Internet users are certain Taylor Swift and Charli XCX have bad blood.
After a clip circulated of the “party 4 you” singer seemingly unenthused while watching the “Opalite” singer become the first-ever recipient of the Artist-Director award at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards Sept. 27, more context has come to light about the viral moment.
In the 11-second video shared to X Sept. 27, Taylor is in the middle of thanking her fans when the camera cuts to Charli, who wore a straight face as she clapped one hand on her knee.
And while the clip has garnered nearly five million views, we should all know by now that social media isn’t always what it seems.
After all, the video was edited in an effort to further perpetuate a narrative that Taylor, 36, and Charli, 34, have beef.
Rather, the clip of Charli edited into Taylor’s speech was taken from elsewhere in the awards ceremony, when the “Von Dutch” singer solemnly listened as the surviving members of Nirvana—Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic and Pat Smear—accepted their Video Vanguard win.
