The social media rumor mill went into full overdrive this week after sharp-eyed pop fans noticed that Olivia Rodrigo “liked” an Instagram post containing a subtle critique of Taylor Swift. However, a closer look at social media dynamics suggests the narrative might be far more about algorithmic scrolling than genuine celebrity drama.
The online frenzy kicked off on Tuesday, August 18, when music publication Pitchfork published a carousel post highlighting singer-songwriter Audrey Hobert following her buzzed-about Tiny Desk Concert. The post linked to an essay written by critic Sam Sodomsky praising Hobert’s lyricism. While the cover slide featured a simple portrait of Hobert under the headline “It’s a Good Time to Get Into Audrey Hobert,” the second slide highlighted a specific quote comparing Hobert’s work to Swift’s recent catalog:
“The first time I listened to Audrey Hobert‘s Who’s the Clown?, my initial thought was: These sound like the lead singles Taylor Swift doesn’t release anymore. What a joy to hear a pop songwriter with a genuine sense of humor and the confidence to make a song stick after repeated listens,” the excerpt read.
Because Rodrigo liked the overall carousel, commentators were quick to interpret the action as deliberate shade directed at Swift. Comments quickly poured in across the post, with one user writing, “olivia rodrigo can’t stop talking about taylor in interviews and now she does this but if it was the other way…” while another added, “@oliviarodrigo you can’t be serious. Did you bother reading the second slide?”
However, observers were quick to point out that double-tapping a post on Instagram applies a “like” to the entire upload, making it entirely probable that Rodrigo simply liked the cover image celebrating Hobert without swiping through to read every detailed quote excerpt.
Speculation regarding friction between the two stars has lingered online for years, largely rooted in retroactively added songwriting credits on Rodrigo’s 2021 hit “Deja Vu” referencing Swift’s “Cruel Summer.” Yet Rodrigo herself addressed the public’s obsession with internet-generated rivalries during an appearance on The New York Times’ Popcast, offering a grounded perspective on online noise:
“I don’t really read that far into it,” Rodrigo shared. “I think it comes with the territory, and it’s par for the course. 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’d just go crazy. There’s just not enough time in the day.”
