CHARLI XCX was asked what it was like opening for TAYLOR SWIFT last year and . . . well . . . she was honest.

She said, quote, “I’m really grateful that [Taylor] asked me on that tour. But as an artist, it kind of felt like I was getting up on stage and waving to 5-year-olds.”

She added, quote, “I’ve done so much [opening for others], and it really cemented my status as this underdog character, which I like now. But I need to just own my own [effing stuff] finally.”

In a later Tweet, she clarified that she meant no disrespect to Taylor or her fans.