Clash between Charli XCX and Sky Ferreira over "Wuthering Heights" rights

An open clash over songwriting credits has erupted between Charli XCX and Sky Ferreira. The latter had implied that some of her old demos were being used by the "Brat" popstar for the soundtrack of the film "Wuthering Heights" without proper acknowledgment. Ferreira is officially credited on only one track, "Eyes Of The World", as writer and vocalist. However, an exchange with a fan on social media raised the possibility of a broader involvement, never formalized in the final credits. In a statement given to Billboard, Charli XCX's management dismissed these claims, insisting that all credits had been "finalized and formally approved" before the album's release.

The story took shape from a post on X by the fan account @skyferrori, well known in the scene and even indirectly referenced in the "360" video. In response to a joke about how Ferreira manages to make a living – given that she hasn't released an album since her 2013 debut, "Night Time, My Time" – the singer replied on Instagram: "I've been on tour for years. Lavoro. Mi dispiace dirlo, ma la vostra artista preferita registra le mie vecchie canzoni. Spero che questo risponda alla domanda". The same account then claimed to have contacted an alleged industry "insider", sharing a screenshot (later removed) stating that the intro of "Chains Of Love" derived from a Ferreira demo titled "Ancient Idols", while the track "Alters" was said to be built on another of her 2015 demos.

Ferreira responded on Instagram, calling these reconstructions “wrong,” while adding: “They're close, but that's not how it happened.” Without going into detail, she clarified: “It wasn't just about an introduction. I have proof of everything, with dates. But it's not worth getting into it: I know how the world works.”

In another comment, the singer explained that she had initially avoided speaking out, only to step in after once again feeling "trascinata e umiliata senza motivo". She added that she wants to prevent other people's actions from jeopardizing her work and her upcoming album, stressing: "Sono una persona onesta. But the truth matters little: what counts is the most convenient or most appealing narrative".

For its part, Charli XCX's team reiterated that the British artist, born Charlotte Aitchison, "always attributes credit correctly and transparently", also pointing to her track record as a songwriter for other performers. The statement goes into detail about the procedures followed: before the release of "Wuthering Heights", certain tracks – including portions drawn from earlier sessions – underwent a review process involving managers, lawyers, artists and producers, with a thorough examination of archives and demos. "All parties involved were consulted throughout the entire process," the statement continues, "and the album was shared in full ahead of release. Credits and splits were established and agreed upon in writing, based on documented contributions and verifiable timelines."

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