Zack Bia in May 2022; Olivia Rodrigo in September 2023.Photo:Mike Marsland/Getty, Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagicFans have speculated thatOlivia Rodrigowrote “Vampire” about ex-boyfriendZack Bia— but he doesn’t believe that’s the case.In a new interview withGQ, the DJ and record executive looked to squash the rumors as he reflected on his relationship with Rodrigo — and noted that he’s still on good terms with another high-profile ex-girlfriend,Madison Beer.“I don’t think it’s really about me,” Bia, 27, told the outlet. “I think the internet just ran with it.”Bia and Rodrigodated for a few months in 2022, and following the release of “Vampire,” many fans sleuthed through the pop star’s lyrics and figured one was about mainly seeing the DJ for after-hours hangs: “I should’ve known it was strange / You only come out at night.““Look, I’m in the industry so I know how a song gets made,” said Bia, before explaining his side of why their romance ended. “We hung out, we’re both busy, and we ended up not furthering our relationship. There was never any drama, you know?“Rodrigo, 20, previously toldThe Guardianshe “never want[s] to say who any of my songs are about” in an interview earlier this month.Zack Bia.Ethan Miller/GettyDespite the song’s unclear inspiration, Bia toldGQthat he’s a fan of “Vampire.““The song’s so big and so awesome,” he said. “Look, a heartbreak song for the summertime, it’s an undefeated formula.“Part of the reason fans may have suspected “Vampire” was written about Bia is that Beer (who he dated on and off for about a year from 2018 through 2019) wrote a similar lyric believed to be about him in her 2020 hit “Selfish.““I bet you thought you gave me real love / But we spent it all in nightclubs,” sings Beer, 24, on the platinum-certified ballad.Bia toldGQthat “so much love” remains between him and Beer, who he claims has apologized for the backlash he received following the track’s release. “She’s someone who’s so instrumental in my life, and I still treat as family,” he explained. “Like, she and my mom are still cool.“He also opened up generally about the times he’s “been speculatively the subject of a song, or the focus of a TikTok trend, whether grounded in reality or not.“Zack Bia in November 2022, Madison Beer in March 2023.Amy Sussman/Getty, Steve Granitz/FilmMagicNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.“It’s never been up to me to address it because the scale of it is so widespread,” said Bia. “100 million people have heard this song. The only thing I can address is my own life. I can control what my friends think and the creative output that I have and things like that.“Beyond anything personal between him and Rodrigo, the DJ said he thinks she’s “a generational songwriter” and “a generational talent,” noting that he’s “always just proud of her continued accomplishments.”
Zack Bia in May 2022; Olivia Rodrigo in September 2023.Photo:Mike Marsland/Getty, Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
Mike Marsland/Getty, Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
Fans have speculated thatOlivia Rodrigowrote “Vampire” about ex-boyfriendZack Bia— but he doesn’t believe that’s the case.In a new interview withGQ, the DJ and record executive looked to squash the rumors as he reflected on his relationship with Rodrigo — and noted that he’s still on good terms with another high-profile ex-girlfriend,Madison Beer.“I don’t think it’s really about me,” Bia, 27, told the outlet. “I think the internet just ran with it.”Bia and Rodrigodated for a few months in 2022, and following the release of “Vampire,” many fans sleuthed through the pop star’s lyrics and figured one was about mainly seeing the DJ for after-hours hangs: “I should’ve known it was strange / You only come out at night.““Look, I’m in the industry so I know how a song gets made,” said Bia, before explaining his side of why their romance ended. “We hung out, we’re both busy, and we ended up not furthering our relationship. There was never any drama, you know?“Rodrigo, 20, previously toldThe Guardianshe “never want[s] to say who any of my songs are about” in an interview earlier this month.Zack Bia.Ethan Miller/GettyDespite the song’s unclear inspiration, Bia toldGQthat he’s a fan of “Vampire.