Top 10 Times Musicians Burned Their Exes in Songs

Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran has remained pretty tight-lipped when it comes to revealing who the subject of his song “Don’t” is. But he has said that the track’s content was “100 percent true.” Released as the second single off his sophomore album “x,” (pronounced “multiply”) it was reportedly written about his relationship with singer-songwriter Ellie Goulding. Rumor has it that while they were seeing each other, she spent the night in a hotel room with former One Direction member Niall Horan. This supposed love triangle was directly mentioned in the song’s lyrics. Goulding, however, has denied being in a relationship with Sheeran. She also refuted claims that her song “On My Mind”, which many perceived as her response to the red-haired singer, had anything to do with him.

Olivia Rodrigo
Olivia Rodrigo hit the jackpot with her first ever single, which topped the Billboard Hot 100 and was one of the biggest songs of 2021. Prior to the release of the phenomenal tune, Rodrigo was mainly known for starring on the Disney+ show “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series.” That’s where she met and reportedly struck up a relationship with co-star Joshua Bassett. On “drivers license,” she sings about a failed relationship and an ex who leaves her for an older blonde girl. Fans were quick to pick up on the lyrics, deducing that the song was written about Bassett and his subsequent relationship with singer and actress Sabrina Carpenter.

Carly Simon
If you’ve ever dated Carly Simon, then maybe you’re the inspiration behind this classic tune. Arguably one of her biggest hits, “You’re So Vain” is a blistering track about a narcissistic lover from the star’s past. The song, which hit the top spot in the U.S. and Canada, fired up the gossip train over the mysterious identity of its subject. From heavyweights like Mick Jagger and David Bowie, to her then-husband James Taylor, there was a lot of speculation as to who exactly was “so vain.” In 2015, Simon hinted that the song’s three verses were directed at three different people. She only chose to name the inspiration behind the second verse -- Hollywood legend Warren Beatty.

Justin Bieber
Armed with just a guitar, trumpet and his husky vocals, Justin Bieber created a searing diss track to a self-absorbed ex in the form of “Love Yourself.” Co-written with Ed Sheeran and producer Benny Blanco, the song became a mega hit and left fans wondering who exactly it was about. While Bieber has never directly mentioned who inspired the acoustic ballad, clues point towards his pop star ex-girlfriend Selena Gomez. Gomez, who dated Bieber on and off for approximately 8 years, has an Arabic tattoo that reads “love yourself first.” The 2018 breakup between the two, and Bieber’s engagement to Hailey Baldwin (now Bieber) soon after, also reportedly inspired Gomez’s self-love anthem “Lose You to Love Me”.

Halsey
After kicking off their music career with two conceptual albums, Halsey dug deep into their personal emotions for the lead single off their third one. “Without Me,” which became their first chart-topper as a lead artist, detailed their relationship with hip-hop artist G-Eazy. The two had been in a very public romance, which fell apart in 2018, reportedly due to infidelity issues. And when a look-alike of their ex was featured as the male lead in the music video, people were increasingly certain that it was about him. In 2020, G-Eazy put out “Had Enough,” which contained several references to the singer, and was seen by many as his response to their criticism.

Little Mix
This aptly titled song was released as the lead single from “Glory Days,” the fourth album by British girl group Little Mix. All members of the group had a hand in co-writing the track. But the lyrics seem to throw shade particularly at one of the women’s exes - former One Direction member Zayn Malik. Malik and Perrie Edwards, who dated for four years and were engaged for two of them, split after he allegedly called the relationship quits via text. The song points out specific details about their relationship, including the four-year duration, Malik’s arm tattoo of Edwards and… ahem, their romantic relations. It may be a breakup song, but it’s certainly one you can tear up any dancefloor to.

Alanis Morissette
When it comes to diss tracks aimed at former flames, there are only a handful that are as scathing as Alanis Morissette’s smash hit “You Oughta Know.” The 1995 song became an unexpected success, soaring to the top ten in the U.S. and her home country of Canada. Morissette, who has confirmed that the Grammy-winning jam came from a place of pain and heartbreak, goes into pretty graphic detail here about her ex’s screwups. But she’s kept mum about who exactly the subject is. So the identity of her real-life inspiration has been a mystery for years. But the likes of “Full House” actor Dave Coulier and “Friends” star Matt LeBlanc have notably been the subjects of much speculation.

Justin Timberlake
The high-profile relationship between pop superstars Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears lasted from 1999 to 2002, when they split due to alleged infidelity issues on her part. Timberlake’s “Cry Me a River” was released soon after their break up. And according to Timbaland, who co-produced the track, it was penned about Spears following a fight. The former NSYNC vocalist left no stones unturned, releasing a highly controversial music video that featured a Britney Spears look-alike. In what appeared to be a response, Spears released the stripped pop ballad “Everytime,” where she acknowledges her wrongdoings to a former lover and asks for forgiveness. Following the release of the 2021 documentary “Framing Britney Spears,” Timberlake issued an apology for the way he handled their situation.

Taylor Swift
Over the course of Taylor Swift’s remarkable music career, she has written multiple songs that have been inspired by ex-boyfriends. Some, like “Dear John,” have been scathing and unambiguous in who they were directed at. Others, like this critically acclaimed power ballad, which is believed to be about actor Jake Gyllenhaal, show a more mature Swift. The track sees her reflecting on the grueling process of moving on after a breakup, exposing the many ways in which her ex devastated her. Originally released with her 2012 album “Red,” “All Too Well” was re-recorded, with two editions of the song making it onto the re-released 2021 album. In the ten-minute version, Swift goes into exceptional detail, painting a vivid picture of the heartbreak he caused her.

Eminem
Hip-hop legend Eminem and his high school sweetheart, Kimberly Scott, have had quite a volatile relationship since they met. The two first got married in 1999, divorced in 2001, then got remarried in 2006, only to go their separate ways roughly three months later. Eminem first penned “Kim,” which was released in 2000, back in ‘98, during a period where he and Scott were broken up. Lyrically, it features the duo in a nasty argument with a fatal ending. The song takes the fantasy of a scorned ex up several notches, and sees Eminem blur the line between his true self and his unstable alter ego Slim Shady. While “Kim” is still revered by hardcore Eminem fans, it’s drawn sharp critism for its disturbing lyrics.