On Saturday, April 4, Sky Ferreira made a rare appearance in the social media spotlight to address fan speculation regarding her career and finances. The exchange began after a user on X (formerly Twitter) shared a snippet of Ferreira’s iconic 2012 music video for “Everything Is Embarrassing,” questioning, “I wonder what her form of income is.”
The singer reportedly tracked down the user’s Instagram account to set the record straight. “Someone sent me your X account,” Ferreira commented on the user’s latest post. “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 tension escalated when the same X user posted—and subsequently deleted—a screenshot of a conversation with an alleged “industry insider.” This source claimed that two tracks on Charli xcx’s recent Wuthering Heights project were “ripped” from demos Ferreira recorded between 2015 and 2018. Ferreira responded to these specific rumors on Instagram as well, noting, “Your industry ‘insider’ is wrong. Close, but wrong… It isn’t worth the trouble because I know how the world works.”
Interestingly, Ferreira does hold official credits on the album; she is listed as a featured artist, co-writer, and vocal producer on the song “Eyes of the World.” Reflecting on the sudden public discourse, Ferreira added in the comments, “I wasn’t going to say anything… It brought back a lot of things I have worked really hard to move past.”
While Charli xcx is currently on location in Kyoto filming a movie and finalizing her next studio effort, her management team provided a comprehensive statement to Billboard to clarify their position on songwriting integrity:
“Charli has produced seven albums, four mixtapes, and an EP, in addition to writing numerous hits for other artists throughout her career. Having started as a songwriter with ‘I Love It,’ she understands the nuances of publishing and production negotiations. Because of this, she prioritizes fair credit and deeply values her collaborators.
“Prior to the release of Wuthering Heights, a standard review was conducted on several tracks that utilized fragments of material from earlier sessions. This involved a meticulous audit of archival recordings and demos by managers, legal teams, artists, and producers.
“All parties were consulted, and the full album was shared with everyone involved ahead of its launch. Songwriting splits were determined and agreed upon collectively in writing, based on documented timelines and creative contributions. All credits were finalized and formally approved by all relevant parties before the album was released.”
Representatives for Ferreira have been reached for further comment on the matter.
