Why Fans Think Taylor Swift Just Shaded Kanye West
Taylor Swift returned to London with her Eras Tour last night, but during the performance, she had a "petty" surprise for the whole world up her sleeve.
While kicking off her five-night run in the capital city on Thursday, Aug. 15, the Grammy winner snuck in an updated title change to one of the apparent diss tracks from her latest album, a 31-track anthology titled The Tortured Poets Department.
In an image of the promo to download Swift's Live in London version of the song, which, like other live recordings, was only made available for a limited time and has since been removed from her official website, fans quickly noticed the capitalization of the title had changed since it was first released in April.
The song that was initially titled “thanK you aIMee” was updated to read "thank You aimEe," and some Swifties believe it's a direct snub at Kanye "Ye" West.
??| "thanK you aIMee" received a name change, being now "thank You aimEe". pic.twitter.com/LnfiCoxC0w
— The Swift Society (@TheSwiftSociety) August 15, 2024
Ironically enough (or not), the presumed subject Swift writes of in the lyrics was first thought to be the rapper's ex-wife, Kim Kardashian, as the meaning hidden in the intentional capitalization of certain letters in the title spelled out Kardashian's first name and many Swifties were able to draw comparisons to the person the pop star sings about and the SKIMS founder.
Swift, 34, and Kardashian, 43, have famously been at odds ever since the reality TV personality released an illegally recorded and edited phone call her then-husband had with Swift that framed the singer as a liar and made her fear for her career. Given the 47-year-old rapper's part in it all, this latest edit seems to be further confirmation of what inspired the song, at least according to the Eras Tour artist's fandom.
"KIM and YE im screeeeching," one wrote via X (formerly Twitter).
"i love when she gets petty," another joked before someone else similarly shared, "oh she petty, dragging them both as she should."
"SHES A MASTERMIND," a third declared.
Many fans also presumed the timing of the release was meant to block his new album, Vultures 2, from reaching number one on the charts, as TTPD ended his long-lasting streak of No. 1 albums when it debuted at No. 2 earlier this month.
it wouldve been funny if Taylor announced rep tv the day K*nye's album came out but her blocking him from going #1 with an album that has been out for 4 months is even better????
— Kaylee (@scarletxspidey) August 11, 2024
But the "petty" digs aren't all Swift had for fans at Wembley Stadium, as she also surprised concertgoers with a special guest and local talent Ed Sheeran.