““The song’s so big and so awesome,” he said. “Look, a heartbreak song for the summertime, it’s an undefeated formula.“Part of the reason fans may have suspected “Vampire” was written about Bia is that Beer (who he dated on and off for about a year from 2018 through 2019) wrote a similar lyric believed to be about him in her 2020 hit “Selfish.““I bet you thought you gave me real love / But we spent it all in nightclubs,” sings Beer, 24, on the platinum-certified ballad.Bia toldGQthat “so much love” remains between him and Beer, who he claims has apologized for the backlash he received following the track’s release. “She’s someone who’s so instrumental in my life, and I still treat as family,” he explained. “Like, she and my mom are still cool.“He also opened up generally about the times he’s “been speculatively the subject of a song, or the focus of a TikTok trend, whether grounded in reality or not.“Zack Bia in November 2022, Madison Beer in March 2023.Amy Sussman/Getty, Steve Granitz/FilmMagicNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.“It’s never been up to me to address it because the scale of it is so widespread,” said Bia. “100 million people have heard this song. The only thing I can address is my own life. I can control what my friends think and the creative output that I have and things like that.“Beyond anything personal between him and Rodrigo, the DJ said he thinks she’s “a generational songwriter” and “a generational talent,” noting that he’s “always just proud of her continued accomplishments.”
Fans have speculated thatOlivia Rodrigowrote “Vampire” about ex-boyfriendZack Bia— but he doesn’t believe that’s the case.
In a new interview withGQ, the DJ and record executive looked to squash the rumors as he reflected on his relationship with Rodrigo — and noted that he’s still on good terms with another high-profile ex-girlfriend,Madison Beer.
“I don’t think it’s really about me,” Bia, 27, told the outlet. “I think the internet just ran with it.”
Bia and Rodrigodated for a few months in 2022, and following the release of “Vampire,” many fans sleuthed through the pop star’s lyrics and figured one was about mainly seeing the DJ for after-hours hangs: “I should’ve known it was strange / You only come out at night.”
“Look, I’m in the industry so I know how a song gets made,” said Bia, before explaining his side of why their romance ended. “We hung out, we’re both busy, and we ended up not furthering our relationship. There was never any drama, you know?”
Rodrigo, 20, previously toldThe Guardianshe “never want[s] to say who any of my songs are about” in an interview earlier this month.
Zack Bia.Ethan Miller/Getty
Despite the song’s unclear inspiration, Bia toldGQthat he’s a fan of “Vampire.”
“The song’s so big and so awesome,” he said. “Look, a heartbreak song for the summertime, it’s an undefeated formula.”
Part of the reason fans may have suspected “Vampire” was written about Bia is that Beer (who he dated on and off for about a year from 2018 through 2019) wrote a similar lyric believed to be about him in her 2020 hit “Selfish.”
“I bet you thought you gave me real love / But we spent it all in nightclubs,” sings Beer, 24, on the platinum-certified ballad.
Bia toldGQthat “so much love” remains between him and Beer, who he claims has apologized for the backlash he received following the track’s release. “She’s someone who’s so instrumental in my life, and I still treat as family,” he explained. “Like, she and my mom are still cool.”
He also opened up generally about the times he’s “been speculatively the subject of a song, or the focus of a TikTok trend, whether grounded in reality or not.”
Zack Bia in November 2022, Madison Beer in March 2023.Amy Sussman/Getty, Steve Granitz/FilmMagic
Amy Sussman/Getty, Steve Granitz/FilmMagic
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
“It’s never been up to me to address it because the scale of it is so widespread,” said Bia. “100 million people have heard this song. The only thing I can address is my own life. I can control what my friends think and the creative output that I have and things like that.”
Beyond anything personal between him and Rodrigo, the DJ said he thinks she’s “a generational songwriter” and “a generational talent,” noting that he’s “always just proud of her continued accomplishments.”
source: people.com
