Taylor Swift’s latest album, The Life of a Showgirl, has sparked speculation about the inspiration behind one of its tracks, Father Figure. Podcaster Zack Peter suggests that the song may be about Blake Lively, a close friend of Swift’s, citing modified lyrics from the track. The song samples George Michael’s 1987 hit of the same name, but with altered lyrics that Peter believes could be aimed at Lively.
The lyrics in question read: “I was your father figure, we drank that brown liquor/You made a deal with this devil, turns out my d**k’s bigger/You want a fight? You found it, I got the place surrounded/You’ll be sleeping with the fishes before you know you’re drowning.” Despite Peter’s speculation, Swift has not publicly confirmed that the song is about Lively.
The speculation comes amidst a legal feud between Lively and actor Justin Baldoni, who have been embroiled in a lawsuit since December last year. Lively accused Baldoni of alleged s*xual harassment and workplace misconduct, and Swift was subpoenaed by Baldoni’s lawyers as a potential witness. However, the lawsuit was dismissed in June, and Swift’s subpoena was withdrawn.
In September, Baldoni’s lawyers appealed for an extension to depose Swift as a witness, citing her unavailability due to professional commitments, including the release of her new album. However, the court rejected the appeal, stating that there was no valid reason why the deposition could not have been conducted earlier.
Swift has not made any public statements about the case, and her lawyers have maintained that she was not involved in the film It Ends With Us, except for the use of one of her songs, My Tears Ricochet. The case between Lively and Baldoni is set to continue in March 2026.
The release of Swift’s album has sparked interest in her personal life, including her recent engagement to NFL superstar Travis Kelce. Meanwhile, fans of the singer continue to speculate about the inspiration behind her songs, including Father Figure, which remains a topic of debate.
