Jessie J has confirmed that her ex-partner Channing Tatum fully supports her decision to reference him in her new song “Complicated.” The singer-songwriter revealed that Tatum, who starred in the 2012 film Magic Mike, listened to the track prior to its release and gave it his approval.
In her latest album, Don’t Tease Me With A Good Time, Jessie includes lyrics that touch on her relationship with the actor, whom she dated from 2018 to 2020. During an interview with The Guardian, she shared that she played the song for Tatum to ensure he was comfortable with the mention. “I played him the song to see if he’s OK with it and he was,” she stated.
In the song, Jessie reflects on her past, singing lines such as, “2017 went by ’cause I wanted / 2018 to be mine and be honest. Met a Magic Mike, will that ever be forgotten? ‘Cause everything they write / That’s the headline and the topic.”
Friendship and Respect
The 37-year-old artist also expressed her admiration for Tatum, describing him as “such a sweet guy.” She emphasized the positive aspects of their relationship, saying, “We were such good friends and had such a good time together.”
Despite the amicable nature of their breakup, speculation arose regarding another track on the album, “Threw It Away.” Some listeners interpreted the lyrics as a potential dig at Tatum, particularly the line, “Don’t ya dare rewrite the story. I’m the beauty, you’re the beast.” In response to the rumors, Jessie took to her Instagram Stories to clarify the song’s intent.
“Threw it away is NOT about @channingtatum I NEVER said it was,” she wrote. Jessie elaborated on her reasoning for addressing the speculation, stating, “The reason I am saying something is because I know if the shoe was on the other foot he would correct the narrative too.”
She further expressed her concerns for Tatum’s daughter, asserting, “I would never want his beautiful daughter to ever read any of it or be told about it thinking I said it about her Dad. Not fair.” Jessie concluded her remarks by reiterating her respect for Tatum, saying, “Channing and I ended our relationship on great terms and I have nothing but respect for him; he was never a beast to me.”
The interactions between Jessie J and Channing Tatum illustrate their ongoing friendship, despite their romantic relationship having ended. As Jessie continues to navigate her music career and personal life, she remains dedicated to preserving the positive memories of their time together.
