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What’s Going on With Taylor Swift and Damon Albarn?

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I don’t know what it is about Taylor Swift that seems to bring out everyone’s most bizarre and projection-filled behavior, but once again, we find ourselves staring down the barrel of a Swift-related controversy. On Sunday, British musician Damon Albarn laid some pretty bold claims at her feet, and predictably the situation had everyone—or, at least, everyone on Twitter—up in arms. Get all the details on the feud below:

What did Albarn actually say?

In a Los Angeles Times interview published on Sunday, Albarn accused Swift of not writing her own songs, saying, “I know what cowriting is. Cowriting is very different to writing. I’m not hating on anybody, I’m just saying there’s a big difference between a songwriter and a songwriter who cowrites.” Albarn then went on to compare Swift to fellow musician Billie Eilish. “A really interesting songwriter is Billie Eilish and her brother,” he remarked. “I’m more attracted to that than to Taylor Swift. It’s just darker—less endlessly upbeat. Way more minor and odd. I think she’s exceptional.”

What was Swift’s response?

On Monday, Swift replied to Albarn’s quote after it was shared on Twitter, writing, “I was such a big fan of yours until I saw this. I write ALL of my own songs. Your hot take is completely false and SO damaging. You don’t have to like my songs but it’s really fucked up to try and discredit my writing. WOW.”

Did Albarn apologize?

Yes. In a tweet, Albarn replied: “I totally agree with you. i had a conversation about songwriting and sadly it was reduced to clickbait. I apologise unreservedly and unconditionally. The last thing I would want to do is discredit your songwriting. I hope you understand.”

Did Albarn’s apology seem genuine?

That’s really for Swift to decide, but it does seem kind of weird to trash one of the preeminent female songwriters out there and then try to blame it on clickbait (when, in fact, the Los Angeles Times appears to have printed a fairly direct transcript of what was said. Did they tweet out the most salacious part of the interview? Yes, but Albarn did still say it).

How is the president of Chile involved?

Amazing question. On Monday, Chilean president Gabriel Boric Font weighed in on the matter via Twitter, writing to Swift, “Here in Chile you have a huge group of supporters who knows that you write you own songs from the heart. Dont [sic] take seriously guys that need to insult or lie to get attention. Hugs from the south Taylor.” Okay!

Why are people constantly coming for Taylor Swift?

I have literally no idea.

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