--- title: Katy Perry Talks About Taylor Swift and 'Swish Swish' description: Katy Perry explains what "Swish Swish," her latest track from "Witness" is about and addresses her feud with Taylor Swift canonical: https://time.com/4793002/katy-perry-taylor-swift-swish-swish/ author: Ashley Hoffman article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2017-05-24T19:17:32.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T07:47:30.639Z og:title: Katy Perry Explains the Meaning Behind 'Swish Swish' og:description: It involves a metaphor with a triumphant bird og:url: https://time.com/4793002/katy-perry-taylor-swift-swish-swish/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: TIME og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Katy Perry Explains the Meaning Behind 'Swish Swish' twitter:description: It involves a metaphor with a triumphant bird twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production --- # Katy Perry Discusses Taylor Swift Feud and the True Meaning of 'Swish Swish' ## Video: Katy Perry Reveals Exactly What Led to Her Taylor Swift Feud: 'She Started It' [Watch (HLS stream): Katy Perry Reveals Exactly What Led to Her Taylor Swift Feud: 'She Started It'](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/aEkUwbKN.m3u8) (1:33)  _Published 2017-05-23. Katy Perry is telling her side of the story as to what led to her feud with Taylor Swift_ by [Ashley Hoffman](https://time.com/author/ashley-hoffman/) ## Ashley Hoffman May 24, 2017 7:17 PM UTC by [Ashley Hoffman](https://time.com/author/ashley-hoffman/) ## Ashley Hoffman May 24, 2017 7:17 PM UTC After Katy Perry confirmed a long-rumored clash with [Taylor Swift that began with a disagreement over shared backup dancers](http://time.com/4790154/katy-perry-taylor-swift-feud-carpool-karaoke/) on Monday, Perry says she’s ready to mend fences. During a Tuesday interview with SiriusXM Morning Mash Up to promote her upcoming album, Perry addressed speculation that her latest strongly worded track is a barb aimed directly at the _1989_ singer. “‘Swish Swish’ just basically is like, I stay winning. I just like, you know I’m above that cr-p,” Perry said. “I’m gonna stay winning. You’re gonna try to hold me down. I’m gonna come out like a phoenix rising.” Perry then doubled down on her comments in [_EW_](http://time.com/4771017/katy-perry-bad-blood-response-new-album/) and on [Carpool Karaoke](http://time.com/4790154/katy-perry-taylor-swift-feud-carpool-karaoke/) with James Corden and referenced Swift’s song “Bad Blood,” which the singer never confirmed was about Perry. “You know it’s not about any one thing. Like of course we \[Taylor Swift and Katy Perry\] have our situation. I did try and reach out to her. I tried to do the right thing, the good thing, and you know she shut me down and wrote a song.” And if Swift were to call Perry on FaceTime, would Perry answer? “Absolutely,” Perry said. “By the way, I am ready because I think when women unite, the world is going to heal.” Perry continued: “I don’t have any beef really with anyone. I love everyone and honestly, I love everyone and I think we need to unite now more than ever.” Watch the clip below. 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