Olivia Rodrigo Reflects on Taylor Swift Songwriting Credit Drama and Says She’s Focused on Moving Forward
Olivia Rodrigo discussed the long-running conversation around crediting and musical influence in a new interview, while also focusing on her upcoming album, You Seem Pretty Sad For A Girl So In Love, due on 12 June. The interview, on The New York Times’ Popcast, returned to the early-2021 controversy surrounding her song “Deja Vu,” after hosts Jon Caramanica and Joe Coscarelli asked whether there is now any tension between Rodrigo and Taylor Swift.
The issue began during Rodrigo’s Sour era. Rodrigo had openly praised Swift as an influence and had already credited Swift and Jack Antonoff on “1 Step Forward, 3 Steps Back,” which interpolated Swift’s “New Year’s Day.” But “Deja Vu,” Rodrigo’s second single from Sour, became a bigger talking point after Swift, Antonoff, and St. Vincent were later added as co-writers. That happened months after release, following comments Rodrigo made in Rolling Stone about how the bridge in “Deja Vu” was partly inspired by Swift’s “Cruel Summer.” Rodrigo had said she wanted to create a high-energy bridge and admired the “yelly vocals” and harmonized yells in Swift’s song.
Asked directly whether there is “frost” between her and Swift, Rodrigo gave a careful answer. She said she did not know, but explained that she tried not to let the situation upset her and has chosen to move on rather than dwell on it. Rodrigo said there is “no use” in harping on something that happened long ago and emphasized that she tries to make songs she loves while remaining kind, good, and supportive toward other people. Her response suggested she still sees the matter as unresolved emotionally, even if she does not want to revisit it.
The conversation also touched on a broader pattern in Rodrigo’s career: her admiration for other artists has sometimes overlapped with later credit adjustments. A similar situation occurred with “Good 4 U,” another Sour track, when Hayley Williams and Josh Farro of Paramore were later credited because of its resemblance to the band’s 2007 song “Misery Business.” Even so, Rodrigo said she remains a fan and that nobody can take away her love of music. She described herself as a devoted music fan who would keep writing songs even if no one heard them or liked them.
Despite the controversy, Rodrigo has continued to build positive relationships with some of her musical heroes. She later collaborated with St. Vincent on the 2024 single “Obsessed” and performed it using St. Vincent’s signature guitar model. She also formed a friendship with Robert Smith of The Cure after duetting with him at Glastonbury in 2025. Rodrigo has also paid tribute to Jack White at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and brought The Breeders on tour with her. For now, the singer appears focused on her music, her new album, and the creative connections she has built along the way.
