Olivia Rodrigo’s ‘GUTS’ Has Queer Fans Asking Questions About Her Lyrical Choices

Some people pointed out that in addition to Rodrigo’s sound being a throwback to a different era, the lyric also recalls the not-so-subtle homophobia of aughties songwriting as well. The most direct parallel is probably Taylor Swift’s early career song, “Picture To Burn,” in which she sang, “So go ahead and tell your friends that I’m obsessive and crazy / That’s fine, I’ll tell mine you’re gay.”

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The lyric resonates a little differently from Swift’s non-specific (but still homophobic) barb, however. Rodrigo’s ex and former High School Musical co-star, Joshua Bassett, expressed that he is attracted to men in a 2021 Instagram post about Harry Styles. (Bassett later told People in 2022 that he will not reveal publicly how he identifies “in an effort not to be boxed in.”) While some are “yas queen”-ing Rodrigo for the shade, others feel as though the lyric was in poor taste.

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However, elsewhere on GUTS, Rodrigo dropped a classic “is this song gay or just a really homoerotic expression of jealousy” moment. In the fourth track on the album, “Lacy,” the singer addresses the titular subject, calling her “smart,” “sexy,” and “the sweetest thing on this side of hell.”

Once again, people immediately drew comparisons to Taylor Swift, imploring Rodrigo not to “pull a betty.” (In “betty,” from Swift’s 2020 album folklore, the singer expresses devotion to the eponymous Betty, although she later clarified that it was written from the perspective of a boy.) Regardless of her actual intent, many have already crowned the song as a “sapphic anthem.”

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Regardless of how you feel about Olivia Rodrigo — and whether or not she’s homophobic and/or queer — the discourse will be nigh inescapable in the coming months, considering that the album has been out for less than a day and already generated this much buzz. 

Just please, no more queerbaiting discourse.

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