Charli XCX wrote the song "Sympathy Is a Knife," which many fans speculate is about Taylor Swift, regarding insecurities and a complicated situation involving connections to Swift's past relationship. However, Charli has stated the song is about her anxiety and insecurities rather than Taylor specifically. In response, Taylor Swift wrote the song "Actually Romantic" from her 2025 album "The Life of a Showgirl," which is widely interpreted as a playful rebuttal to Charli's "Sympathy Is a Knife." Taylor's song references a songwriter who called her "Boring Barbie" and wrote a song about how it bothers them to see her face, which aligns with the themes in Charli's track. Taylor spins the tension into a tongue-in-cheek, almost affectionate narrative, highlighting the unspoken rivalry between them.
Thus, the song Charli XCX wrote that is widely thought to be about Taylor Swift is "Sympathy Is a Knife," and Taylor Swift responded with "Actually Romantic."
