On August 15, 2024, Taylor Swift surprised fans with two limited-edition digital versions of her latest album, The Tortured Poets Department (TTPD), each featuring a new live song from her massively successful Eras Tour. One version included The Prophecy (Long Story Short – Live From Lyon), while the other showcased a mashup of her TTPD track thank You aimEe and Mean from her 2010 album Speak Now, recorded live during her July show in London. However, it wasn’t just the new music that caught fans’ attention—it was the subtle change in the song title that set off a wave of speculation across social media.
The original title of the track, thanK you aIMee, had its capital letters strategically placed to spell out “KIM,” leading many to believe it was a sly reference to Kim Kardashian, given Swift’s long-standing feud with the reality star and her ex-husband, Kanye West. However, in the new version, titled thank You aimEe (Mean – Live from London), the capital letters spell out “YE,” which many fans interpreted as a direct jab at Kanye West. This apparent shift in focus from Kardashian to West has fueled a flurry of reactions online, with fans debating Swift’s intentions.
“Okay so we changed KIM to YE—KANYE???” one fan tweeted in disbelief, echoing the thoughts of many who noticed the change. Another added, “Not them spelling YE as in Kanye.” Others expressed their surprise and confusion, with comments like, “YE??? KANYE??? It’s 3 AM, what are you saying?” and “NOT THE Y AND E CAPITALIZED TN I’M—”
The change in the title has led to widespread speculation about whether Swift is reigniting her feud with West. Fans have long followed the turbulent history between the two, which dates back to the infamous 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, where Kanye interrupted Taylor’s acceptance speech. Although they briefly reconciled, the peace was shattered in 2016 when West released his controversial track Famous, which included the line, “I feel like me and Taylor might still have sex. Why? I made that b**** famous.”
The fallout escalated when Kim Kardashian released a phone call between West and Swift, claiming the singer had approved the lyrics. Swift, however, denied agreeing to the derogatory line and maintained that the conversation was misrepresented. This led to a public rift, with Swift retreating from the spotlight until the release of her 2017 album reputation, which many interpreted as a response to the controversy.
The recent tweak to the thank You aimEe title has fans wondering if Swift is subtly addressing West again. Some fans even speculated that the release of these digital variants is part of a strategic move to block another artist from topping the Billboard charts, a tactic Swift has used before. “Who are we blocking now?” one fan asked, while another guessed, “All this to block Chappell,” referring to an artist who recently released new music.
Interestingly, the timing of Swift’s release coincides with West’s latest project. On his album Vultures 2, which dropped earlier this year, West name-dropped Swift and her boyfriend, NFL star Travis Kelce, in the song Lifestyle (Demo). “I twist my Taylor spliffs tight at the end like Travis Kelce,” he rapped, sparking more buzz about their ongoing tension. Furthermore, Swift’s album TTPD notably blocked Vultures 2 from debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, ending West’s streak of 11 consecutive chart-topping albums.
As Taylor Swift continues to break records and deliver chart-topping hits, her every move is scrutinized by fans and media alike. Whether the title change in thank You aimEe (Mean – Live from London) is a deliberate diss or simply a coincidence, it’s clear that the drama between Swift and West is far from over. For now, Swifties are left to speculate as the saga between these two music giants continues to unfold.