A seemingly unlikely source, the Los Angeles Public Library, unexpectedly captured the internet’s attention after uploading a quirky, informative pop culture video to Instagram. The clip features a research librarian delivering a dramatic, point-by-point breakdown of the alleged feud between pop superstars Taylor Swift and Charli XCX to a flustered patron who frantically scribbles notes. The unconventional explainer quickly achieved viral status, offering fans a detailed context for the ongoing lyrical battle between the former tourmates.
The video answered the question for those not in the know: Why are Taylor Swift and Charli XCX fighting? The answer meticulously traced the complicated history, from Charli’s 2018 turn as an opening act on Swift Reputation tour to the core conflict involving the band The 1975. Specifically, the ‘Bad Blood’ singer briefly dated frontman Matty Healy in 2023, while Charli is now married to the band’s drummer, George Daniel.
Decoding the Deep Dive: Fans Declare the Library “Doing The Lord’s Work”
Viewers reacted with shock and delight at the library’s unexpected knowledge. One comment read, “These two are paid actors??!? Employees of the library? This is brilliant.” Another celebrated the unexpected authority: “LAPL just out here doing the lord’s work.”
The librarian detailed how the rivalry intensified with Charli’s 2024 album, Brat, and the song “Sympathy is a knife,” where she sang about a peer who “taps my insecurities,” admitting, “Don’t wanna see her backstage at my boyfriend’s show / Fingers crossed behind my back, I hope they break up quick.”
Swift’s alleged rebuttal came this month on her new album, The Life of a Showgirl, with the track “Actually Romantic.” On the song, the ‘Blank Slate’ singer addressed the perceived disdain directly: “I heard you call me ‘Boring Barbie’,” She then reframed the harsh words as flattery, calling the fixation “actually romantic.” An impressed fan, a self-proclaimed Swiftie, commented on the video’s accuracy: “As a swiftie who knows the lore, this was surprisingly well researched! 😂👏”
The album comes after the highly publicized end of her brief fling with Healy, an emotional period Charli XCX referenced in her own music. Swift has famously moved on from the breakup and is now engaged to NFL star Travis Kelce, but her latest song suggests her rival is focused on her past.
A Tale of Two Divas: Taylor Swift’s Legacy and Charli XCX’s Rise
The discourse pits two dramatically different career paths against each other. Swift has built her career on intensely personal, narrative-driven songwriting. Charli XCX found success with the early hit “Boom Clap” and more recently with the acclaimed, genre-pushing introspective pop of Brat.
The explanation video has surfaced as Swift fans try to decode Easter eggs the singer left for them in her new album, a practice for which the singer is well-known. A commenter suggested a sequel to the viral video, writing: “Can we have this as a recurring format where LAPL gives pop culture explainers and can we please do Labubu next lol.”
Next: Charli XCX Issues Bold Demand to Her Fans After They Go Viral for Taylor Swift Chant at Her Shows
