version of her KIMOJI Heart fragrance, and she actually wrote everyone’s names on sticky notes! I was scrolling through her Instagram Stories and noticed ‘Taylor Swift’ right there on one of the notes – it was a sweet little detail!

Kim shared a clip from 2018, explaining her decision to send Valentine’s Day cards to everyone – even her critics! She felt everyone deserved a little love on the holiday, so she was sending them to both her friends and those who weren’t so friendly.

On October 6th, a user on X (formerly Twitter) posted screenshots of old Instagram photos from Kim Kardashian alongside lyrics from a Taylor Swift song, and asked, “Can I share a theory with Swifties?”

One commenter said, “You’re being totally honest here! Thanks for sharing!” Another person mentioned they’d had a similar thought, saying, “I actually considered this myself.”

Some people didn’t think the song “Actually Romantic” was *only* about Kim, considering the history between her and Taylor. The conflict originally began in 2016 when Kim released a phone call Taylor had with her then-husband, Kanye West, about a controversial lyric in his song “Famous.” Of course, Kanye and Taylor had a strained relationship long before that incident.

Some fans think the song might be about Charli XCX, who recently married George Daniel, a member of the band The 1975 – the same band as Taylor Swift’s former partner, Matty Healy.

Many fans believed the song “Actually Romantic” was either inspired by several well-known celebrities, or was simply Taylor Swift’s response to her critics.

Honestly, I’ve been seeing a lot of people online thinking this isn’t about just one individual. One person on X pointed out on October 5th that it feels like it’s directed at a group – a mix of people and those who actively dislike them, with some specific individuals being called out, too. It really resonates with how I’m seeing things unfold.

For a breakdown of more easter eggs from Taylor’s The Life of a Showgirl album, keep reading. 

The first song on Taylor Swift’s album, *The Life of a Showgirl*, alludes to Ophelia, a character from William Shakespeare’s play *Hamlet*, who experiences a heartbreaking story.

Honestly, the song really hits me because it describes a point where Taylor felt completely overwhelmed by sadness. She basically says she was on the verge of being consumed by it, but thankfully, finding real love pulled her back from the brink. It’s such a powerful image – like she was drowning in her own sadness and love was her lifeline.

“I heard you calling / On the megaphone,” Taylor sings. “You wanna see me all alone.”

The song seems to reference Travis Kelce playfully teasing Taylor Swift on his podcast, *New Heights*, about not joining him after her Eras Tour concerts – a moment that sparked their relationship.

“I swore loyalty to me, myself and I,” the lyrics continue. “Right before you lit my sky up.”

Before she started dating Travis, Taylor had recently ended things with Matty Healy and had described herself as happily single in July 2023.

But after Travis went to her concert in Kansas City that same month, sparks began to fly.

Taylor’s fiancé is now participating in her tradition of leaving hidden clues, or “Easter eggs,” for fans. Back in July, he hinted at lyrics from her song “The Fate of Ophelia” in an Instagram post, playfully captioning photos of them together with, “Had some adventures this offseason,” and adding, “Kept it [100].”

How does this relate to Taylor Swift’s song? The lyrics say, “You pulled me from a difficult time and rescued my heart, just like the story of Ophelia / Be completely honest.”

In the second song on the album, Taylor pays tribute to the iconic Elizabeth Taylor, referencing places the actress loved, like the Plaza Athénée in Paris and Musso & Frank’s in Los Angeles.

Taylor’s lyrics also compare her to Elizabeth Taylor. Just like Taylor herself, the actress was frequently in the news, whether for her relationships or her glamorous style.

But, as Taylor notes in her song, “Oftentimes it doesn’t feel so glamorous to be me.”

In the cheerful song “Opalite,” which Travis Kelce has said is his favorite from Taylor Swift’s *Showgirl*, Taylor sings about their relationship.

Taylor has experienced a lot of heartbreak in the past, but her relationship with Travis feels peaceful and serene, like a calm, opalescent sky.

She explained on Capital radio that she’d noted down ‘opalite’ after discovering it’s a lab-created opal. Since Travis’ birthstone is opal, she’d always been drawn to the stone and remembered that fact.

She explained the gemstone’s meaning, saying, “I saw it as a metaphor – just like the opal is created by people, happiness can be too.”

