Bassett starred alongside Rodrigo on the Disney+High School Musicalreboot, in which they played high schoolers in love. The actors' on-screen chemistry, Instagram activity and affinity for writing music together led fans to believe they also shared an off-screen romance.
The breakup ballad’s release prompted TikTok speculation that Rodrigo is singing directly to Bassett in the lyrics. Bassett, then 20, had been seen hanging out withSabrina Carpenter— many on social media believe the lyrics reference his moving on with the then-21-year-old actress and singer.
From L to R: Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Rodrigo and Joshua Bassett.ANGELA WEISS/AFP/Getty; Gregg DeGuire/FilmMagic; JC Olivera/WireImage
Representatives for Rodrigo and Bassett could not be reached for comment at the time, and a rep for Carpenter had no comment.
Here are some of the clues fans found in Rodrigo’s lyrics and on social media:
Rodrigo reveals Bassett helped her learn to drive
Olivia Rodrigo and Joshua Bassett.Image Group LA/Disney Channel via Getty
“We celebrated, and we went to In-N-Out, and I couldn’t drive, actually. I was 16, but I didn’t have my permit,” Rodrigo said. “And so, he took me in his car, and we drove around the In-N-Out parking lot, and that was my first time driving.”
Cut to the release of “Drivers License,” in which the star sings, “I got my drivers license last week, just like we always talked about / Cause you were so excited for me to finally drive up to your house.” TikTokers, such as@simpingsugarmommies, connected Rodrigo and Bassett’s driving lesson to the first line of her song.
Rodrigo herselfposted a TikTokafter the song’s release, telling fans that the experience of driving “alone thru the suburbs crying” inspired the idea for the track.
The lyrics of “Drivers License” hint at a love triangle
Jenny Anderson/Getty Images
In addition to revealing that she and her past love “always talked about” getting her license, Rodrigo sings about how he’s now “probably with that blonde girl, who always made me doubt.”
In an earlier version of the song, which Rodrigo posted on Instagram in July 2020, she sang, “You’re probably with that brunette girl,” rather than blonde. Fans wondered if her decision to change the lyrics had anything to do with Bassett being spotted with Carpenter.
While her love interest in the song seems to have moved on, Rodrigo wonders, “How could I ever love someone else?” Later, she sings, “I just can’t imagine how you could be so okay now that I’m gone.”
Other TikTok users, like@andimitchellll, adapted Rodrigo’s lyrics from the perspective of the “blonde girl” in the song, whom they believe is Carpenter.
Fans speculate some of Bassett’s songs reference Rodrigo
After Rodrigo sang, “Guess you didn’t mean what you wrote in that song about me / ‘Cause you said forever, now I drive alone past your street,” fans scoured Bassett’s lyrics for any references to her.
In 2019, Bassettreleased an Instagram videosinging a song titled “Not Right Now,” which some sleuths thought was about waiting for the right time to pursue a crush. (In this case, could it have meant he was waiting for Rodrigo to turn 18?)
Fans also theorized that the 2020 soundtrack cover “Just for a Moment,” which the pair collaborated on for their Disney+ series, is about IRLandon-screen love.
Bassett releases “Lie Lie Lie” in January 2021
The same day Rodrigo announced she’d be dropping “Drivers License,” Bassett revealed that he was releasing “Lie Lie Lie” on Jan. 14.
Some fans noticed Bassett was sitting in a car for the promotional images of the single heshared on Instagram, and the lighting looked similar to Rodrigo’s video. (Also, wait, is that a certain “blonde girl” next to him?!)
However, that theory was shut down, with the timing seemingly coincidental and not connected to Rodrigo’s track in any way. Apparently, Bassett had been teasing the song since November 2019, when hefirst posted a snippet on Instagram.
