Taylor Swift and Charli xcx prove why we’ll never get bored of female rivalry

Wednesday 8 October

Taylor Swift and Charli xcx prove why we'll never get bored of female rivalry

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"I heard you call me 'boring Barbie' when the coke's got you brave," sings Taylor Swift on "Actually Romantic", the most-discussed song on her new album, The Life of a Showgirl.

If you've somehow managed to escape the pandemonium in the last few days, then let me bring you up to speed. That lyric is presumed to be about Charli xcx, who sang about feeling anxious around Swift on her 2024 song "Sympathy is a Knife". In "Actually Romantic", Swift suggests that Charli has spent copious amounts of time and effort hating her. "Some people might be offended / But it's actually sweet, all the time you've spent on me," Swift sings. It's difficult, though, not to interpret Swift – the biggest artist in the world – attacking another female musician as anything but punching down.

This week, Katie asks why we're so obsessed with female rivalry, as this would not be the first time Swift has aimed thinly-veiled lyrics at a fellow musician. "Perhaps it's telling that, just a few hours after the album's release, 'Actually Romantic' (with its pretty blatant nod to the title of another Charli song, 'Everything is Romantic') is the song that has garnered the most attention by far, standing out in a sea of lyrics devoted to extolling the wonders of Taylor's fiancé, NFL star Travis Kelce, set to not-so memorable sonics. Taylor in love? Sure, fine, whatever, happy for you. Taylor going nuclear and directing her irritation at one of her pop girl peers? That's far more intriguing,'" writes Katie. Read more here.

A slight vibe shift, here – but I also reccommend checking out Helen's insightful piece about those who decided to cut ties with their parents, after actor Matthew McConaughey recently revealed that he didn't speak to his mother for eight years. Helen speaks to people who have gone no-contact with their parents for various reasons, and explains why we need to destigmatise estrangement.

And, 100 years on from the invention of the photo booth, Lydia looks back at why the analogue machines are making a comeback among Millennials and Gen Z. "Photo booths, with their antique charm, curtained privacy and non-judgemental gaze, offer us the opportunity to experience delight for just a few pounds," she writes.

In this week's newsletter you can expect:

Until next time!

The most-discussed song on Taylor Swift's new album The Life of a Showgirl sees Swift apparently stoke up a feud with one-time pal Charli xcx. In this piece, Katie Rosseinsky explores why rivalries like this provoke such fascination

Would you ever adopt the 996 working regime?

The 996 is a dystopian working pattern that has quietly become the norm across the tech industry. Specifically, these digits refer to the practice of working from 9am till 9pm every day, six days a week. Yes, that's right: 12 hours a day, totalling 72 a week.

Plenty have called it inhumane, exploitative and a recipe for burnout. But some businesses believe it's essential to thrive (and will handsomely compensate their employees for it). The question is: would you take a 25 per cent pay increase for a 996 work schedule? 

Vote in our poll and share your views in the comments here.

Last week, we asked whether you thought a romantic relationship can survive a swag gap, AKA when a friend or date doesn't reach the same levels of cool as you, whether that's in terms of career prospects, fashion sense or confidence. According to popular theories, most relationships with a swag mismatch ultimately burn down, with the least swaggy lashing out in envy or imitation. 

It was a split result: 31 per cent of you said the relationship could get past any discrepancy in swag; 26 per cent said you didn't believe that a swag gap is real. Then there were 36 per cent on the fence. Only six per cent said that a swag gap would lead to jealousy or insecurity.

Thanks for voting!

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