Camila Cabello Shakes Up London with Olivia Rodrigo Anthem — Deliberate Shoutout or Sneaky Shade?

It was supposed to be just another stop on her Yours, C Tour—but what happened before Camila Cabello hit the stage in London has left fans, insiders, and online audiences buzzing for all the wrong (or right?) reasons.

During the pre-show playlist—that tightly curated warm-up soundscape artists use to set a vibe—Camila Cabello played Olivia Rodrigo’s “bad idea right?” over the venue speakers. A move that lasted mere minutes… but the internet fallout may linger far longer.

A Soundtrack Sparks a Storm

For most concertgoers, the music playing before an artist’s entrance is a forgettable blur of trending tracks and tour team favorites. But when you’re a global pop star, every detail is strategic—and this one wasn’t ignored.

Olivia Rodrigo’s “bad idea right?”, a massive hit known for its chaotic, raw energy, blared through the speakers of London’s O2 Arena just minutes before Camila Cabello’s showtime.

The track choice would’ve raised no eyebrows—except for one thing: Camila and Olivia Rodrigo have never publicly collaborated, and rumors have long swirled about friction behind the scenes.

So when Rodrigo’s voice echoed through the arena, many didn’t hear just a song—they heard a message.

Fans Didn’t Miss a Beat

It didn’t take long for concertgoers to post about the moment online. Within an hour, the phrase “Camila playing Olivia’s song??” trended on X (formerly Twitter), and TikTok edits popped up captioned: “Is this a low-key shoutout… or low-key shade?”

Others took it even further: “Camila playing ‘bad idea right?’ right before going on stage is either messy or genius. There’s no in between.”

Instagram fan pages reposted the clip with captions like:
“Pop girls supporting pop girls… or playing chess?”

The track, which includes lyrics about messy decisions, questionable choices, and bad habits, hit differently when paired with Cabello’s unpredictable reputation.

A Brief History of Rumors

While Camila Cabello and Olivia Rodrigo have never been officially feuding, the pop community has always loved whispering otherwise.

Theories around unspoken tension go back to award show seating arrangements, cryptic social media likes, and interview answers that “coincidentally” shade certain styles or lyrics.

Though neither artist has ever addressed the speculation, their careers have occasionally overlapped in ways that made fans pick sides:

Both came out of Gen Z fan-favorite camps (Fifth Harmony and Disney).

Both released major sophomore albums within similar timeframes.

Both hold major influence over young, emotionally tuned-in pop audiences.

So when Camila played Olivia’s hit track—out of literally thousands she could’ve chosen—people noticed. And posted. A lot.

Coincidence? Tour Team Speaks (Kinda)

When approached for comment, a rep from Camila’s tour declined to issue a formal statement. However, a production assistant (who asked not to be named) told a UK music blog: “The playlist is Camila-approved, but it’s a mix of what she loves and what she knows the crowd wants. It’s not that deep.”

But social media disagrees.

TikTok culture has taught us that nothing is “not that deep” when it comes to pop stars. Especially ones as calculated (and watched) as Cabello.

Was This a Strategic Move?

Let’s be honest: In 2025, everything is content and currency. Playing a competitor’s song right before your own show is the perfect way to:

Appear unbothered

Fuel speculation

Win PR points for “uplifting others”

Start comment wars that push engagement

It’s the classic strategy: do something that can be interpreted multiple ways—then let the audience do the marketing for you.

Pop Culture Experts Weigh In

Entertainment strategist Gina Hawthorne, known for dissecting celebrity moves, said: “This is classic Camila. She’s always walked that fine line between chaos and cleverness. Playing Olivia’s song is harmless enough to be defendable—but spicy enough to go viral. That’s how you win the algorithm.”

Brand consultant Troy Linn added: “She didn’t have to post it. She didn’t even have to acknowledge it. That’s the brilliance. She let fans create the narrative. And by doing nothing, she gains everything.”

The Internet Divided, Again

The online reaction split into two aggressive camps almost instantly:

Camp A: “Queen Supporting Queens!”

These users praised Camila for amplifying another young female artist:

“This is what pop needs—girls supporting girls.”

“She didn’t HAVE to play Olivia. She WANTED to. Love that.”

“Camila is so confident she can promote her ‘competition.’ That’s real power.”

Camp B: “Calculated Much?”

And then came the skeptics:

“This is textbook PR. Don’t fall for it.”

“She saw Olivia trending, and she jumped on the wave.”

“She’s trying to appear unbothered while totally bothered.”

And What Did Olivia Say?

At the time of writing, Olivia Rodrigo has not commented on the incident.

No likes, no cryptic stories, no emoji tweets.

But her silence might be the loudest message of all.

One top comment under a viral Instagram post read: “If Olivia claps back with a Camila track on her own tour, I’m DONE.”

A New Trend Among Pop Stars?

This wouldn’t be the first time a pop artist used music choice as a passive flex.

Taylor Swift famously curated playlists with hidden messages.

Dua Lipa has used outro tracks to signal “eras” and end relationships with collaborators.

Even Beyoncé once opened a tour set with music fans interpreted as calling out a rival producer.

So yes—pre-show playlists are political, even if no one wants to say it out loud.

Why This Moment Matters

It’s tempting to dismiss this as another stan war moment. But in the hyper-watched world of pop marketing, every seemingly small decision is magnified.

Playing a song isn’t just about taste. It’s a signal.

The audience isn’t just listening. They’re decoding.

Every moment is designed to be screenshot, reshared, and reinterpreted.

By playing “bad idea right?”, Camila handed the internet a spark—and the internet turned it into wildfire.

What Happens Next?

If this was a test balloon, it worked. Engagement across Camila’s hashtags spiked, Olivia’s track saw a brief streaming bump, and media outlets (yup, including this one) jumped on the moment.

Don’t be surprised if we see more of this soon:

Camila posting a subtle lyric reference

Olivia liking a tweet about it

Both stars being “coincidentally” photographed near the same venue

Because in this economy, the friendship rumors are as valuable as the music itself.

Final Take: Genius or Just Messy?

Camila Cabello knows how to keep people watching. Whether you see her move as a sign of respect, a flex of dominance, or just a fun nod to a fellow chart-topper—she’s winning the conversation.

And in 2025, who controls the conversation controls the culture.

So was it a bad idea… or just the perfect one?