There’s a new fracture line in pop culture, and it has Sydney Sweeney at one end and Taylor Swift on the other. You’d think Sweeney would be avoiding hot water by now, especially after her lingerie line SYRN launched to mixed reviews. Instead of keeping her head down, she just dropped a new panty pack with a lyric that screams “pick a side.”
The item in question features the phrase “But Daddy I love him” stitched across the fabric.
It’s a phrase most people still associate with Disney’s The Little Mermaid. But in 2024, Swift rebooted the sentiment by titling a deep cut on The Tortured Poets Department the exact same words. For Swifties, that song isn’t just music; it’s a coded message about loving bad choices, specifically regarding ex-boyfriends like Joe Alwyn or maybe even older industry titans.
By slapping that lyric on underwear, Sweeney didn’t just pick a quote. She picked a fight.
Fans online have been quick to label this as an unprovoked jab at Swift. Why? Because Sweeney is currently dating Scooter Braun. Braun isn’t just some random celebrity date; he is the man who bought Taylor’s masters in 2019, stealing her life’s work for pennies. The feud between Braun and Swift is old, bitter, and deeply personal. It went on for years. Sweeney actually claimed she helped him get the masters back in 2023, a move that left many Swift fans suspicious of her loyalty from day one.
Now, putting Taylor’s lyric on underwear owned by the girlfriend of Taylor’s enemy seems less like coincidence and more like a declaration of war.
“But Daddy I love him.” That’s the text. It’s specific. It’s lyrical. It’s not an accident.
The timing adds fuel to the fire. SYRN hit stores in January 2026 after securing investment from Ben Schwerin of Coatue, a firm backed by tech giants like Jeff Bezos and Michael Dell. The brand exploded onto social media partly due to its association with Euphoria and partly due to this aggressive marketing style. The pants aren’t just selling comfort; they’re selling drama.
Is the Braun Connection the Real Issue?
Let’s look at the romance timeline. Insiders first spotted Sweeney and Braun together in Venice this past June during Bezos’s lavish wedding. It looked cozy. Too cozy for Swifties to ignore.
By late 2025, rumors of their summer romance were confirmed. TMZ later claimed the relationship was “casual.” They added that Sweeney was just dating again after ending things. Braun apparently made the first move. Hard.
But casual romance doesn’t usually involve promoting merchandise with lyrics that mock the other guy’s ex. Or does it?
Critics argue that Sweeney is aligning herself too closely with Braun’s public stance on the master rights war. Swifties view the purchase of her catalog as a predatory move. By dating the buyer, Sweeney became part of the villain arc. Printing “But Daddy I love him” could be interpreted as Sweeney mocking Taylor’s famous songs about broken hearts, suggesting she’s embracing the “bad boy” lifestyle Braun represents.
The backlash is already brewing. Fans are dissecting the panty tags, checking for hidden messages, and comparing the font size to Swift’s usual album era branding. Is this a feign ignorance or a calculated PR stunt to boost sales among Sweeney’s teen demographic who might feel alienated by Taylor’s intense fandom?
SYRN is gaining traffic, yes. But they’re gaining it alongside a layer of controversy that is hard to wash off. Literally, if you try to launder the underwear after the scandal dies down.
Sweeney’s circle isn’t helping either. Friends reportedly disapprove of the relationship, sensing the political landmines it creates. She’s walking a tightrope between being a young actress finding love and a brand dealing a blow to the music industry’s most
