In April 2023, news broke that Taylor Swift had ended her six-year relationship with actor Joe Alwyn. Knowing what we know now, "Hits Different" well, hits different. Some fans believe that Swift and Alwyn actually split sometime last year, long before the release of "Midnights." The lyrics begin, "I pictured you with other girls in love, then threw up on the street," with Swift singing that she's been able to brush off other breakups ("Freedom felt like summer then on the coast"), but she can't seem to shake the memory of this particular ex ("Now the sun burns my heart and the sand hurts my feelings").

Given her years-long commitment to Alwyn, it makes sense that this split would be significantly more painful. Furthermore, fans pointed out that "Hits Different" is reminiscent of "Cornelia Street" which is most likely about Alwyn (via PopSugar). Still, others speculated that the song could only be about one person, Karlie Kloss. According to TikTok creator Mellisa A. Fabello Ph.D., aka @fyeahmfabello, "This song perfectly encapsulates what it feels like to lose a Sapphic love vs. a cis het male partner." 

She even claimed, "There are so many lyrics in this song that directly reference Karlie Kloss, it's astounding." According to the creator, Swift referring to men as "Kens" hints that she views them as interchangeable, whereas Kloss, aka "Barbie," is different. Fans reckon Swift's "Endgame" is about Kloss too, funnily enough.