"Love It When You Hate Me" is a song by Canadian singer Avril Lavigne featuring American singer Blackbear. It was released on January 14, 2022, through Elektra Records as the second single from Lavigne's seventh studio album, Love Sux (2022).
Background
"Love It When You Hate Me" was released the same day as Lavigne announced the title, release date and track list of Love Sux.[1]
Ali Shutner from NME described "Love It When You Hate Me" as a "pop-punk banger",[5] and Emily Carter writing for Kerrang! noted that the song "hears the Canadian star embracing nostalgic pop-punk in the chorus – 'The highs the lows the yes, the nos / You're so hot when you get cold / Don't call me baby / I love it when you hate me' – and fresher elements in the verses."[6]
"Love It When You Hate Me" debuted at number 76 on Canadian Hot 100.[8] In the United States, the song debuted at number 15 on the BillboardHot Rock & Alternative Songs.[9] It peaked at number 25 on the Mainstream Top 40 chart, and number 18 on the US Adult Top 40 chart, It was Lavigne's biggest hit on the chart since her 2011 single "What the Hell".[10]
Music video
The official music video for "Love It When You Hate Me" was directed by Audrey Ellis Fox and was released on March 5, 2022. It opens up with Avril being chased by paparazzi after a prison sentence due to "falling in love too many times". The video mainly shows Lavigne, Blackbear and Barker performing inside of a prison cell with dancing female inmates. The ending showed Lavigne flipping off the press following her release for bad behavior.[11] The music video was nominated for 2022 MTV Video Music Awards' Best Alternative music video, it was Lavigne's first Video Music Award nomination since her 2007 single "Girlfriend".[12]