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Bluebird Café Denies Olivia Rodrigo’s Team Requested Taylor Swift Photos Be Removed Before 2023 Performance
Jun
Rumors of a rift between Olivia Rodrigo and Taylor Swift resurface, but the Nashville venue involved sets the record straight.
The manager of Nashville’s legendary Bluebird Café has officially debunked claims that Olivia Rodrigo’s team asked for Taylor Swift’s photos to be removed ahead of Rodrigo’s 2023 performance at the venue. The statement comes after a resurfaced video of a staff member jokingly claimed that the café “vowed to remove any visible signs of Taylor Swift” prior to the Vampire singer’s set.
📸 Taylor Swift Photos Were Taken Down — But Not at Olivia’s Request
In a video posted to X (formerly Twitter) on June 18, 2025, Erica Nichols, the café’s general manager and COO, clarified the situation. While confirming that a photo of Taylor Swift was removed, Nichols emphasized that the decision had nothing to do with Rodrigo or her team.
“Olivia’s people did not ask us to remove an image of Taylor Swift,” Nichols said. “We removed an image of Taylor Swift that was in a position where the filming was taking place. It was a copyright issue, plain and simple.”
Nichols explained that the café does not own the rights to every photo on its walls, so certain images must be removed for legal reasons during filmed performances. She also stated that other artist photos were taken down for the same reason, not just Swift’s.
🎤 No Bad Blood Between Rodrigo and Swift, Says Bluebird Café
Addressing speculation of tension between the two pop stars, Nichols firmly denied any suggestion of a feud:
“This was not anything in between two artists. Taylor is a super friend of the Bluebird, and we hold her in the highest esteem. We were honored to have Olivia here as well.”
She noted that the employee in the viral video likely “spoke carelessly and haphazardly,” adding, “Maybe they were trying to be funny but didn’t have all the facts.”
💬 Fan Theories Continue Amid “Vampire” Speculation
Speculation about a fallout between Rodrigo and Swift dates back to 2023, when Rodrigo released the single “Vampire“, which many fans interpreted as a veiled critique of Swift. The song references a manipulative “famef—er” who “bled [her] dry,” leading listeners to connect the lyrics to a prior songwriting credit dispute between the artists.
Rodrigo previously retroactively credited Taylor Swift on two tracks from her debut album Sour — “Deja Vu” and “1 Step Forward, 3 Steps Back” — granting Swift partial ownership and royalties. Despite this, Rodrigo has publicly downplayed any tension.
“I don’t have beef with anyone,” Rodrigo told Rolling Stone in 2023. “I’m very chill. I keep to myself… There’s nothing to say.”
✅ Final Word: No Drama, Just Copyright Law
While the resurfaced video stirred up fan theories, the Bluebird Café’s official statement makes it clear: there was no request from Olivia Rodrigo’s team to erase Taylor Swift — just routine legal precautions for a filmed performance. Both artists remain respected by the venue and its fans.
