Bluebird Cafe denies Olivia Rodrigo requested Taylor Swift photos be removed

The Bluebird Cafe has addressed speculation that Olivia Rodrigo’s team asked the venue to remove images of Taylor Swift ahead of Rodrigo’s performance there in 2023.

In a video statement posted to X on June 18, Bluebird Cafe general manager and COO Erica Nichols denied the rumor, clarifying that the photos were taken down due to copyright issues during filming. “Olivia’s people did not ask us to remove an image of Taylor Swift,” Nichols said. “We are required legally to remove copyrighted images for broadcast.”

The clarification came after a resurfaced video showed a Bluebird employee claiming the cafe “vowed to remove any visible signs of Taylor Swift” before Rodrigo performed. Nichols said the employee “spoke carelessly and haphazardly,” and the photo was removed purely for legal reasons.

Nichols emphasized that the venue continues to support both artists equally. “Taylor is a super friend of the Bluebird… and we were honored to have Olivia here,” she said.

The rumor fueled fan theories of a feud between Rodrigo and Swift, stemming from songwriting credit controversies on Rodrigo’s tracks “Deja Vu” and “1 Step Forward, 3 Steps Back,” which interpolated Swift’s music. Rodrigo has repeatedly denied any rift, telling Rolling Stone in 2023: “I don’t have beef with anyone.”

The manager concluded by urging fans not to read into the false narrative, reiterating that the venue removed multiple images—not just Swift’s—as standard filming procedure.