If fans of Taylor Swift thought ‘Look What You Made Me Do,’ the chart-topping lead single from her sixth album ‘Reputation’ (in stores today), had subtle hints of shade thrown toward her nemeses Katy Perry and Kanye West, their tongues were wagging once they took a listen to the album’s cut, ‘This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things.’
Find out why inside:
Summer 2016 saw West and wife Kim Kardashian expose Taylor Swift after the country-turned-pop star vehemently denied any knowledge of inclusion in his song, ‘Famous,’ which featured the infamous line:
“I feel like me and Taylor might still have sex
Why? I made that bitch famous (Goddamn)
I made that bitch famous”
Despite telling Instagram followers at the time that she “would very much like to be excluded from this narrative, one that I have never asked to be a part of, since 2009,” Taylor’s 2017 song ‘Nice Things’ suggests otherwise.
Following a ‘Bad Blood’-style chorus, Swift croons: “It was so nice being friends again/There I was, giving you a second chance/But you stabbed me in the back while shaking my hand.”
She even alludes to the phone call that exposed her when she sang: “And therein lies the issue/Friends don’t try to trick you/Get you on the phone and mind-twist you/And so I took an ax to a mended fence.”
As if that’s not enough, she even lowkey took a jab at West’s failed friendship with longtime buddy Jay Z: “But I’m not the only friend you’ve lost lately/Mm mmm/If only you weren’t so shady.”
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Ouch! I suppose homegirl deserves kudos for her willingness to defend herself (albeit with weak, indirect, underhanded commentary), but what’s the point of digging up old beefs that are long buried and forgotten about? Furthermore, that Kanye clapback – if he cares enough to do so – would not be anything Swift wants any part of. Besides, if the forecasted sales of ‘Reputation’ are any indication, the Wests’ exposing of her did approximately no damage to her brand and – once again (thanks Yeezy) – probably increased her already astronomical social status. The result? Opening the door for this new “bad girl Taylor” we’re being subjected to now. Sigh…
Ay yi yi. Keep it locked to That Grape Juice for more on this story as it develops.