Singer Sky Ferreira recently addressed fan inquiries about her income and ignited discussions around alleged intellectual property disputes with fellow artist Charli XCX. The incident began when a fan reposted a clip of Ferreira’s 2012 music video “Everything Is Embarrassing” on X (formerly Twitter), questioning her current source of income. Ferreira directly responded to the user on their Instagram page, stating, “I toured for years. I work. I hate to break it to you, but your favorite artist records my old songs. I hope that answers your question. Xoxoxo”

The conversation quickly escalated when the same X user, in a now-deleted post, shared a screenshot of a text conversation with an alleged “industry insider.” This insider claimed that two songs from Charli XCX’s “Wuthering Heights” album were “ripped” from Ferreira’s demos, dating back to 2018 and 2015. Ferreira again took to Instagram comments to respond to these allegations, noting, “Your industry ‘insider’ is wrong. Close but wrong…It isn’t worth the trouble bc I know how the world works.” She also expressed the emotional impact of the situation, adding, “I wasn’t going to say anything…It brought back a lot of things I have worked really hard to move past.” It is important to note that Ferreira is credited as a featured artist, co-writer, and vocal producer on the “Wuthering Heights” track “Eyes of the World.”

Charli XCX has not yet personally responded to the claims, as her team confirmed she is currently in Kyoto filming a movie and completing her upcoming new studio album. However, Charli’s management team provided a detailed statement to Billboard addressing the allegations. They highlighted Charli’s extensive career as a songwriter, having penned countless songs for herself and other artists, including the hit “I Love It.” The statement emphasized that Charli has a personal history with publishing and production negotiations, leading her to consistently share credits fairly and appropriately, and highly value her collaborators.

Regarding the “Wuthering Heights” album, Charli’s management explained that a standard review process was conducted on a small number of tracks, including fragments from earlier sessions, prior to its release. This thorough process involved managers, legal representatives, artists, and producers, who reviewed archival materials and demo recordings. They affirmed that all relevant parties were consulted, the album was played in full to everyone in advance, and songwriting credits and splits were collectively determined and agreed upon in writing, referencing documented timelines and contributions. All credits were finalized and formally approved by the appropriate parties before the album’s official release. Billboard has reached out to Sky Ferreira for further comment on the matter.