The Hundredth Time You've Heard 'That's That Me, Espresso'
It’s 8 AM. The coffee is brewing. And for what feels like the millionth time, you hear it from the other room—the synth-pop beat, the deceptively sweet vocals, and your partner humming along. It’s the Sabrina Carpenter song. Again. The eye-roll is so involuntary you practically see your own brain.
This isn't about deep, soul-crushing jealousy. It’s about the slow-drip annoyance of feeling like a supporting character in a rom-com where your partner is fantasizing about the lead. You're not looking for a fight; you're looking for a way to stop feeling so… peripheral. You’ve searched for answers, but what you really need is a practical framework that doesn't involve a tearful confrontation. You need some genuinely clever, funny ways to deal with a partner's celebrity crush that put the power, and the punchline, back in your hands.
When You're Tired of Being Annoyed: The Celebrity Crush Burnout
Let’s just pause here and take a deep breath. Our emotional anchor, Buddy, would want you to know this first: Your frustration is completely, 100% valid. It’s exhausting to hold space for this tiny, persistent annoyance that feels too silly to be a 'real' problem but takes up very real emotional energy.
This isn't just about a pop star. It's about feeling seen. Each time he mentions her, it can feel like a micro-rejection, a small reminder that someone else’s fantasy is occupying the headspace you want to be in. That feeling isn't insecurity; it's a longing for presence and connection. You have every right to be tired of it. You have permission to be done with the quiet frustration and ready for a new approach.
Flipping the Script: When to Use Humor as a Weapon (and When Not To)
Before we move from feeling validated to taking action, a narrative bridge is essential. Understanding your emotional burnout is crucial, but to change the dynamic, we have to get strategic. And that means understanding the tool you're about to use. Our realist, Vix, is here to make sure you wield it like a scalpel, not a sledgehammer.
"Alright, let's get one thing straight," Vix would say, leaning in. "A poorly timed joke is worse than saying nothing. It can make you look bitter when you’re trying to look clever." The goal is to use what experts call affiliative humor—jokes that build connection—not aggressive humor, which creates a target. Your partner should feel like he's in on the joke, not that he is the joke.
Here’s Vix’s Reality Check: If your partner's crush is part of a larger pattern of disrespect, humor is not the answer. These playful tactics are for turning a relationship issue into a joke when the foundation is already solid. If you use sarcasm to mask real hurt, it will backfire. This isn't about finding funny ways to deal with a partner's celebrity crush if the crush has become a genuine threat to your security. This is for annoyances, not betrayals.
Your Playbook: 3 Ways to 'Join the Joke' Instead of Being the Punchline
Vix has laid out the risks. You see the field clearly. Now, it’s time for the game plan. As our master strategist Pavo always says, “Emotion is a signal to change tactics. Let’s make the move.” Instead of getting frustrated, you’re going to get strategic. Here are three lighthearted ways to communicate frustration and reclaim the narrative.
1. The Counter-Crush Escalation
This is about playful mirroring, not toxic jealousy. He’s into Sabrina Carpenter? Great. You are now deeply, inexplicably, and publicly obsessed with Barry Keoghan. Or maybe Timothée Chalamet. The more absurdly specific, the better. Leave his IMDb page open on the laptop. Mention casually, “Oh, Barry has a new film coming out, I should clear my schedule.” This isn't really about how to make your boyfriend jealous back; it’s a performance art piece demonstrating the silliness of the whole dynamic. You’re turning a one-sided fixation into a shared, ridiculous bit.
2. The Lyrical Co-Opt
This move requires deadpan delivery. The next time he has “Espresso” playing, wait for the key line. As she sings “That’s that me, espresso,” calmly point to yourself with a slight, knowing smile and say nothing. The `that's that me espresso meaning` becomes you. You’re not fighting the song; you’re absorbing its power. It’s a supremely confident, low-effort way of joining the joke instead of suffering from it. This is one of the most powerful and funny ways to deal with a partner's celebrity crush because it uses their own material.
3. The 'Nonsense' Budget
For the partner who needs a more direct (but still playful) boundary, Pavo suggests creating a system. Deliver this script with a warm, firm tone: “Okay, I've decided we each get a ‘Nonsense Crush Allowance’ of three minutes per day. You can use yours on Sabrina Carpenter talk. I’ll be using mine to discuss the historical inaccuracies in The Crown. Your three minutes start... now.” This is a brilliant piece of playful relationship advice because it validates his interest while playfully containing it. You're not banning the topic; you're managing it with humor and structure.
From Annoyance to Amusement
Ultimately, finding funny ways to deal with a partner's celebrity crush is not about winning a silent war. It's about transforming a point of friction into an opportunity for connection and shared laughter. You’re not trying to extinguish his harmless crush; you’re trying to protect your own peace and sense of importance within the relationship.
By adopting a playful framework, you shift from being the passive, annoyed audience to an active, clever participant in the narrative. You remind both of you that these parasocial relationships are, at their core, absurd—and the most powerful thing you can do with absurdity is laugh at it, together. You just needed the right playbook to do it.
FAQ
1. What if my partner gets angry when I use these funny ways to deal with a partner's celebrity crush?
If your partner reacts with anger instead of amusement, it could be a sign that the issue is deeper than a simple crush. Vix would call this a 'data point.' It may indicate that they feel genuinely criticized or that their celebrity fixation is more than just a casual interest. In this case, it's best to pause the humor and have a more direct, serious conversation about why they feel so defensive.
2. Is it normal to feel jealous or insecure over a celebrity crush?
Yes, it's completely normal. While we logically know a celebrity isn't a real 'threat,' the feelings they can trigger are very real. It often taps into deeper insecurities about being 'enough' or a fear of being compared to an idealized, unattainable standard. Buddy would remind you that these feelings don't make you irrational; they make you human.
3. How can I tell if a celebrity crush is becoming a real problem?
A celebrity crush crosses from harmless into problematic when it negatively impacts the relationship. Key signs include your partner constantly comparing you to the celebrity, spending excessive money on them, prioritizing their content over time with you, or dismissing your feelings of discomfort about it. If it's causing real distress, it's no longer a joke.
4. Why does the Sabrina Carpenter 'Espresso' song in particular seem to trigger these feelings?
The song 'Espresso' has a very confident, almost playfully arrogant theme about being irresistible. The line 'That's that me, espresso' is a declaration of being the energetic, essential part of someone's morning. When a partner repeatedly plays a song with that specific message about another person, it can feel like a direct, albeit unintentional, comparison that leaves you feeling left out of that power dynamic.
References
psychologytoday.com — How Humor Can Help and Harm a Relationship | Psychology Today
en.wikipedia.org — Humour - Wikipedia