But some fans believe Taylor subtly referenced Travis Kelce’s former girlfriend, Kayla Nicole, in her song, suggesting he once felt used as a social media accessory.

She sings, as if addressing him, about a disconnect: “You couldn’t grasp what was happening, and that’s why you felt so isolated. You were genuinely invested, while she was lost in her phone.”

The lyrics continue, describing someone who seemed fake – “You were just a pose.” It questions our efforts in love – “Don’t we try to love love and give it everything?” Then, it notes their departure – “You finally left the table,” followed by a stark observation: “What a simple thought, you’re hungry until you’re not.”

Taylor Swift, Max Martin, and Shellback are officially listed as the songwriters for the song “Showgirl.” However, the late George Michael is also credited on “Father Figure” because that song samples a portion of his 1987 hit with the same title.

Taylor Swift’s team showed their support, with George’s team posting on Instagram on October 2nd, “Thank you @taylorswift for including George in such a special moment.”

Many fans believe the first part of the song is told from the point of view of Scott Borchetta, the head of Big Machine Records, who originally sold Taylor Swift’s master recordings to Scooter Braun. They think the song then shifts to Taylor’s perspective as she works to regain ownership of her music.

Taylor herself admitted that the song was “written in character.”

She shared on BBC Radio 1 that writing the piece was enjoyable. She explained it explores the concept of a father figure in a unique way, using it to discuss power, how power is organized, and shifts in who holds it.

She’s particularly pleased with a risqué line where her character boasts about having a larger…asset when negotiating with the devil.

We’re now at the fifth track on Taylor Swift’s *Showgirl*, and this is usually where she places her most emotionally devastating songs.

In her song “Eldest Daughter,” Taylor Swift reflects on the ups and downs of life, emphasizing her unwavering commitment to her family – including her parents, Andrea and Scott Swift, and her brother, Austin Swift.

The song emphasizes loyalty and strength, stating, ‘I’m not someone who causes trouble, and this isn’t reckless behavior, I’ll always be there for you.’ It continues, promising unwavering support: ‘I won’t abandon you, despite those who betray and manipulate. I’ll always keep my promise.’

The sixth track on the album *Showgirl* explores the feeling of wishing things had been different in a relationship that never really started. The song is full of longing and remembers a specific moment – a prom night – with lines like, “Have fun, it’s prom / Wilted corsage dangles from my wrist…” The singer reflects on seeing someone else looking at them and realizes it wasn’t a signal to make a move, but they still think they *should* have kissed that person while 50 Cent’s song was playing.

Taylor Swift references her close friend Abigail Anderson – who inspired the song “Fifteen” – in poignant lyrics about loss: “When I left school, I lost track of you / Abigail called me with the bad news / Goodbye, and we’ll never know why.”

Many fans believe the heartbreaking song is about Taylor Swift’s late friend, Jeff Lang, who passed away in 2010. He’s also thought to be the inspiration behind her earlier song, “Forever Winter.”

In the 2021 released song, she sings about being unaware of someone else’s struggles, admitting she’d be devastated without them. She reflects on being too young to realize things improve, promising to be a constant source of happiness, but fearing a permanent sadness if that person leaves.

Despite its title, ‘Actually Romantic’ isn’t really a love song. Instead, it’s Taylor Swift’s lyrical response to someone who apparently talks about her a lot.

Taylor sings about a confusing situation: first, she happily greeted her ex, and then you expressed relief that he had cut off contact with her. He even wrote a song admitting he dislikes seeing her, which she finds strangely endearing, though she acknowledges some might find it hurtful.

As a lifestyle observer, I’ve noticed a lot of buzz around Taylor Swift’s new song, and fans are convinced it’s about Charli XCX. They point to the fact that Charli opened for Taylor on the *Reputation* Tour, and interestingly, she’s also connected to Taylor’s former boyfriend, Matty, and his partner, Gabbriette Bechtel. Taylor usually keeps the inspiration behind her songs pretty private, but the connections are definitely sparking conversation!

After Charli released her album *brat* in June 2024—Charli is married to George Daniel, a member of the band The 1975—some people thought her song “Sympathy is a Knife” was a diss track aimed at Taylor Swift. But two months later, Taylor seemed to dismiss those rumors by publicly praising Charli’s work.

