Kelsea Ballerini Sends a Direct Message to Fan Who Claimed She 'Ruined' Hit Song

Kelsea Ballerini

Kelsea Ballerini doesn't have any room in her life for bad vibes.

The country artist, 30, recently clapped back at an online hater who had a bone to pick with her after she released a new version of her 2014 hit song, "Love Me Like You Mean It."

Ten years later, Ballerini dropped the "Reimagined Version" of the country track on Friday, April 5, this time giving it a much moodier vibe than the original upbeat rendition.

And while tons of Ballerini's fans have been embracing the new take on the song, one critic chimed in on TikTok to tell the singer how he really feels about the reimagined version.

"She ruined the song," a TikTok user by the name Rick Clingerman wrote to Ballerini on TikTok. "She should've left it alone. It was much better the way it was."

Naturally, Ballerini hit back with a sassy response, stating in a new TikTok video, "Then Rick, you know what: It's not for you!"

"And also you know what," she continued with a smile, before telling the hater, "If you like the original, just listen to the original. It's still out there, Rick."

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Fans immediately began to rally in support of Ballerini's lighthearted response, including tons of commenters who playfully began trolling Rick for the negative comment.

"Oh Rick, you silly goose," one person joked under the post.

Another quipped, "We must've missed where it said (rick's version) on the release."

When Ballerini released the new version, she explained via Instagram why she decided to re-record the song "that started it all" 10 years later.

"Ten years ago, i was twenty, naive, starry eyed, and absolutely relentless on putting my music out into the world," she wrote in her post earlier this week. "I’m proud to say, nothing has changed…except a DECADE of this wildly beautiful journey we’ve gotten to share full of tours and sing alongs, wins and losses, and growing up together."

"Love you, mean it. ??" she cheekily added.

Ballerini, who is hosting the CMT Awards this weekend, also confirmed that she will be taking the award show stage at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas, to perform the beloved country song—the reimagined version, of course. (Sorry, Rick!)

The 2024 CMTs will air live on CBS on Sunday, April 7 at 8 p.m. ET. The show will also be available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+.

Next: Taylor Swift Proves Friendship With Kelsea Ballerini Is Still Going Strong