Brianna LaPaglia Credits Zach Bryan Breakup for Finally Making Her a Swiftie: 'Very Grateful That I Have Found Taylor'

Mar. 15, 2025

Brianna LaPaglia and Taylor Swift.Photo:Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic; Gilbert Flores/Billboard via Getty

Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic; Gilbert Flores/Billboard via Getty

Brianna “Chickenfry” LaPagliais officially a Swiftie!In her interview withSports Illustrated Swimsuiton Jan. 15, the 25-year-old creator opened up about becoming a fan ofTaylor Swiftafter her public breakup fromZach Bryanin October 2024.LaPaglia shared that the 35-year-old “Fortnight” singer’s music became “an outlet of getting my own words out in my mind” while she picked up the pieces from her tumultuous relationship with the 28-year-old country singer.Brianna LaPaglia on the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit.Katherine Goguen/Sports Illustrated"Now I’m not just listening to pop music, I’m listening to the diary of someone who experienced something completely the same as me, and they’re putting it in words that I could have never done myself,” she explained. “I can listen to it and be like, ‘Wow, how the hell does she have a song for everything?’ And I mean,everything. For what I’m going through now, there’s a song, there’s an era, there’s something for everything in Taylor Swift’s music.“LaPaglia added that while “It’s unfortunate that it took this circumstance to get to be a Swiftie.” she is “very grateful that I have found Taylor” during this time.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 celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.LaPaglia and Bryan dated a little over a year after they first met inMay 2023. Bryan confirmed the pair split inOctober 2024, which prompted LaPaglia to step away from the internet temporarily. She later opened up about theemotional abuse she facedin the relationship in November.Zach Bryan and Brianna LaPaglia at the 66th Grammy awards Feb. 4, 2024.Neilson Barnard/GettyWhen they were still together, Bryan shared anow-deleted post on X(formerly known as Twitter) that alluded to Swift’s feud with Kanye West on Sept. 17, 2024. He later posted his apology on Instagram Stories on Sept. 20, clarifying that “I wasn’t coming for Taylor the other night” and “I love Taylor’s music.” LaPaglia seemingly took his side and posted a selfie wearing a red “Make America Sexy Again” hat, captioned “I think I like red.”After their breakup, LaPagliafully embraced Swift and her musicand posted aTikTokabout relating to the song “The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived,” adding that “It took a scumbag to make me a Taylor Swift fan.“She even solidified her place as a Swiftie after she got the lyrics from Swift’s “I Hate it Here"tattooed on herself in Decemberwhen she attended theEras Tourin Vancouver. On her Instagram Stories, LaPaglia explained that she got the tattoo of the lyrics because it “got me through having to remove toxic people from my life ❤️.”

Brianna “Chickenfry” LaPagliais officially a Swiftie!

In her interview withSports Illustrated Swimsuiton Jan. 15, the 25-year-old creator opened up about becoming a fan ofTaylor Swiftafter her public breakup fromZach Bryanin October 2024.

LaPaglia shared that the 35-year-old “Fortnight” singer’s music became “an outlet of getting my own words out in my mind” while she picked up the pieces from her tumultuous relationship with the 28-year-old country singer.

Brianna LaPaglia on the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit.Katherine Goguen/Sports Illustrated

Katherine Goguen/Sports Illustrated

“Now I’m not just listening to pop music, I’m listening to the diary of someone who experienced something completely the same as me, and they’re putting it in words that I could have never done myself,” she explained. “I can listen to it and be like, ‘Wow, how the hell does she have a song for everything?’ And I mean,everything. For what I’m going through now, there’s a song, there’s an era, there’s something for everything in Taylor Swift’s music.”

LaPaglia added that while “It’s unfortunate that it took this circumstance to get to be a Swiftie.” she is “very grateful that I have found Taylor” during this time.

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 celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

LaPaglia and Bryan dated a little over a year after they first met inMay 2023. Bryan confirmed the pair split inOctober 2024, which prompted LaPaglia to step away from the internet temporarily. She later opened up about theemotional abuse she facedin the relationship in November.

Zach Bryan and Brianna LaPaglia at the 66th Grammy awards Feb. 4, 2024.Neilson Barnard/Getty

Neilson Barnard/Getty

When they were still together, Bryan shared anow-deleted post on X(formerly known as Twitter) that alluded to Swift’s feud with Kanye West on Sept. 17, 2024. He later posted his apology on Instagram Stories on Sept. 20, clarifying that “I wasn’t coming for Taylor the other night” and “I love Taylor’s music.” LaPaglia seemingly took his side and posted a selfie wearing a red “Make America Sexy Again” hat, captioned “I think I like red.”

After their breakup, LaPagliafully embraced Swift and her musicand posted aTikTokabout relating to the song “The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived,” adding that “It took a scumbag to make me a Taylor Swift fan.”

She even solidified her place as a Swiftie after she got the lyrics from Swift’s “I Hate it Here"tattooed on herself in Decemberwhen she attended theEras Tourin Vancouver. On her Instagram Stories, LaPaglia explained that she got the tattoo of the lyrics because it “got me through having to remove toxic people from my life ❤️.”

source: people.com