Reneé Rapp, the talented singer and star of the “Mean Girls” musical, recently opened up about her aversion to dating apps during a candid conversation with actor Rachel Sennott on the “Close Friends Only With Instagram” podcast. Rapp revealed that she has never used a dating app and finds the idea quite terrifying.
“It scares the s— out of me,” Rapp admitted. “For some reason, I was never like, ‘Oh, that’s something I could do.’ I think of just Christian Mingle. I’m like, ‘Oh, that’s for elderly Christians. I’m not that.’”
Rapp, who describes herself as “not a small talk gal,” agreed with Sennott that it’s difficult to gauge attraction to someone based solely on their online profile. “Based off of experience, there’s no way to tell if you’re interested from a photo or a video or even a long video,” Rapp said. “You might think that you’re really attracted to someone and you’re just not.”
Sennott echoed Rapp’s sentiments, noting that dating apps seem to be for people who are seriously looking to find love, which can make the experience feel very vulnerable. “On Instagram, you always have that out of, ‘I just liked your photo,'” Sennott explained. “When I flirt on Instagram, I’m giving nothing. I’m giving a follow and, like, one like. And that’s as much as it’s gonna go, and then I’m like, ‘That was your T-up.’ So DM. But I feel like a follow feels pretty direct to me.”
Rapp and Sennott both agreed that meeting someone in person is crucial before getting too invested. “Meeting a friend or crush IRL before getting too invested is of the utmost importance,” Rapp emphasized. “You might think that you’re really attracted to someone and you’re just not.”
In addition to discussing her dating app fears, Rapp also shared some exciting news about her music career. She confirmed that she is working on a new album, which will reflect her experiences over the past year. “Age 23 to 24 has been a massive difference for me,” she explained. “It’s also about a reflection on my 23rd year specifically.”
Rapp’s new music is inspired by her personal experiences, including emotionally intense moments. “I’m crying, the other person’s fighting, we’re fighting, we’re screaming, we’re arguing,” she said. “I’m like, ‘This is an amazing song. I just made money off of this.’”
Earlier this year, Rapp appeared on TODAY and spoke about her new music, including her collaboration with Megan Thee Stallion on the song “Not My Fault” for the “Mean Girls” musical soundtrack. “We just started talking about it and she was just like, ‘Oh, no, absolutely,’” Rapp recalled. “Which was really exciting for me because I’m such a big fan of hers and she’s iconic. She’s also one of the hottest people I’ve ever seen in my life.”
Rapp’s candid discussion about her fear of dating apps and her approach to social media flirting offers a refreshing perspective on modern dating. Her focus on genuine, in-person connections and her dedication to her music career highlight her authenticity and passion.
As Rapp continues to work on her new album and navigate her career, her fans can look forward to more heartfelt and relatable music inspired by her personal experiences. And while she may never venture into the world of dating apps, her openness about her fears and preferences is a reminder that everyone has their own unique approach to finding love and connection.
Source: TODAY.com, Instagram’s “Close Friends Only” podcast
