Bruno Mars dismissed claims that he had taken a jab at Taylor Swift, saying the pop star has “always been supportive and kind” to him after a screenshot circulated that appeared to show him liking a post calling her “talentless.”
The 40-year-old “Locked Out of Heaven” singer addressed the matter on Sunday, March 15, 2026 on X, after screenshots surfaced implying he had liked an Instagram reel of Swift on her Eras Tour paired with disparaging remarks about the 36-year-old artist.
“Taylor has always been supportive and kind to me,” Mars wrote on X. “Only love over here.”
A few minutes later he added another post promoting positivity: “Spread love on these apps!”
The episode began after Pop Faction, an entertainment news aggregator, claimed Mars had liked a post showing Swift dancing onstage. That post, which asked “Genuinely how did she get famous?”, went on to make inflammatory statements about the billionaire musician. USA TODAY said it could not independently confirm Mars liked the item or identify where the post came from or who created it.
Pop Flop later said the Instagram screenshot had been doctored to look like it was from BTS’s official X account. The verified account never posted it, but the fake content still drew a lot of attention, accumulating about 10,000 likes, 1,000 retweets, 1.7 million views, and 345 comments before the issue was clarified.
Even after Mars’ quick defense of Swift, many fans remained skeptical and criticized him in the comments, questioning whether his clarification was sincere or merely damage control.
The timing drew extra attention because of recent chart developments for both performers. Mars overtook Swift on the Billboard Hot 100 in January when his single “I Just Might” ended Swift’s 10-week run at number one with “The Fate of Ophelia” from her album “The Life of a Showgirl.”
Swift has not publicly addressed the alleged slight. She is focused on planning her wedding to Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. The pair, who revealed their engagement on Instagram in August 2025, are reportedly set to wed on June 13, 2026 at the Ocean House in Rhode Island.
This is not the first time Mars and Swift have been mentioned together in chart-related jokes. In November 2021, Mars and his Silk Sonic partner Anderson .Paak bantered about Swift topping the album chart when “An Evening with Silk Sonic” debuted at number two behind “Red (Taylor’s Version).” .Paak playfully tweeted about teaming up with “the wrong pop star,” and Mars posted a photoshopped image of .Paak on Swift’s “1989” cover in jest.
Swift once said she was interested in collaborating with Mars during a 2011 interview with Z100’s Elvis Duran, recalling a chat at the Met Gala. She said she had asked him about writing together and that he eagerly agreed to meet up on the road, though no collaboration has materialized yet.
Mars is gearing up for a large world tour in support of his fourth solo album, “The Romantic,” released February 27, 2026. The tour begins April 10, 2026 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas and will include acts such as .Paak as DJ Pee.Wee, Leon Thomas, Victoria Monét, and Raye.
He most recently performed at the 2026 Grammy Awards, where he did “APT.” with ROSÉ and “I Just Might” from his album. He earned three Grammy nominations—Song of the Year, Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, and Record of the Year—for his work with ROSÉ.
The incident highlights how fast rumors spread online and the difficulties artists face dealing with social media chatter. With Swift’s net worth reported at $2 billion by Forbes in March 2026 and her ongoing prominence in music, any perceived insult toward her quickly becomes a major talking point among fans and media.
For now, Mars seems intent on moving past the controversy and reaffirming his respect for Swift as both continue with their careers. Neither artist’s representatives have added comment beyond the singer’s social media statements.
