Addison Rae and Charli XCX attend the Pandora ME London Launch Event at Leake street Arches on October 22, 2021 in London, England.Photo: NEIL MOCKFORD/GETTY IMAGES
Addison Rae is no stranger to how quickly fame can fuel speculation — especially when it comes to rumored rivalries between major pop stars. In a new interview with Los Angeles Times published Thursday (Dec. 18), Rae addressed ongoing chatter surrounding her close friend and collaborator Charli xcx and global superstar Taylor Swift.
When asked about the long-running fan speculation that the two artists are at odds — and whether she feels pressure to take sides — Rae kept her response measured. “I guess we’ll have to see,” she said, before adding that these narratives often miss the bigger picture. “There’s so much more to all these things. There are people that do weird things, and I try to avoid those people.”
Rae has maintained a close friendship with Charli, who supported her early music career. The two have collaborated multiple times, including on “2 Die 4” from Rae’s debut EP AR and Charli’s “Von Dutch” remix from the Brat era.
While neither Charli nor Swift has publicly confirmed any feud, fan theories have circulated for years. Much of the speculation intensified after Charli released “Sympathy Is a Knife,” a track some listeners interpreted as referencing insecurity around another woman in the industry. Others later speculated that Swift’s music or release strategies were subtle responses — claims neither artist has acknowledged.
Rae acknowledged that public rivalries can be entertaining for fans but said she doesn’t find them personally appealing. “Historically, there’s always been friendly — or sometimes unfriendly — competition,” she said. “It’s human nature to want to exceed a standard someone else has set. I’m just not really interested in that for myself.”
She also pointed out that the messiest moments often happen away from the spotlight. Reflecting on her own experience, Rae described confusing behind-the-scenes situations involving producers and creative overlaps. “No bad blood,” she said of one situation. “But suddenly things were sounding similar. The timeline of it all was very confusing and interesting.”
Despite the rumors, Charli has previously shut down anti-Swift behavior from fans, and Swift herself has publicly praised Charli’s songwriting and artistry — signaling mutual respect rather than rivalry.
SOURCE: Billboard