Taylor Swift has been making waves by re-recording her past albums, especially after Scooter Braun bought the rights to her original versions. As part of this process, she’s been updating certain songs she wrote when she was younger. One of those songs is “Better Than Revenge,” which caused some controversy due to a lyric that many people felt was “slut-shaming.”
In the original 2010 version of the track, Taylor sings, “She’s not a saint and she’s not what you think / She’s an actress, whoa / She’s better known for the things that she does / On the mattress, whoa.” The song is about an ex-boyfriend who cheated on Taylor with another woman.
However, in the new version, Taylor still plays with the original lyrics, but in a less judgmental way. The updated lyrics are, “She’s not a saint and she’s not what you think / She’s an actress, whoa / He was a moth to the flame / She was holding the matches, whoa.”
While it was never officially confirmed that Better Than Revenge is specifically about Camilla Belle, all the clues strongly suggest it. Swift and Joe Jonas called it quits in 2008, and shortly thereafter, he began a new relationship with Belle, aligning perfectly with the narrative.
Fans have had mixed reactions to the change. Some appreciate the more mature approach, saying things like, “This is a matured and grown-up Taylor. We just need to grow up as well. No slut-shaming. And the new one is so poetic, love it.” On the other hand, there are fans who feel that the song didn’t need to be changed at all.
Ahead of the release of the “Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)” album, some lucky Swifties got an early listen and discovered the updated lyrics on “Better Than Revenge.”