On May 1, Ryan Reynolds helped the beloved rock band Green Day celebrate their new star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame with a heartfelt speech about their musical impact. When the Deadpool star made his way to some waiting fans to sign autographs, a photographer in the crowd began pestering him with questions about his friendship with Taylor Swift’s NFL star boyfriend, Travis Kelce, who recently appeared to unfollow Reynolds on Instagram. The actor ignored the inquiries before eventually walking away.
Kelce’s apparent social media snub is the latest development in the seemingly deepening rift between Reynolds’ wife, Blake Lively, and Swift, her longtime bestie. In December 2024, Lively sued her It Ends with Us director Justin Baldoni over claims of sexual harassment; he countersued Lively and Reynolds for defamation. Swift was dragged into the case when Baldoni claimed in court docs that Lively used her superstar pal to persuade him to allow script changes to the movie. Now, Swift — who will be subpoenaed for a trial set to begin next March — is keeping her distance from Lively. “Taylor and Blake have talked, but it’s strained,” says an insider, adding that they’re no longer speaking on a regular basis. “Their friendship is not what it used to be.”
Different Pages
Lively, 37, and Swift, 35, have been close since 2015; Swift is godmother to three of Lively’s four children (she shares daughters James, 10, Inez, 8, and Betty, 5, and son Olin, 2, with Reynolds). Soon after Kelce, also 35, entered the picture in July 2023, the two couples formed a tight bond. Last summer, Lively and Reynolds, 48, joined Swift and Kelce at the singer’s $17 million Rhode Island beach house, and the foursome went on a double date at The Corner Store in NYC in October 2024. “Taylor and Blake have always been close,” noted a source at the time, “but now they’re doing a lot of couples things together.”
Swift’s name has come up repeatedly since Lively’s legal drama with Baldoni, 41, began. In court documents, Baldoni claimed he was ambushed during a meeting at Lively and Reynolds’ NYC penthouse with Swift in attendance; in subsequent text messages, Lively referred to herself as Khaleesi from Game of Thrones and called Swift one of her “dragons.” Says the insider: “Taylor is very uncomfortable about being pulled into the lawsuit. It’s a huge thing now. Her friendship with Blake is strained.” Adds a second insider: “Taylor was shocked to be referred to in work messages sent to Blake’s director and to be brought into this.”
For a time, they weren’t speaking at all. “They needed space,” says a Lively source, noting that Swift — who wrapped her Eras Tour in December 2024 — “was trying to decompress and enjoy her time off.” (Swift’s been keeping a low profile since Kelce’s Super Bowl loss. They snuck out for a quiet date night at Del Frisco’s Grille in NYC on March 14, and in late April, a solo Kelce headed to Vegas to play in Justin Timberlake’s annual celebrity golf tournament. The pair were spotted on Sunday, May 12, in Philadelphia.) Adds the first insider, “Taylor doesn’t want to be in the spotlight [right now].”
While the second insider notes that Swift “isn’t worried about the subpoenas,” she is trying to steer clear of the headline-making court case. (In addition to Swift, Reynolds’ good friend and Deadpool vs. Wolverine costar Hugh Jackman may reportedly be subpoenaed.) “Taylor’s biggest issue seems to be protecting herself emotionally and legally,” says the first insider. “She’s always been someone who values loyalty, and right now, she’s navigating how to preserve that while also setting boundaries in a complicated, high-stakes situation.”
It’s been hard for both women. “Blake was one of Taylor’s closest friends, and any shift in a tight bond like that is bound to hurt,” says the insider, noting that for Swift, it’s less about not trusting Lively and more about feeling uncertain in the wake of everything that’s happened. While the actress appeared to be in good spirits while recently promoting Another Simple Favor, the Lively source says she’s still “devastated by everything that’s happened in the last two years, including coming forward and the repercussions of filing the suit.”
After news broke that Swift would be subpoenaed, a representative for the pop star slammed Baldoni’s lawyers for involving her.
“Taylor Swift never set foot on the set of this movie, she was not involved in any casting or creative decisions, she did not score the film, she never saw an edit or made any notes on the film,” the rep said in a statement to Us on Friday, May 9. “She did not even see It Ends With Us until weeks after its public release, and was traveling around the globe during 2023 and 2024 headlining the biggest tour in history.”
The statement continued, “The connection Taylor had to this film was permitting the use of one song, ‘My Tears Ricochet.’ Given that her involvement was licensing a song for the film, which 19 other artists also did, this document subpoena is designed to use Taylor Swift’s name to draw public interest by creating tabloid clickbait instead of focusing on the facts of the case.”
Making Amends
Taylor Swift, Blake Lively. Getty Images (2)
Lively has apologized to Swift for causing her unnecessary stress. “Taylor and Blake have spoken, and Blake [said she’s sorry],” says the first insider, noting that Swift isn’t holding a grudge. “Taylor is very forgiving, and in her eyes, she still considers Blake a friend. But the lawsuit is still ongoing, and until it’s resolved, [things are] difficult.” Lively is trying to stay positive. “Blake has considered Taylor a sister for many years,” says the Lively source. “They are on OK terms now, but the friendship is still wounded. She’s hopeful they’ll get back to how they were in due time.”
For more on Lively and Swift, watch the exclusive video above and pick up the latest issue of Us Weekly — on newsstands now.
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