It’s been five years since a teenage girl in a white sweatshirt drove through the suburbs, crying over a guy who probably didn't deserve it. That song, "drivers license," didn't just break the internet—it sparked the Olivia and Sabrina beef, a pop culture moment so massive it redefined how we view Gen Z stardom.
But honestly, looking back from 2026, the story is way more complicated than "girl hates girl over a boy." It’s a narrative about public perception, the brutality of the Disney machine, and two women who ultimately refused to be defined by a shared ex.
💡 You might also like: How Much is Justin Bieber Worth 2025: Why Most People Get the Numbers Wrong
The Love Triangle That Started Everything
The "meat" of the drama kicked off in January 2021. Olivia Rodrigo, then 17 and starring in High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, dropped her debut single. It was an instant nuke. Everyone was obsessed.
The lyrics pointed directly at her co-star, Joshua Bassett. They had a rumored (and very intense) off-screen relationship that apparently ended poorly. But the line that set the world on fire was about the "blonde girl" who was "so much older" than Olivia.
Enter Sabrina Carpenter.
At the time, Sabrina was 21—four years older than Olivia. She’d been spotted hanging out with Joshua, getting coffee, and even wearing matching Halloween costumes. To the internet, it was a closed case. Olivia was the heartbroken victim, and Sabrina was the "villain" who moved in too fast.
The Song Swap: "Skin" vs. "Drivers License"
If "drivers license" was the opening shot, Sabrina’s "Skin" was the counter-attack. Released just weeks later, the song contained lines that felt like a direct clapback:
- "Maybe blonde was the only rhyme."
- "Don't drive yourself insane."
- "You can try to get under my skin while he’s on mine."
It was a bold move. Maybe too bold. While fans of Sabrina saw it as her standing her ground, the general public—already fiercely protective of Olivia—used it as fuel to send Sabrina a wave of hate that was, frankly, terrifying.
Beyond the Lyrics: The Human Cost
We often talk about these things like they're fictional characters. They aren’t. While the Olivia and Sabrina beef was generating millions of streams, the actual people involved were struggling.
Joshua Bassett ended up in the hospital with septic shock and heart failure just days after "drivers license" dropped. He later admitted the stress of the public scrutiny played a massive role in his health decline. Sabrina, meanwhile, later revealed in her album emails i can't send that she was receiving "death threats filing up semi-trucks."
She felt like a "homewrecker" and a "rebound," labels that stuck to her for years despite never being officially confirmed as the person who "broke up" Olivia and Joshua.
Why the "Beef" Never Truly Died (Until Recently)
Pop fans love a rivalry. It’s the Taylor vs. Katy or Britney vs. Christina of a new generation. Every time Olivia released a song—like "deja vu" or "traitor"—sleuths would look for Sabrina references. When Olivia released "lacy" on her 2023 album GUTS, the internet exploded again.
"Dazzling starlet, Bardot reincarnate."
Sabrina often uses Brigitte Bardot as a style icon. Fans thought the song, which describes a mix of obsession and resentment, was Olivia finally admitting she was "poisoned" by the comparison to the other girl. But was it actually beef? Or was it just a young woman processing her own insecurities?
The 2025 Peace Treaty
The turning point finally came at the 2025 Grammy Awards.
After years of "Team Olivia" vs. "Team Sabrina" TikTok wars, a video surfaced of the two of them hugging at the Crypto.com Arena. It wasn't a PR stunt. It was a brief, quiet moment between two peers who had both reached the absolute top of the industry.
By this point, Sabrina had become a global juggernaut with Short n' Sweet and "Espresso." Olivia was a three-time Grammy winner headlining stadiums. They didn't need the drama anymore. The "peace treaty" was less about an apology and more about an unspoken agreement: we both survived.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Drama
If you’re still thinking about this as a "fight over a boy," you’re missing the point. The beef was a product of a specific moment in time—the pandemic, the rise of TikTok, and the way we project our own heartbreaks onto celebrities.
- It wasn't a "diss track" war. Olivia has never once named Sabrina in a negative light in an interview. She actually said she doesn't "subscribe" to the narrative of women being pitted against each other.
- Sabrina wasn't the "other woman." There was never any proof of cheating. Relationships in your late teens and early twenties are messy and fast. That's just life.
- The labels played a role. Let’s be real. The drama helped the numbers. While the pain was real, the industry knows that a "lore-heavy" song sells better than a generic one.
Actionable Insights for Pop Culture Fans
If you're following celebrity drama and want to be a "literate" consumer of the news, keep these things in mind:
- Separate the art from the person: Just because a song feels like it's about someone doesn't mean the artist wants you to go harass that person on Instagram.
- Look for the "Second Act": Notice how both women used the pain of that period to create their best work. Olivia’s SOUR and Sabrina’s emails i can't send are masterclasses in turning public shame into private power.
- Check the Timeline: Most "beefs" are resolved long before the fans stop talking about them. If they've moved on, you probably should too.
The Olivia and Sabrina beef is officially in the rearview mirror. Today, they represent the two most successful paths out of the Disney Channel ecosystem, proving that while a "driver's license" might get you where you're going, it's the "espresso" that keeps you awake for the long haul.
The next time you hear a breakup song, look for the growth in the lyrics rather than the name in the comments section.
Next Steps for You
- Audit your playlist: Compare the lyrical themes of SOUR vs. emails i can't send to see how each artist handled the same time period.
- Watch the 2025 Grammy clips: See the hug for yourself to understand how much the body language changed from the coldness of 2021.
- Research the "Disney Star" pipeline: Understanding the contracts these stars are under provides a lot of context for why their public "feuds" often feel so contained yet explosive.