Taylor Swift’s latest album announcement has sparked fresh speculation among fans about the inspirations behind her songs, especially regarding the track titled Ruin the Friendship. The sixth song on her upcoming 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, has attracted attention due to rumors linking it to her relationship with actress Blake Lively, fueling questions about the state of their friendship.
These speculations arose during the New Heights podcast on Wednesday, where Swift revealed the complete tracklist. Fans immediately dove into analyzing the titles for clues, with many interpreting “Ruin the Friendship” as a potential nod to recent tensions involving Lively.
Background on Legal Dispute and Its Possible Effect on Personal Ties
Blake Lively became involved in a public legal battle with her It Ends With Us co-star and director Justin Baldoni beginning December 2024. Both parties filed lawsuits against each other; Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment and a smear campaign, while Baldoni responded with a countersuit alleging defamation and extortion. This dispute has placed Swift and Lively’s friendship under the microscope.
Baldoni’s legal actions at one point implicated Swift, claiming she pressured him to accept changes to the film’s script. Lively’s representatives dismissed those allegations as categorically false. The countersuit detailed text messages where Lively referenced Swift as “one of her dragons” and compared herself to Khaleesi, a character from Game of Thrones played by Emilia Clarke.
In May 2025, the conflict escalated when Baldoni’s legal team tried to subpoena Swift, prompting her representatives to denounce the move as an attempt to create sensational tabloid content. A spokesperson stated,
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, 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,
—Swift’s spokesperson
Public Silence Amid Ongoing Speculation on Their Relationship
Despite the controversies surrounding Lively, Baldoni, and the film, neither she nor Swift has publicly addressed how these events have impacted their friendship. The pair has not been observed together in public recently, intensifying fan curiosity. Swift often draws on her real-life experiences for her songwriting, although she rarely confirms the identities of the people who inspire her lyrics.
For example, children of Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds have been subtly referenced in Swift’s past tracks such as Gorgeous and Betty, indicating close ties between the families.
Efforts to obtain Swift’s comment on this specific track went unanswered, but she shared some insight about the album’s creation during the New Heights podcast conversation with her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, and his brother, Jason.
Taylor Swift Discusses Balancing Tour and Album Recording
Swift described the demanding process of recording The Life of a Showgirl while on her Eras Tour in Europe. She explained how despite physical exhaustion, she found mental inspiration through her music-making during short breaks between shows. She said,
I just love it a lot. I love music,
and added,
I would be playing shows. I’d do, like, three shows in a row. I’d have three days off. I’d fly to Sweden, go back to the tour — and actually, like, working on this – I was physically exhausted at this point in the tour, but I was so mentally stimulated and so excited to be creating.
—Taylor Swift
Since Swift’s European tour leg was between May and August 2024, and the legal dispute involving Lively only began that December, some fans argue the timeline makes it less likely that the song is a direct reflection of the legal drama.
Anticipation Builds Until Album Release Clarifies Song’s Meaning
With the public awaiting the full album release on October 3, the true subject of “Ruin the Friendship” remains open to interpretation. Until Swift or Lively offer more transparent remarks, fans will continue to speculate whether the song is connected to the ongoing legal battle or simply explores general themes of friendship challenges.
The conversation highlights the intense interest in how Swift’s personal life intersects with her artistry, especially when intertwined with high-profile figures like Blake Lively. The release of The Life of a Showgirl promises to bring new insights into Swift’s storytelling and possibly reveal more secrets behind her lyrics.
