“The Fate of Ophelia” is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. It was released as the lead single from her twelfth studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, on October 3, 2025, through Republic Records. Swift wrote and produced “The Fate of Ophelia” with Max Martin and Shellback. It is a dance-pop, funk, and synth-pop track that incorporates drums, bass, piano, steel guitars, synthesizers, and Omnichord. The lyrics depict Swift pledging herself to an honorable and deserving soulmate, who saves her from a destiny of death similar to that of Ophelia, a character that drowns from grief and romantic rejection in William Shakespeare’s Hamlet.
Music critics generally selected “The Fate of Ophelia” as one of the strongest, catchiest songs on The Life of a Showgirl, praising its composition, hook, and vocal performance. Commercially, the single broke Spotify’s global records for the most streamed song in a day and a week. It topped the music charts in over 25 countries, particularly across the Americas, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific.
Swift wrote and directed the music video, which premiered as part of The Official Release Party of a Showgirl, an album launch and event film released in cinema theaters on the same day as the album. The video portrays her in various styles of showgirls throughout different historical time periods. She worked with the Mexican cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto, the American choreographer Mandy Moore, and the Canadian production designer Ethan Tobman on the video, and cast her band and dance crew from the Eras Tour. Both the song’s lyrics and the video feature references to Swift’s fiancé, the American football player Travis Kelce.
