Olivia Rodrigo’s new single “Drivers License” is getting a deep analysis on TikTok, and fans are certain the song is about her High School Musical: The Musical: The Series co-star Joshua Bassett.
The 17-year-old Disney star released her debut single last week, and the song has already dominated TikTok and climbed the iTunes charts (and gotten a Taylor Swift nod). Rodrigo posted about how it was inspired by the emotional experience of getting her driver’s license.
But, as the Cut details, fans believe a line in the song goes deeper than that: “And you’re probably with that blonde girl/Who always made me doubt/She’s so much older than me/She’s everything I’m insecure about.” Theories abound that Rodrigo’s referencing Sabrina Carpenter, the 21-year-old (blonde) actress and singer, whom the 20-year-old Bassett is allegedly dating.
Rodrigo and Bassett play love interests on HSMTMTS, and have never publicly confirmed a relationship. (She is a minor, after all.) But fans pieced together clues in social media posts that seemed to back up a theory that they were secretly dating. Last August, however, Bassett and Carpenter were spotted having lunch; around that same time, Rodrigo posted a TikTok with the caption, “and that’s on failed relationships.” In November, Bassett posted a TikTok of him and Carpenter dressed up for Halloween.
While this is all speculation, on TikTok, fans took the song personally: Some texted the lyrics to their exes. Others took on the (alleged) POV of Carpenter and Bassett.
There were theories that the song is actually about Rodrigo’s ex, Bizaardvark star Ethan Wacker, though he apparently set the record straight in the comment section of this TikTok. Carpenter’s ex, Griffin Gluck, promoted Rodrigo’s song on Instagram.
In what is likely a shrewd marketing move, Bassett is releasing his new single, “Lie Lie Lie,” later this week. He posted a scene from the music video to Instagram, which shows him and a blonde girl sitting in a car.