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Charli XCX responds to backlash over Taylor Swift comments in new interview

‘I am extremely grateful to Taylor for inviting me to open for her’

Roisin O'Connor
Wednesday 07 August 2019 09:24 BST
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Charli XCX has clarified comments she made about touring with Taylor Swift after fans misconstrued them as negative.

The pop singer, who joined Swift on her Reputation tour last year, gave an interview with Pitchfork magazine where she spoke about her career and various collaborations with some of the biggest names in music.

In the article, she reportedly compared the experience to performing for “a bunch of five-year-olds”. However, the “1999” star shared a post on Twitter where she said the remark was taken “out of context” and she has “absolutely no shade and only love” for Swift.

“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,” Charli said. “She’s one of the biggest artists of my generation and the Reputation tour was one of the biggest tours in history.

“In the printed version of this much wider conversation by answers about this tour were boiled down into one kind of weird sentence – leading up to that tour I’d been playing a tonne of 18+ club shows and so to be on stage in front of all ages was new to me and made me approach my performances with a whole new kind of energy – more so I talked about how it was brilliant opening for Taylor, I am extremely grateful for the opportunity I was given and how much fun it was to perform to a new audience!”

She concluded: “Any tour I’ve been on with any other artist as an opening act has always taught me so much. It’s always wonderful to watch other artists do their thing, own their stage and speak their language to their dedicated fan bases – and this was especially true for the Reputation tour. Hope this gives clarity to what was a great interview! Lots of love.”

Charli XCX releases her new album Charli on 13 September. Swift’s new record Lover is released on 23 August.

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