Reneé Rapp is not holding back. The breakout star of The Sex Lives of College Girls just dropped her latest single, “Leave Me Alone,” on May 21, and it’s as fierce and fiery as fans hoped. The track is a punchy preview of her upcoming album Bite Me, due out August 1, and it’s already got everyone talking—especially about its shady, not-so-subtle digs at her HBO Max past.
Let the Lyrics Speak
In the first verse alone, Rapp sets the tone for this unapologetic banger:
“I’m a real bad girl but a real good kisser / Got my hair tied up, phone on don’t disturb… Even line my lips just to match my nipples (Leave me alone, b*tch, I wanna have fun).”
And then, the real tea gets spilled:
“My manager called me, said ‘Where’s the single?’ / ‘Oh, you’re breaking up, babe, I don’t got no signal’ / Sign a hundred NDAs but I still say something / I took my sex life with me, now the show ain’t f*ckin’.”
If that last line doesn’t have you clutching your pearls, nothing will.
A Look Back at College Girls
Rapp starred as Leighton Murray in the Mindy Kaling-created series for its first two seasons, making her mark as the sharp-tongued, closeted college student. Her arc wrapped up early in season three, with Leighton transferring to MIT to be closer to her girlfriend Alicia. But Rapp only appeared in the first two episodes before bowing out—and the show itself was later canceled after season three wrapped.
While she parted ways with the series with grace, sharing a sweet Instagram farewell in July 2023 thanking the team and fans, the undertones in “Leave Me Alone” paint a clearer picture of her true feelings.
Opening Up
Hints about her exit have popped up before. In a January 2024 interview with Vanity Fair, Rapp noted, “The people in my life that I work with now care about me as a person. And I think that is a difference from things I’ve experienced in the past.”
She also opened up during a 2023 appearance on Call Her Daddy, admitting that her first year filming the show was “terrible” and left her doubting herself constantly. From being in a heteronormative relationship at the time to feeling like she didn’t belong, it’s clear her early experiences on set were less than ideal.
Music First, Drama Later
Since stepping away from acting, Rapp has gone all-in on her music career, and it’s paying off. She’s been lighting up stages on tour and at major festivals, recently performing at the American Music Awards. With Bite Me just around the corner, “Leave Me Alone” is proving to be the perfect kickoff for this next chapter—bold, fun, and entirely on her terms.
