4. Olivia Rodrigo Just Likes Cruel Summer, OK?

Do you get deja vu? This week, we’re diving into the rumored Taylor Swift and Olivia Rodrigo fallout, unpacking the songwriting controversy, shifting public opinion and power dynamics that impacted their careers. How did public perception shape this narrative–and was there anything that could have been done to prevent it? Music created in Suno.**Sourceshttps://www.abc.net.au/triplej/news/olivia-rodrigo-taylor-swift-deja-vu-interpolation/13443342https://www.teenvogue.com/story/taylor-swift-praised-olivia-rodrigo-cover-cruel-summer https://www.businessinsider.com/taylor-swift-olivia-rodrigo-friendship-relationship-timeline-feud-rumors https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/olivia-rodrigo-breakdown-deja-vu-1150041/ https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/24/arts/music/olivia-rodrigo-guts.html https://www.businessinsider.com/olivia-rodrigo-speculation-vampire-taylor-swift-2023-9 https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/29/arts/music/olivia-rodrigo-new-album-interview-popcast.html https://www.justjared.com/2026/03/29/taylor-swift-olivia-rodrigo-seen-standing-next-to-each-other-at-paul-mccartney-concert-amid-feud-rumors/ https://pitchfork.com/news/taylor-swift-jack-antonoff-st-vincent-get-writing-credits-on-olivia-rodrigos-deja-vhttps://www.capitalfm.com/artists/olivia-rodrigo/taylor-swift-feud-deja-vu-credits-interview/ Transcript of Olivia + Coscarelli + Caramanica Segment:COSCARELLI You’ve been so forthcoming about your influences and people who are your heroes and what you’re trying to live up to. Not all artists are like that — some people are very stingy with giving credit or citing influence. But it’s come back to bite you a couple times, in terms of songwriting credits or album covers, people trying to call you out for borrowing a little too much. How have you pushed through what I assume were pretty hard times, with your creative vision being called into question?RODRIGO Yeah, it was a really hard time just personally, but I don’t know, I’m a fan girl, I love music, and nobody can take that away. It sounds so cheesy, but I love music and I feel so lucky that I get to do what I do, and I love so many songs and I’ve grown up being surrounded with awesome music and awesome bands. I would be writing songs if nobody listened and everyone hated it because it’s what I love to do.CARAMANICA Recently you were at a Paul McCartney concert in Los Angeles. There is a lot of public speculation about your relationship with Taylor Swift. In pictures [from that concert], you guys are walking out at the same time, and then there’s people on the internet being like, Are they facing each other? Are they facing away? How do you view that layer of scrutiny?RODRIGO Yeah, I don’t know, I really don’t read too far into it. I think if I dove into every internet detective sleuth that got things right or wrong about my life or any of my relationships, I think I would just go crazy. There’s just not enough time in the day.CARAMANICA Is there a frost between you and Taylor? How do you view that now that you’re a few years removed from the initial ruptures?RODRIGO I don’t know, I think I try to not let it get to me or upset me. I just try to keep on truckin’. It was so long ago, there’s no use in harping on it. I just try to make songs that I love and try to be kind and good to other people and supportive of other people.