The public record shows early mutual admiration between Taylor Swift and Olivia Rodrigo, followed by a songwriting-credit change on Rodrigo’s 2021 single “Deja Vu.” That credit change, and the two artists’ much quieter public contact since, fueled feud rumors. The documented facts do not establish a personal feud. Rodrigo has denied having “beef” with anyone, and in 2026 she described the credit episode as something that happened long ago and that she did not let upset her.
What the documented record shows
Three things are established in contemporaneous or retrospective reporting: Rodrigo publicly praised Swift’s work, Rodrigo said “Cruel Summer” inspired part of the “Deja Vu” bridge, and in July 2021 Swift, Jack Antonoff, and St. Vincent (Annie Clark) were added as writers on “Deja Vu.” Nothing in that reporting shows a lawsuit, a legal threat, or a private demand for credit. Reporting from the time also said the reason for the addition was unclear.
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The sequence, step by step
Early 2021: public admiration
Rodrigo spoke warmly about Swift during her rise, and Swift publicly congratulated her on her breakthrough. A 2026 AOL timeline recounts these moments. It is retrospective journalism, so it shows what was said in public, not the nature of any private mentorship or friendship.
“1 Step Forward, 3 Steps Back”: an acknowledged interpolation
On Rodrigo’s debut album SOUR (2021), “1 Step Forward, 3 Steps Back” interpolates Swift’s “New Year’s Day,” and Swift and Antonoff are credited as writers on that track. This credit was part of the album’s release-era story and was not a later revision.
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“Deja Vu”: inspiration, then a credit update
Rodrigo said she drew inspiration from the bridge of “Cruel Summer.” In July 2021, Pitchfork reported that Swift, Antonoff, and St. Vincent had received writing credits on “Deja Vu,” and it noted that the precise reason for the additions was unclear. Public reporting establishes the timing and the context. It does not establish who started any private conversation or what terms were agreed.
“Good 4 U” and Paramore: a separate episode
Rodrigo also credited Hayley Williams and Josh Farro of Paramore on “Good 4 U,” after listeners compared the song to Paramore’s “Misery Business.” Rolling Stone Australia (2021) reported the change as an interpolation and said the two artist teams had been in contact before release. This is a different credit episode. It is not evidence about Swift.
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2023 promotion: feud questions
During promotion for GUTS in 2023, Rodrigo was asked about a feud and about how fans read her lyrics. She said she did not have beef with anyone and did not want to say who her songs were about. That is her only on-record answer on the subject from that period.
2026: the “frost” question
In a 2026 New York Times Popcast interview, as reported by MusicRadar on 29 May 2026, Rodrigo was asked whether there was “frost” between her and Swift. She answered:
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“I don’t know. I think I tried to not let it, like, get to me or upset me. I think I just try to keep it trucking. I think there’s no… it was so long ago, there’s no use in, like, harping on it, and yeah, I just try to make songs that I love and try to be kind and good to other people and supportive of other people, and I’ve always like tried to be like that, and at the end of the day, I think that’s that’s all you can do.”
The answer does not confirm or deny a current private relationship. It describes the credit episode as past and says she tried not to be bothered by it.
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What “interpolation” means, and what it does not
An interpolation is musical material, a melody or lyric, taken from an earlier song and re-recorded in a new one. ABC triple j’s 2021 explainer distinguishes it from sampling. Interpolation is a licensing and credit matter. It is not a court finding of plagiarism. Credit changes of this kind are common when a songwriting team acknowledges borrowed material after a song is released, which is why the “Deja Vu” update drew attention. It does not, by itself, show a dispute between the artists.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Fan theories versus documented facts
Fans have read several Rodrigo songs as commentary on Swift, most often “Vampire” and “The Grudge.” Those readings are interpretations. Rodrigo has not confirmed that any song is about Swift, and she has declined to name the subjects of her songs. A reader can treat the credit chronology as fact, Rodrigo’s own remarks as her position, and fan readings as speculation.
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Bottom line for readers
- Swift and Rodrigo publicly praised one another early on.
- Swift, Antonoff, and St. Vincent were added as writers on “Deja Vu” in July 2021, and the reason was unclear at the time.
- Swift and Antonoff were already credited on “1 Step Forward, 3 Steps Back,” which interpolates “New Year’s Day.”
- Rodrigo has said she has no beef with anyone and that the credit episode is old. No public source establishes a feud.
The public record supports a narrower story than the rumors suggest: a songwriting credit that was added after the fact, a few public remarks, and a lot of interpretation.
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