Charli XCX condemns chanting ‘Taylor is dead’ at shows

Charli XCX has demanded an end to alleged chants of ‘Taylor is dead!’ at her concerts immediately, calling it ‘disturbing’.

The singer, 31, took to her Instagram Stories to respond after being informed that some of her fans had been shouting the hateful message about fellow pop star Taylor Swift during her gigs.

Calling for it to stop, she declared that it is ‘the opposite of what I want’ and warned that she would ‘not tolerate it’.

After her latest concert in  São Paulo, Brazil on Sunday night, someone shared a number of videos of attendees appearing to chant ‘A Taylor Morreu’, which translates in English to ‘Taylor is dead’.

The fan addressed Charli, saying: ‘Hey @charli_xcx, your Brazilian fans have been showing toxic behaviour by screaming “Taylor is dead!” in your concerts and events related to you. 

Charli XCX has demanded an end to alleged chants of ‘Taylor is dead!’ at her concerts immediately, calling it ‘disturbing’ (pictured last month)

The singer, 31, took to her Instagram Stories to respond after being informed that some of her fans had been shouting the hateful message about fellow pop star Taylor Swift (pictured Sunday) during her gigs

Sharing a screenshot of a fan informing her of the chants, she called for it to stop, saying it is ‘the opposite of what I want’ and that she would ‘not tolerate it’

‘Could you do something about it? We don’t [believe] that’s what music should be about.’

Sharing a screenshot of the tweet, Charli replied on her Instagram, writing: ‘can the people who do this please stop. online or at my shows. 

‘it is the opposite of what i want and it disturbs me that anyone would think there is room for this in this community. i will not tolerate it.’

Fans have long speculated that Charli and Taylor have bad blood, with the two singers’ latest albums currently battling in the charts.

Charli’s sixth studio album Brat has won rave reviews, debuting as the ‘most critically acclaimed record of the year’ over Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter and Taylor’s latest record, The Tortured Poets Department (TTPD).

Ranking number one on Metacritic, Brat received ‘universal acclaim’ based on a score of 92 out of 100 from 11 critics scores.

But the hyper pop-electronic record failed to debut at number one on the British charts, after being pipped at the post by Taylor releasing a new limited edition of TTPD with some bonus tracks.

Many fans believe the release to be a strategic move on the part of the Blank Space hitmaker to prevent Charli getting the top spot, a tactic Taylor has been accused of doing several times before.

Fans have long speculated that Charli and Taylor have bad blood, with the two singers’ latest albums currently battling in the charts (pictured performing together in 2015)

Charli’s sixth studio album Brat has won rave reviews, debuting as the ‘most critically acclaimed record of the year’ over Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter and Taylor’s latest record, The Tortured Poets Department (TTPD) 

But the hyper pop-electronic record failed to debut at number one on the British charts, after being pipped at the post by Taylor releasing a new limited edition of TTPD with some bonus tracks

Many fans believe the release to be a strategic move on the part of the Blank Space hitmaker to prevent Charli getting the top spot, a tactic Taylor has been accused of doing several times before

Commenting on the controversy earlier this month, The Guardian said: ‘That she seems to reissue TTPD specifically to best smaller artists – and, notably, smaller female artists – creates the image of Swift as Goliath attempting to crush Charli’s hedonistic, gothy David.’

Adding to the idea of a rivalry between Charli and Taylor is speculation that one of the songs on Brat is about Taylor herself.

Hit track Sympathy is a Knife sees Charli singings about her complicated feelings towards another woman, and how she makes her feel insecure.

The lyrics say: ‘I don’t wanna share the space / I don’t wanna force a smile / This one girl taps my insecurities / Don’t know if it’s real or if I’m spiralling’.

‘Cause I couldn’t even be her if I tried / I’m opposite, I’m on the other side.’

While another line says: ‘Don’t wanna see her backstage at my boyfriend’s shows / Fingers crossed behind my back, I hope they break up quick’.

