James Johnson
General manager clarifies photo removal during Rodrigo’s 2023 performance was due to copyright—not feud—amid renewed fan speculation and resurfaced viral video.
Nashville’s iconic Bluebird Cafe has set the record straight following a swirl of online rumors suggesting a feud between Olivia Rodrigo and Taylor Swift. The speculation was reignited by a resurfaced social media video featuring a cafe employee joking that Swift’s photos were removed before Rodrigo’s 2023 performance at the venue. However, the cafe’s general manager has now clarified the real reason—and it has nothing to do with artist rivalry.
In a video statement shared on Wednesday via X (formerly Twitter), Bluebird Cafe general manager and COO Erica Nichols addressed the viral claims head-on.
“Yes, we did have a filming with Olivia Rodrigo here,” Nichols confirmed. “But Olivia’s people did not ask us to remove an image of Taylor Swift. Nobody did.”
Nichols explained that a photograph of Swift—one of many adorning the cafe’s legendary walls—was temporarily taken down purely for legal reasons related to filming rights.
“When we have filmings, we are required legally to remove images that are under copyright,” she said. “We don’t own those images, so we cannot give permission for them to be used in any kind of broadcast. That’s the sole reason that the photograph was removed from the place it stood.”
Nichols also noted that multiple other artist images were taken down for the same reason, including additional photos of Swift. The widely circulated claim, she said, originated from an employee who “spoke carelessly and haphazardly,” perhaps in jest, without full knowledge of the legal guidelines at play.
“This was not anything in between two artists,” she emphasized. “We support all songwriters, all artists, and give them equal share. Taylor is a super friend of the Bluebird, and we hold her in the highest esteem. We were honored to have Olivia here, and please know they both live extremely high in our regard.”
The Rumors Resurface
The online frenzy began after fans resurfaced a clip showing a cafe staffer casually recounting Rodrigo’s 2023 performance. When asked what adjustments were made ahead of the taping, the employee said with a laugh, “We vowed to remove any visible signs of Taylor Swift,” adding, “We respect the girlies.”
That lighthearted comment quickly sparked fresh debates about a rumored rift between Rodrigo and Swift—rumors that have been circulating since Rodrigo released her 2023 single “Vampire.” The hit track features scathing lyrics aimed at a “famef—er” who “bleeds me dry like a goddamn vampire,” prompting fans to speculate whether the song referenced Rodrigo’s previous copyright dispute with Swift.
Following the success of Rodrigo’s 2021 debut SOUR, she retroactively gave Swift co-writing credits on two tracks—“1 Step Forward, 3 Steps Back” and “Deja Vu”—and a reported 50% share in the royalties. Some fans viewed that outcome as contentious, though Rodrigo has repeatedly denied any personal animosity.
“I don’t have beef with anyone,” she told Rolling Stone in 2023. “I’m very chill. I keep to myself. I have my four friends and my mom, and that’s really the only people I talk to, ever.”
Artists Caught in the Fan Crossfire
Neither Swift nor Rodrigo have publicly commented on the Bluebird Cafe controversy or the recent resurfaced claims. Still, the episode reflects the ongoing challenges artists face when fan speculation—and online narratives—overtake the facts.
As Nichols put it best: “This was about copyright, not conflict.”
In the end, both Swift and Rodrigo remain celebrated voices in modern pop, and as the Bluebird Cafe reminded fans, there’s plenty of room for both in music’s storied spotlight.
