Decoding Taylor Swift's 'Cassandra': Is the Song Hinting at Kanye West or Scooter Braun?

Is Taylor Swift Cassandra About Kanye West or Scooter Braun Lyrics

Taylor Swift, Kanye West, and Scooter Braun. Getty Images (3)

Taylor Swift is known for incorporating secret messages in her songs, and her latest release, "Cassandra" from The Tortured Poets Department, is no exception.

Fans were left wondering about the significance of the name Cassandra when Swift released an extended version of her 11th album on April 19. Many have speculated that it could be a nod to Greek mythology, specifically to Cassandra, the daughter of Priam and Hecuba, who had the gift of prophecy. Some fans have even compared Swift to a mastermind, witch, or sorcerer.

Cassandra was cursed by the god Apollo, making it so that no one believed her prophecies and she was considered a liar, which has connections to Jonathan Swift's writing style. According to her myth, snakes would whisper in her ears, granting her the ability to see into the future.

In the lyrics of a song, it is mentioned that when Cassandra tried to reveal the truth, no one listened and she was killed because of her fear of what was to come. The chorus describes how her cell was filled with snakes as a punishment, prompting the question, "Do you believe me now?"

Since Swift released The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology, fans have been wondering about the inspiration behind the song "Cassandra." Two popular theories have emerged, and we'll break them down for you below.

Is Taylor Swift’s ‘Cassandra’ About Kim Kardashian and Kanye West?

2009 MTV Video Music Awards Is Taylor Swift Cassandra About Kanye West or Scooter Braun Lyrics

In 2009, during the MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall, Kanye West jumped onstage after Taylor Swift won the “Best Female Video” award. Image credit: Christopher Polk/Getty Images

Let's rewind back to 2016, a time before Taylor Swift released Reputation and Kanye West was mentioning Swift in his song "Famous." ("Me and Taylor still might have sex / I made that woman famous.")

West and Swift's turbulent history began back in 2009 at the VMAs. You probably already know the story - West interrupted Swift's acceptance speech to say Beyoncé deserved the award. Later, when "Famous" came out, Swift denied approving West's lyrics, contradicting his previous claims.

Kim Kardashian stepped in to defend her then-husband, calling out Swift and sharing a phone call between Swift and West. The call seemed to prove that Swift had actually agreed to be mentioned. This led to Swift facing backlash in the public eye, with many not believing her side of the story. ("In the streets, there’s a raging riot / When it’s ‘Burn the bitch,’ they’re shrieking," she sings on the TTPD track.)

Is Taylor Swift’s ‘Cassandra’ About Scooter Braun?

It seemed like the drama had calmed down, but in 2020, the full phone call between Swift and West was leaked. This revealed that Swift had been telling the truth all along. In her song "Cassandra," she sings about how the truth eventually comes out quietly, referring to how no one had defended her when she was dragged through the mud years before.

Some fans have also speculated that the track is a reference to her dispute with Scooter Braun over her masters. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, we’ve seen this film before. To briefly recap, Braun — a music manager — purchased the rights to Swift’s music from Big Machine Records’ Scott Borchetta for $300 million in June 2019. Swift left Big Machine for Republic Records one year prior and claimed that she had not been given the opportunity to buy back her own music before the sale. She later alleged that Braun bought her music for “nefarious reasons,” seemingly alluding to his connection with West (all roads lead back).

A heated discussion took place on social media, leading to Swift's announcement to re-record her first six albums.

In the chorus of "Cassandra," Swift sings, "So, they killed Cassandra first 'cause she feared the worst / And tried to tell the town / So, they set my life in flames, I regret to say / Do you believe me now?" Fans speculate that this could be a reference to Braun and a potential link to "Vigilante S—t" from Midnights.

While the theories have yet to be confirmed, many of Braun’s A-list clients — including Demi Lovato and Justin Bieber — dropped him within the past year.

Editor's P/S:

Taylor Swift's "Cassandra" has sparked intense speculation among fans, with two prevailing theories emerging. One suggests the song references her feud with Kanye West and Kim Kardashian, while the other points to her dispute with Scooter Braun over her masters. Both theories draw parallels to the Greek myth of Cassandra, cursed to have her prophecies dismissed.

In the case of the West/Kardashian theory, the lyrics align with Swift's perception of being disbelieved and vilified after the "Famous" controversy. The Braun theory, on the other hand, connects to her ongoing battle to regain control of her music. The chorus's reference to "setting her life in flames" could allude to the impact of Braun's acquisition of her masters. Ultimately, the song's true meaning remains elusive, leaving fans to interpret its cryptic lyrics and draw their own conclusions about Swift's artistic intentions.