Several fans have taken this to be a direct reference to Taylor who briefly dated The 1975 frontman Matty Healy last year, while Charli is currently engaged to his bandmate, drummer George Daniel.

Charli and Taylor previously were on good terms, with the Boom Clap hitmkaer opening for the billionaire artist’s Reputation Tour in 2018.

However, the relationship appeared to sour and in 2019, Charli told Pitchfork: ‘I’m really grateful that [Taylor] asked me on that tour but as an artist, it kind of felt like I was getting up onstage and waving to 5-year-olds.’

Adding to the idea of a rivalry between Charli and Taylor is speculation that one of the songs on Brat is about Taylor herself (Charli pictured this month)

Hit track Sympathy is a Knife sees Charli singings about her complicated feelings towards another woman, and how she makes her feel insecure

Several fans have taken this to be a direct reference to Taylor who briefly dated The 1975 frontman Matty Healy last year, while Charli is currently engaged to his bandmate, drummer George Daniel (pictured together last year)

She later took to her social media to say her comments had been taken out of context, insisting: ‘As I say in the article and have said many times before, I am extremely grateful to Taylor for inviting me to open for her.

‘She’s one of the biggest artists of my generation and the Reputation tour was one of the biggest tours in history.’

The latest rumoured feud comes just days after Charli and Lorde cast their issues aside to team up for a new remix of Girl, So Confusing, which was released on Thursday. 

The shock collaboration follows rumours that the original track on Brat, was about Lorde, 27, with Charli singing about an ‘awkward’ and confusing relationship she has with another female singer who she ‘doesn’t have much in common’ with.

Referencing the way the pair have been compared ever since they entered the music scene, the star sings: ‘People say we’re alike/They say we’ve got the same hair/We talk about making music/ But I don’t know if it’s honest.’

In the surprise remix of the song, Lorde seemingly confirms it’s about her and addresses the spat.

The Green Light hitmaker sings: ‘Well honestly I was speechless/ When I woke up to your voice note / You told me how you’ve been feeling / Let’s work it out on the remix.

‘You’d always say, ‘Let’s go out’/ But then I’d cancel last minute/ I was so lost in my head/ And scared to be in the pictures.’

Charli and Taylor previously were on good terms, with the Boom Clap hitmkaer opening for the billionaire artist’s Reputation Tour in 2018 (pictured on tour with Camila Cabello)

However, the relationship appeared to sour and in 2019, Charli told Pitchfork: ‘I’m really grateful that [Taylor] asked me on that tour but as an artist, it kind of felt like I was getting up onstage and waving to 5-year-olds’ (pictured on tour)

During the chorus, they put their voices together to belt: ‘And when we put this to bed/ The internet will go crazy’.

Now that they have hashed it out, the artists have no problem with supporting each other publicly.

Lorde took to her Instagram stories following the release of BRAT, to quip: ‘The only album I’ve ever presaved is out today. Charli just cooked this one different…

‘So much grit, grace and skin in the game. I speak for all of us when I say it’s an honor to be moved, changed and gagged by her work. There is NO ONE like this b***h.’

Last month, Charli told Rolling Stone that she used to be ‘super jealous of the success’ that Lorde got in her early career.

She said: ‘You piece all this stuff together in your brain, like: She was into my music. She had big hair, I had big hair. She wore black lipstick, I once wore black lipstick.

‘You create these parallels and think, ‘Well, that could have been me.’ But it couldn’t have because we’re completely different people.

‘I wasn’t making music that sounded anything like Royals. I think you just read what you want into it because you’re feeling insecure about your own work.’

An interviewer even once mistook Charli for Lorde and she played along, pretending she was her.

The latest rumoured feud comes just days after Charli and Lorde cast their issues aside to team up for a new remix of Girl, So Confusing, which was released on Thursday (pictured in December)

The shock collaboration follows rumours that the original track on Brat, was about Lorde, 27, with Charli singing about an ‘awkward’ and confusing relationship she has with another female singer who she ‘doesn’t have much in common’ with (pictured together in 2014)