Bassett calls Rodrigo a “homie” and praises “Drivers License”
Olivia Rodrigo/Instagram
Season 2 of theHigh School Musicalreboot resumed filming in October 2020,according to theLos Angeles Times. That meant Rodrigo and Bassett spent time playing a couple amid their alleged real-life relationship roadblocks, but it seems they’ve been able to maintain a professional friendship.
While chatting with theChicks in the Officepodcast in December 2020, Bassett reflected on writing “Just for a Moment” with Rodrigo. After they were approached to write a song together, hetold hosts Ria and Franthe pair spent “every hour on and off set” sending each other ideas and working on the lyrics.
“We definitely spent a lot of time together, and she’s really wonderful,” he said of their “very close” friendship. “She’s a homie for sure.”
His admission added to fan speculation that he had moved on from their rumored romance.
In January 2021, Bassett even promoted “Drivers License” on his Instagram Story, calling it “such a great song” — despite the rumors their breakup inspired the lyrics.
Carpenter releases speculated diss track “Skin” in February 2021
Carpenterappeared to address the drama with Rodrigoin the song “Skin,” released on Jan. 22, 2021.
The lyrics “Maybe you didn’t mean it / Maybe blonde was the only rhyme” caught fans’ attention, as well as what appeared to be a direct reference to Rodrigo when she sang, “Don’t drive yourself insane.”
Bassettshowed support for Carpenter’s singleon Instagram. “Been stuck in my head since I heard it,” he wrote alongside the “Skin” single cover.
TheGirl Meets Worldalum revealed her inspiration behind the song in a since-deleted Instagram post,perBillboard.
Carpenter added, “the song isn’t calling out one single person. some lines address a specific situation, while other lines address plenty of other experiences I’ve had this past year.”
Bassett and Carpenter also collaborated on “We Both Know” around that time but opted to delay the release.
“You shouldn’t live to please everybody, but at the same time, there are ways to be sensitive to situations where maybe [the duet] has a better chance at a different time,” hetoldBillboardin February 2021.
Rodrigo addresses the love triangle rumors in March 2021
In March 2021, Rodrigotold Radio.comthat she and Carpenter had hardly ever interacted.
“I actually don’t know her at all,” Rodrigo said. “I think we’ve met once or twice in passing, but I’ve never had a conversation with her.”
The Grammy-winning singer also shut down speculation that she would write a reply track to Carpenter’s “Skin,” explaining, “I don’t think I could write a song that was meaningful or emotional about somebody that I don’t know.”
Rodrigo and Bassett reunite on the red carpet in July 2022
David Livingston/FilmMagic
Despite BassetttellingGQin December 2021 that Rodrigo had not “spoken to” him since the release of “Drivers License,” the two appeared to be amicable in July 2022 when they posed for photos on the red carpet for theHigh School Musical: The Musical: The Seriesseason 3 premiere. Wearing head-to-toe black outfits, the exes smiled and shared some goofy moments, including flashing peace sounds and sticking out their tongues.
Fans of the former couple took to Twitter (now X) to express their shock (and approval!) of the red carpet reunion, withone user writing, “the world is healing.”
During an appearance onThe Tonight ShowStarring Jimmy Fallonin December 2023, Rodrigo revealed she was indeed “stalking” her ex that summer of 2022 after fans noticed she briefly followed and unfollowed Bassett, whocame out as a member of the LGBTQ+community in 2021.
“I try to follow zero people because it helps me be off of my phone, you know, off of social media,” Rodrigoexplained to Fallon. “I had this very embarrassing encounter once where I was stalking my ex — as one does, sue me, sorry—and I accidentally followed him because I was stalking him.”
Noting the slipup was “super obvious” and that her phone died before she could quickly unfollow, Rodrigo added, “I couldn’t find a charger, so I was just following my ex for a while. It was quite embarrassing.”
Fan theories aside about “Drivers License” and other songs like “Deja Vu,” “Traitor” and “Good 4 U” from the hit 2021 albumSour, Rodrigo and Bassett have seemingly remained on good terms.
source: people.com
