Taylor Swift and Blake Lively’s one-time close friendship seems to be on hold as fresh news around Lively’s ongoing legal battle with actor-director Justin Baldoni overflows into the headlines.
PEOPLE sources close to the situation revealed that “Taylor and Blake aren’t talking” after months of strain between the two celebrities.
Their fallout has been under scrutiny since Swift’s name was unexpectedly pulled into Lively’s lawsuit against her It Ends With Us co-star and director Baldoni, which began in late 2024. In January, Baldoni’s legal team suggested that Swift had pressured him to accept rewrites from Lively on the film – a claim later dismissed. By May, his team had withdrawn a subpoena targeting the pop star, which Swift’s rep dismissed as a publicity stunt instead of an actual legal requirement.
Now, Swifties are abuzz again with the singer announcing her new album The Life of a Showgirl, released October 3. The album features a song called Ruin the Friendship, which most think is about her drama with Lively. When making an appearance on boyfriend Travis Kelce’s podcast, Swift said she taped the album in Europe while on tour with the Eras Tour before her name was associated with the It Ends With Us controversy.
Insiders who spoke to PEOPLE earlier reported that Swift had been “really hurt” after being dragged into Lively’s case. Although May reports indicated the two were merely “taking some space” and not severing their connections, their formerly inseparable relationship appears to have gone cold. In July, another insider asserted the two were trying to be “on good terms,” but conceded the friendship “isn’t the same as it used to be.
Swift and Lively have been friends since 2014. Swift is godmother to Lively and Ryan Reynolds’ children, who have even featured in Swift’s music. Swift’s 2017 song Gorgeous features the voice of her daughter James, while James, Inez, and Betty are all named on her Folklore album.
Whether Ruin the Friendship is actually about Lively is uncertain, but speculation has been fueled by the timing that the previously close relationship between the two actors might not be easily revived.
Jamie Wells has a knack for getting the inside scoop on Hollywood’s biggest stars and up-and-coming talent. With a sharp eye for industry trends and an ear for viral moments, Jamie covers everything from red-carpet events to behind-the-scenes drama in movies, TV, and celebrity culture.
