<p id=”par-1_43″>Getting criticized has led to some of <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/tag/taylor-swift/”>Taylor Swift</a>’s “best friendships.” Yes, really. The Grammy winner once explained how she became <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/taylor-swifts-super-bowl-invite-list-includes-2-friends-allegedly-not-stand.html/”>friends with celebs </a>after they roasted her publicly. How did it work exactly? According to Swift, the criticism simply started a “conversation.” </p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-public-criticism-helped-swift-make-friends-because-it-sparked-conversation”>Public criticism helped Swift make friends because it sparked ‘conversation’</h2>
<p id=”par-2_41″>In a 2019 <a href=”https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/taylor-swift-rolling-stone-interview-880794/” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>Rolling Stone</a> interview, Swift shared how a number of her “best friendships” started rather surprisingly—with public criticism. “Some of my best friendships came from people <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/taylor-swift-responds-lordes-criticism-image-whatever.html/”>publicly criticizing</a> me and then it opening up a conversation,” the now-35-year-old said.</p>
<p id=”par-3_52″>Swift then name-dropped two fellow musicians, Hayley Kiyoki and Lorde. “Hayley Kiyoko was doing an interview,” Swift said. “And she made an example about how I get away with singing about straight relationships and people don’t give me sh*t the way they give her sh*t for singing about girls—and it’s totally valid.” </p>
<p id=”par-4_22″>“Like, [real name] Ella—Lorde—the first thing she ever said about me publicly was a criticism of my image or whatever,” Swift added. </p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-what-kiyoko-and-lorde-said-about-taylor-swift”>What Kiyoko and Lorde said about Taylor Swift </h2>
<figure class=”wp-block-image aligncenter size-full” id=”emb-1″><img decoding=”async” src=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Taylor-Swift-who-said-some-of-her-best-freindships-came-after-they-criticized-her-with-Lorde.webp?strip=all&quality=80″ alt=”Taylor Swift, who said some of her ‘best freindships’ came after they criticized her, with Lorde” class=”wp-image-3788077″><figcaption class=”wp-element-caption”>Taylor Swift and Lorde | Adrian Sanchez-Gonzalez/AFP via Getty Images</figcaption></figure>
<p id=”par-5_31″>So, what exactly did Lorde and Kiyoko say about Swift that opened up the door to them becoming friends? For Kiyoko, it started with her March 2018 Refinery29 interview, per <a href=”https://www.elle.com/culture/music/a19648883/taylor-swift-hayley-kiyoko-defends-fans/” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>Elle</a>. </p>
<p id=”par-6_45″>“I’ve had several music industry execs say, ‘You’re doing another music video about girls?’” she told the outlet. “I literally looked at them and was like, ‘um, yeah…Taylor Swift sings about men in every single song and video, and no one complains that she’s unoriginal.’” </p>
<p id=”par-7_30″>“I’m not over-sexualizing my music,” she added. “I make out with women because I love women, not because I’m trying to be sexy. That’s not to turn heads—that’s my life.” </p>
<p id=”par-8_32″>Swift went on to defend Kiyoko against fan criticism on Tumblr, writing, in part, that “we should applaud artists who are brave enough to tell their honest romantic narrative through their art.” </p>
<p id=”par-9_58″>As for Lorde, before she became friends with Swift, she described the “All Too Well” singer as “so flawless and so unattainable,” telling Metro in 2013, “I don’t think it’s breeding anything good in young girls,” per <a href=”https://www.huffpost.com/entry/lorde-taylor-swift_n_4022283″ target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>HuffPost</a>. The then-16-year-old later clarified her comments online and now she and Swift have been friends for more than a decade. </p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-is-swift-still-friends-with-hayley-kiyoko-and-lorde”>Is Swift still friends with Hayley Kiyoko and Lorde?</h2>
<figure class=”wp-block-image aligncenter size-full” id=”emb-2″><img decoding=”async” src=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Hayley-Kiyoko-and-Taylor-Swift-at-the-2019-Billboard-Women-in-Music-event.webp?strip=all&quality=80″ alt=”Hayley Kiyoko and Taylor Swift at the 2019 Billboard Women in Music event” class=”wp-image-3788076″><figcaption class=”wp-element-caption”>Hayley Kiyoko and Taylor Swift | Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Billboard</figcaption></figure>
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<p id=”par-10_37″>While Swift hasn’t been spotted publicly with Lorde or Kiyoko in years, it seems the “Fortnight” singer’s friendships with her fellow pop stars are still going strong. However, it’s unclear just how close they are these days. </p>
<p id=”par-11_67″>In 2023, Lorde shared a “kind” 2017 text Swift sent her following the release of her <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/lorde-favorite-samplings-from-melodrama-included-tigers-roar.html/”>“Melodrama” album</a> (via <a href=”https://pagesix.com/2023/06/18/lorde-gives-rare-glimpse-into-friendship-with-kind-taylor-swift/” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>Page Six</a>). In it, Swift said she pictured Lorde “in a rowboat with Annie Lennox floating down a river of cool cerebral ethereal dreams but don’t-f**k-with-me vibes all around you.” She also told the “Royals” singer that, in her opinion, “first week record sales singularly define a legacy.” </p>
<p id=”par-12_56″>As for Kiyoko, she <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/taylor-swifts-adorable-fan-interaction-wholesome.html/”>joined Swift onstage</a> during the “Down Bad” singer’s Reputation tour in 2018. Swift was also, according to Kiyoko’s partner and <em>Bachelor</em> alum, Becca Tilley, one of the first people who learned they were dating (via <a href=”https://people.com/music/becca-tilley-says-taylor-swift-knew-about-hayley-kiyoko-relationship-early/” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>People</a>). Swift occasionally pops up on Kiyoko’s <a href=”https://www.instagram.com/p/CoV59Z7v-Q0/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y%3D&img_index=1″ target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>Instagram</a>, like in snaps from a 2023 <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/taylor-swift-didnt-win-grammy-awards-simple-reason.html/”>Grammy Awards</a> after-party. </p>
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