Taylor Swift shared that she’s been impressed with Charli XCX’s musical talent ever since hearing her song ‘Stay Away’ back in 2011. In an interview with *New York* magazine published on August 26th, Swift praised Charli’s songwriting as unique and imaginative, noting that she consistently pushes songs in unexpected directions. Swift added that she admires seeing such dedication and hard work rewarded.

Fans are speculating about a possible connection to Charli XCX. Taylor Swift’s Spotify cover art features an apple, which is the title of Charli’s popular 2024 song.

TopMob News has reached out to reps for comment on the speculation and has not heard back.

On the very top of Taylor’s wish list? A forever with Travis. That includes starting a family.

“I just want you,” she sings. “Have a couple kids / Got the whole block looking like you.”

The artist even admitted it’s one of her favorite tracks on the album. 

She explained to Magic radio that recording that particular song signaled the end of the album process. She described it as a deeply emotional track that honestly reflected her current life stage, leading her to feel like they had finished everything they needed to do.

Let me tell you, I’ve always been a practical person. Wishing on stars? Never worked for me, especially when it came to finding love. But things are different now – and I mean *really* different. With Travis, I feel so secure and happy that I don’t even feel the need for good luck charms anymore. It’s a completely new feeling!

In the song, she sings that she doesn’t need to catch the wedding bouquet to realize a difficult time is coming.

She was correct: Taylor and Travis got engaged in August 2025, two years after they started dating.

The song features suggestive lyrics and also references *New Heights*, the show Taylor Swift says brought her and Travis Kelce together.

In the tenth song, Taylor describes supporting someone who’s facing public backlash, because she understands what it’s like to be in that situation herself.

She warned, “Let’s leave now, because people will panic when they see us.” She then added, almost to herself, “It’s actually good that my friends bailed – I prefer them mysterious and a little bit notorious.”

I’ve been seeing a lot of chatter online about whether this new song is about Taylor’s friendships with Brittany Mahomes or Blake Lively. It’s definitely got people thinking she’s referencing those relationships, and honestly, it wouldn’t surprise me if she was subtly acknowledging them in her lyrics!

The singer explained that her perspective comes from understanding what it’s like to face public struggles, possibly referencing the highly publicized conflict between Kim Kardashian and Kanye West in 2016.

After going through public scrutiny and being involved in several high-profile, controversial situations throughout my career – times when it felt like everyone had an opinion – it’s changed how I navigate life now, making me approach things a little differently.

You know, I’ve noticed something really interesting over the years. When people face challenges, it’s easy to believe they’ll come out stronger on the other side. It’s like going through a tough time forces you to learn and grow. I truly believe that if someone can navigate a difficult situation, they’ll gain valuable insights and become more resilient because of it. It’s a powerful process, really.

Ultimately, ‘Cancelled!’ is about my refusal to automatically dismiss someone simply because others disapprove of them. I form my own opinions based on how people behave towards me and their individual actions.

As lovely as it seems, Taylor Swift’s song highlights how Travis Kelce has changed the meaning of certain words for her. Words like “honey” and “sweetheart” used to bring up unhappy memories, but now, she associates them with him instead.

Taylor sings about feeling uplifted and joyful when someone calls her ‘honey.’ She describes a perfect summer scene – bright pink skies and a refreshing drink – and playfully suggests she’s the person her lover desires.

In fact, Travis did call Taylor “sweetie” during her debut appearance on New Heights in August.

For her final act, Taylor teamed up with friend Sabrina Carpenter.

The song “Elizabeth Taylor” offers a look into the life of a showgirl, revealing the less glamorous side of the profession. An experienced performer shares a hard-earned lesson with a rising star, highlighting that even seemingly dazzling careers come with sacrifices.

The song’s lyrics tell a story of longing: a woman wishes she could trade anything for a chance at a wonderful, independent life. But the lyrics point out that’s not the reality for showgirls, who are often used and then discarded.

Finally, after experiencing what it’s like to be a showgirl, the performers come together for a last bow, saying, “That’s all folks! We appreciate you, and goodnight!”

The song is about encountering someone you admire, but instead of being inspiring, they actually advise you *not* to pursue the same path. They’re just being real about how difficult the entertainment industry is, but you decide to follow your dreams anyway, despite the warning.

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2025-10-07 00:19