Who is 'Bad Idea Right?' about? A deep dive into Olivia Rodrigo's new bop

We couldn't help but wonder who the pop-punk princess was referring to in her latest single...

Olivia Rodrigo performs on the Other stage during day four of Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm, Pilton on June 25, 2022 in Glastonbury, England
(Image credit: ave J Hogan/Getty Images)

Surprise! Pop-punk princess Olivia Rodrigo released a new track, but who is "Bad Idea Right?" about, exactly? Hmm...

The singer's sophomore album GUTS is due out on Friday, September 8, and of course, fans are digging deep into the singer's lyrics à la Nancy Drew. When Rodrigo sent the song "Vampire" out into the world, listeners suspected it was about a certain ex. Then, we questioned if the tune was actually about a certain hero-turned-enemy, causing us to ask, "Are Olivia Rodrigo and Taylor Swift still friends?" 

Now we have another jam to add to our Spotify playlist until the album is available in its entirety. Let's get into the specifics, shall we?

Who is 'bad idea right?' about? 

Reconnecting with an ex is a slippery slope, one Rodrigo details in her new song. But did she have anyone in mind while writing "Bad Idea Right?"

When looking back at the star's romantic history, she's been tied to Zack Bia (well, not officially, but fans seem to think so), Adam Faze, and Joshua Bassett. Could it be that she's still harboring feelings for one of her past relationships? The "Bad Idea Right?" lyrics certainly seem to suggest it: 

"Yes, I know that he's my ex/
But can't two people reconnect/
I only see him as a friend/
The biggest lie I ever said"

However, according to the singer, the bop isn't about any particular previous romance; it's more about the idea of questioning whether or not to go back to an ex.

“‘Bad Idea Right?’ started with us making a joke song about me hooking up with an ex-boyfriend, but then we realized we were actually onto something,” Rodrigo said in a statement, per Fader. “We were throwing the weirdest things at the wall—in one of the choruses there’s a part that sounds like an instrument in the background, but it’s me gradually screaming louder and louder.”

There you have it folks, it's just a concept (at least for now...). 

What else is on the 'GUTS' album?

Even if "Bad Idea Right?" isn't necessarily tied to anyone specific, we can't wait to go into super-sleuth mode when assessing the rest of Rodrigo's new album. The tracks are as follows: 

  • all-american bitch
  • bad idea right?
  • vampire
  • lacy
  • ballad of a homeschooled girl
  • making the bed
  • logical
  • get him back!
  • love is embarrassing
  • the grudge
  • pretty isn’t pretty
  • teenage dream

We're willing to bet that these new tunes are definitely tied to people from the singer's past, but we'll have to wait a bit before we can jam and over-analyze (a.k.a. do what we do best). 

GUTS (Amazon Exclusive Edition) vinyl by Olivia Rodrigo
Pre-order:

GUTS (Amazon Exclusive Edition) vinyl by Olivia Rodrigo
Pre-order:
$29.99 | Amazon

GUTS is being released on Friday, September 8. Free delivery for Prime members will be between Monday, September 11 and Friday, October 6. An audio CD option is also available for $11.87 on Amazon.

In the meantime, let's get our breakup playlist ready for some new additions come Friday, September 8.

Danielle Valente
Digital News Writer

Need a TV show recommendation? Maybe a few decor tips? Danielle, a digital news writer at Future, has you covered. Her work appears throughout the company’s lifestyle brands, including My Imperfect Life, Real Homes, and woman&home. Mainly, her time is spent at My Imperfect Life, where she’s attuned to the latest entertainment trends and dating advice for Gen Z.

Before her time at Future, Danielle was the editor of Time Out New York Kids, where she got to experience the best of the city from the point of view of its littlest residents. Before that, she was a news editor at Elite Daily. Her work has also appeared in Domino, Chowhound, and amNewYork, to name a few. 

When Danielle’s not writing, you can find her testing out a new recipe, reading a book (suggestions always welcome), or rearranging the furniture in her apartment…again.