Photo credit: Jed Cullen / Dave Benett / Karwai Tang
Sky Ferreira pushed back against a social media user’s claims about Charli XCX’s Wuthering Heights soundtrack album, alleging in a since-deleted series of Instagram comments that more than just her featured credit was taken from her work. Charli’s management has since responded.
A social media user had quoted an unnamed “industry insider” who claimed the intro to Charli’s track “Chains of Love” was lifted from Ferreira’s unreleased demo “Ancient Idols,” a song dating to around 2018 that had been intended for her long-awaited second album Masochism. The same user alleged that another Wuthering Heights track, “Altars,” was similarly based on a Ferreira demo from 2015.
Ferreira responded directly to the post, writing: “Your industry ‘insider’ is wrong. Close but wrong.” She added in a follow-up comment: “I’m not going to get into it but it was definitely more than an intro. I have proof of everything with dates. It isn’t worth the trouble bc I know how the world works.”
She also wrote, according to screenshots circulating online: “Your favorite artist records my old songs.”
The comments have since been deleted from Instagram.
https://twitter.com/porcelainfever/status/2040642364595708326
Charli XCX’s management responded to the claims in a statement to <a href=”https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/charli-xcx-sky-ferreira-wuthering-heights-credit-statement-1236215575/”>Billboard</a>, noting that Charli is currently in Kyoto on a film shoot and finishing her upcoming studio album. The statement read in full:
“Charli has made seven albums, four mixtapes and one EP, and has written countless songs for other artists throughout her career. She began as a songwriter with ‘I Love It,’ and her work has been recorded by and pitched to multiple artists. She has her own personal history with publishing and production negotiations and because of this, she always shares credits fairly and appropriately, and values her collaborators tremendously.
“Ahead of the Wuthering Heights album release, a standard review process was conducted on a small number of tracks from the album, including fragments of material originating from earlier sessions. This process involved managers, legal representatives, artists and producers, and included a thorough review of archival materials and demo recordings. All relevant parties were consulted throughout, and the album was played in full in advance of release to everyone. Songwriting credits and splits were determined and agreed collectively in writing, with reference to documented timelines and contributions. All credits were finalized and formally approved by the appropriate parties prior to the album’s release.”
Ferreira is credited as a guest feature on “Eyes of the World,” one of the tracks from the Wuthering Heights soundtrack, which Charli released in February to accompany Emerald Fennell’s film of the same name. <a href=”https://music.mxdwn.com/2026/02/13/news/charli-xcx-releases-wuthering-heights-soundtrack-featuring-sky-ferreira-collab-eyes-of-the-world-always-everywhere-video/”>As we reported</a>, it marked the first time the two artists had collaborated since 2019’s “Cross You Out.”
The dispute adds another layer to Ferreira’s ongoing battle over her own music catalog. <a href=”https://music.mxdwn.com/2024/12/02/news/sky-ferreira-opens-up-about-getting-dropped-by-label-in-new-interview/”>She opened up last year</a> about being dropped by Capitol Records via an automated message and the difficulties of reclaiming ownership of songs she paid to record herself. More recently, <a href=”https://music.mxdwn.com/2025/10/18/news/sky-ferreira-joins-smerz-for-a-performance-of-you-got-time-and-i-got-money/”>she joined Norwegian duo Smerz on stage in Los Angeles</a> for a performance of “You Got Time And I Got Money” in October 2025.
For more on this story, read <a href=”https://www.nme.com/news/music/sky-ferreira-suggests-parts-of-charli-xcxs-wuthering-heights-are-based-on-her-old-songs-i-have-proof-of-everything-3938580″>NME’s original report</a> and <a href=”https://www.nme.com/news/music/charli-xcxs-team-address-sky-ferreiras-claims-about-wuthering-heights-soundtrack-she-always-shares-credits-fairly-and-appropriately-3938641″>their follow-up on Charli’s team’s response</a>.
Previously on mxdwn:
<a href=”https://music.mxdwn.com/2026/02/13/news/charli-xcx-releases-wuthering-heights-soundtrack-featuring-sky-ferreira-collab-eyes-of-the-world-always-everywhere-video/”>Charli XCX Releases Wuthering Heights Soundtrack Featuring Sky Ferreira Collab “Eyes Of The World” & “Always Everywhere” Video</a>
<a href=”https://music.mxdwn.com/2024/12/02/news/sky-ferreira-opens-up-about-getting-dropped-by-label-in-new-interview/”>Sky Ferreira Opens Up About Getting Dropped By Label In New Interview</a>
<a href=”https://music.mxdwn.com/2025/10/18/news/sky-ferreira-joins-smerz-for-a-performance-of-you-got-time-and-i-got-money/”>Sky Ferreira Joins Smerz For a Performance of “You Got Time And I Got Money”</a>
<a href=”https://music.mxdwn.com/2024/03/13/los-angeles/sky-ferreira-at-the-wiltern-on-may-25/”>Sky Ferreira At The Wiltern On May 25</a>
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