hate that i made you love me

“hate that i made you love me” is a song by American singer-songwriter Ariana Grande. Released on 29 May 2026, the track serves as the lead single from her eighth studio album, Petal. The song was released through Grande’s own imprint, BabyDoll Music, under an exclusive license to Republic Records. It marked the beginning of a new musical era for Grande following her focus on film projects and other ventures in the years preceding the album’s release.

Grande wrote the song herself and co-produced it alongside longtime collaborators Ilya Salmanzadeh and Max Martin. The trio has worked together on many of Grande’s biggest releases, making “Hate That I Made You Love Me” another chapter in one of pop music’s most successful creative partnerships. Ahead of its release, Grande described the track as “one of my favourite songs I’ll ever write,” while also praising Salmanzadeh and Martin as some of her closest collaborators.

The song was first announced on 8 May 2026 when Grande unveiled its black-and-white cover artwork on social media. The image, which features a close-up photograph of the singer partially obscured by her hair, mirrors the visual aesthetic later used for the Petal album campaign. Physical editions of the single were also made available, including cassette, CD, and 7-inch vinyl formats featuring a cappella and instrumental versions of the song.

Musically, “hate that i made you love me” represents a more restrained approach than some of Grande’s previous lead singles. Early reviews noted its atmospheric production and emphasis on vocals and lyrics rather than large-scale pop hooks. The track was produced with a softer, more reflective sound, allowing the songwriting to take centre stage. Critics and listeners highlighted the song’s understated style, with reactions ranging from praise for its maturity and subtlety to debates about its departure from Grande’s more immediate pop releases.

The song’s title immediately attracted attention because of its unusual perspective. Rather than focusing solely on the experience of being in love, the phrase “hate that i made you love me” suggests a complicated relationship dynamic in which affection and responsibility become intertwined. The title became a focal point of discussion among listeners following the song’s release, generating a wide range of interpretations.

To accompany the single, Grande released promotional visuals including a comic book-inspired lyric video. The release signalled the beginning of the Petal era, an album Grande described as being centred on vitality, resilience, and personal growth. The single also arrived shortly before the launch of her first major concert tour in several years, further increasing anticipation for the album.

*All information accurate at the time of publishing.