Songfacts®:

• This confessional freestyle finds Jhené Aiko pouring her soul out about a doomed relationship.
  
  Who am I kiddin'?
  Knew from the beginning
  You'd ruin everything, you do it every time.
  
  The release of "Triggered" on May 8, 2019 generated social media speculation that Aiko's lyrics are aimed at her ex, Detroit rapper Big Sean. The pair was a couple for three years from February 2016.
  
  The song was dropped nearly one month after Aiko shared a heartfelt message to Big Sean on Instagram. In the post, she talked about her love for the rapper and how he tends to "trigger" her emotions.
• Aiko accompanied the emotional ballad's release with a note revealing the intense emotions that sparked the tune.
  
  "One night I was so deep in my feelings, I was afraid of what I might do. I didn't want to revert to the same bad habits that have set me back time and time again. I realized that instead of running away from my emotions... I needed to sit with them, express myself and say whatever came to mind. it was healing to say the least... and now I feel a bit more free."
  
  Aiko later took to Twitter to clear up the rumors about "Triggered" being a diss track. She clarified that it is not a diss song but instead is "a moment of exaggerated expression". The track was written in a moment of frustration that has since passed.
• Jhené Aiko dropped the official remix on October 2, 2019. Aiko's contributions on the new version remain the same, as she reflects on her past relationship, but there are fresh verses from 21 Savage and Summer Walker.
• So what did Big Sean think of the song? Speaking to Essence, Aiko explained that his initial reaction was surprise. "He was just like, 'Wow, I'm not your friend.' I was like, 'Well, I was feeling that in the moment. This is just a song. This is not 100% about you,'" she said.
  
  Aiko added: "I feel like, especially because we have a personal relationship, and a true friendship, that's why I could play it for him, and be like, 'Yeah, sorry. I kind of went really hard, but don't think that this is a personal letter to you.'"