Brianna LaPaglia Uses Taylor Swift Lyrics to Seemingly Respond to Ex Zach Bryan’s Diss Track

9 January 2026

Gilbert Flores/Billboard via Getty. Zach Bryan and Brianna LaPaglia

In the continuing saga that has unfolded between country star Zach Bryan and influencer Brianna “Chickenfry” LaPaglia, the latest chapter came into view in early January 2026 when LaPaglia appeared to respond cryptically to lyrics from Bryan’s newly released album With Heaven on Top, amid fan speculation that one of the songs takes aim at her. LaPaglia shared an Instagram Stories post that didn’t explicitly name Bryan but included a snippet of Taylor Swift’s song “Actually Romantic,” featuring the lyric “It’s actually sweet all the time you’ve spent on me, it’s honestly wild,” a choice that ignited immediate reaction online. Fans and followers interpreted this subtle gesture as LaPaglia’s way of addressing what many see as pointed references in Bryan’s music, reflecting a rift that has played out publicly across social media platforms and fan communities.

Bryan’s sixth studio album, released on January 9, has stirred particular attention because several tracks appear to reflect personal themes, including introspection about past relationships, emotional struggles and transitions in his personal life. In one song that many listeners believe is about LaPaglia, Bryan sings about erasing old tattoos and moving on from someone he once shared deep ties with while also touching on perceived emotional scars. Those lyrics have sent fans down a path of interpretation and debate, discussing whether the song is a form of musical parting shot aimed squarely at his former partner.

LaPaglia and Bryan’s relationship was high profile from the start, bringing together a country musician with a devoted following and a social media personality whose candid and unfiltered online presence captivated millions. The couple’s romance blossomed in 2023, and by early 2024 they were attending industry events and appearing on each other’s social feeds, inviting fans into what seemed like a meaningful connection between music world and digital media spheres. As their courtship progressed, followers and occasionally critics watched the interplay between their public personas and private moments.

However, the relationship ended publicly in October 2024 when Bryan announced their split, a moment that soon prompted LaPaglia to make serious accusations about emotional abuse in the aftermath. She revealed in subsequent podcast episodes and interviews that the breakup had been difficult and that Bryan’s behavior during and after the relationship had inflicted emotional distress. LaPaglia even alleged that Bryan had offered her $12 million and a house if she would agree to an NDA to prevent her from speaking about their time together, claims that were widely circulated and became part of the public conversation around their breakup.

Following the breakup, the two have taken very different paths in handling their public narratives. Bryan moved forward with his music career, channeling his emotional experiences into his songwriting and announcing his marriage to Samantha Leonard on December 31, a news item that also drew attention online and in entertainment media. LaPaglia, for her part, has continued to build her own brand, hosting a popular podcast and engaging candidly with her followers about life, love and the challenges that can accompany digital fame.

The intersection of their stories has not been without continued sparring. In late December and early January, LaPaglia posted a separate TikTok clip lip-syncing to Taylor Swift’s “Mastermind,” which many viewers saw as shading Bryan and his new wife. She also responded in the past to comments comparing Bryan’s new partner to herself, framing such comparisons through a lens of personal autonomy and perception. These social media moments, while subtle, have kept the dialogue between their public personas alive long after the romantic relationship ended.

Music fans and social media audiences alike have been analyzing the symbolism behind lyrics, posts and public gestures as though each were pieces of a puzzle revealing deeper emotional truths or unresolved tensions, sometimes with no direct confirmation from the parties themselves. Bryan has not publicly commented on LaPaglia’s apparent lyric-based response or addressed the specific accusations that have surfaced through her channels, choosing instead to let his music and his recent marriage speak for his current chapter.

For LaPaglia, the choice to use a Taylor Swift lyric resonates on multiple levels. Swift’s catalog is famously woven with themes of personal reflection, emotional candor and relationship narratives that many find relatable, making the selection of that particular line feel like a carefully considered retort. Whether fans see it as a playful jab, a commentary on the time and energy invested in a past relationship, or simply as an emotional outlet, the moment underscores how modern breakup narratives have migrated from private conversations to public performances through social platforms and artistic expression.

What’s clear is that both Bryan and LaPaglia have harnessed their respective platforms to shape how their stories are told, with music and social media posts acting as complementary mediums in an unfolding narrative that blends personal experience with creative expression. The conversation around these recent interactions continues among followers, sparking discussions about authenticity, creative response and the boundaries between public art and personal life.