Why Fans Are Convinced Tate McRae’s Explosive New Song “Tit for Tat” Is a Musical Clapback at Ex The Kid LAROI After Their Breakup
Pop star Tate McRae has never shied away from pouring raw emotion into her music, and now fans are convinced her latest single, “Tit for Tat,” is more than just another breakup anthem. With its biting lyrics, bold energy, and perfectly timed release, many believe the track is a not-so-subtle response to ex-boyfriend The Kid LAROI, following their much-discussed split.
The speculation gained traction the moment the song dropped on September 26, 2025. Just weeks earlier, The Kid LAROI released his own heartbreak-heavy single, “A Cold Play,” a track widely interpreted as reflecting on the end of his relationship with McRae. With “Tit for Tat” arriving so soon after, fans immediately labeled it a musical “clapback” — a pointed lyrical exchange that feels less like coincidence and more like a deliberate response.
The lyrics in “Tit for Tat” add fuel to the theory. McRae belts lines like:
“Let’s go song for song, let’s go back to back / Fix your fing self, kiss my a for that / That’s the best you got, where’s the good one at?”*
For fans who had studied “A Cold Play,” the lyric about “fixing yourself” stood out. LAROI’s song repeatedly used the phrase “fix you” when reflecting on heartbreak, and McRae’s retort feels almost like a direct lyrical jab. The reference to “song for song” also reinforces the impression that she’s calling him out for starting a back-and-forth musical dialogue — one she’s more than ready to finish.
Elsewhere in the track, McRae doesn’t hold back on expressing disillusionment and finality. In one verse, she sings: “Thought I might love you again… Now that you’re acting like that, boy, I never will.” It’s a declaration that suggests closure, while also hinting that betrayal or disrespect may have soured any chance of reconciliation.
Adding to the intrigue, McRae admitted on Instagram Stories that she wrote “Tit for Tat” just two weeks before its release while on tour in Nashville. The immediacy of the creative process only strengthens fan theories that the song was inspired by her recent breakup — a wound still fresh enough to fuel such fiery lyrics.
Of course, McRae has not directly confirmed that “Tit for Tat” is about The Kid LAROI. Officially, the track is framed as an empowering anthem about standing up for oneself and refusing to be dragged into toxic cycles. Still, the timing, the lyrical parallels, and the charged tone have proven too strong for fans to ignore.
Meanwhile, The Kid LAROI has insisted that he and McRae are “on good terms,” but their dueling singles suggest a more complicated dynamic. Whether the pair are truly exchanging messages through music or whether listeners are simply connecting the dots too closely, one thing is clear: “Tit for Tat” has struck a chord, sparking viral debates across TikTok, X, and fan forums.
For now, fans are reveling in the drama, treating the song as a fascinating glimpse into one of pop’s most talked-about young relationships. Whether it’s intentional shade or just relatable heartbreak, Tate McRae’s “Tit for Tat” has already secured its place as one of her most buzzworthy releases yet.
