Hollywood friendships are usually about as sturdy as a cardboard umbrella in a London downpour. We see them posing on red carpets, "liking" each other's over-filtered Instagram dumps, and then—poof—they haven't been seen in the same zip code for three years. But for a long time, the bond between Gigi Hadid and Blake Lively felt different. It felt like something actually real.
They weren't just "industry friends" doing a strategic lunch at Nobu. They were "coparenting" sisters who shared clothes and survived the chaos of Taylor Swift's inner circle together. But if you’ve been paying attention to the headlines lately, things have gotten... well, complicated. The vibe has shifted from matching outfits to legal subpoenas and "taking space." Honestly, trying to track their current status is like trying to solve a Rubik's cube in the dark, but there are some very real receipts to look at.
From "Sister" Status to Red Carpet Method Dressing
To understand where they are now, you have to remember where they started. This wasn't a friendship born out of a movie set; it was born out of a shared social ecosystem. They’ve been tight for nearly a decade, often anchored by their mutual bestie, Taylor Swift.
Back in 2023, the love was loud. When Gigi posted a birthday tribute to Blake, she called her a "magical friend and mamma" and a "sister." Blake’s response was even more intense. She joked about "coparenting" with Gigi and called it one of her life’s greatest joys. At that point, they were the ultimate "it girl" duo. They were the kind of friends who would borrow each other's clothes for major film sets—literally. Reports surfaced that during the filming of It Ends With Us, Blake actually used items from Gigi’s closet to flesh out the wardrobe for her character, Lily Bloom.
Then came the summer of 2024. This was arguably the peak of the Gigi Hadid and Blake Lively public friendship.
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Remember the Deadpool & Wolverine premiere? While everyone expected Blake to coordinate with her husband, Ryan Reynolds, she pulled a fast one. She showed up in a custom red Atelier Versace catsuit, but her "date" was Gigi, who wore a mustard-yellow Miu Miu set. They were human versions of Deadpool and Wolverine. It was a masterclass in "method dressing" and a massive statement of solidarity. On the red carpet, they joked with reporters about how Ryan is basically a "hen" who loves to crash their girls' nights just to hear the gossip.
It looked like they were untouchable. But as the saying goes, the higher the climb, the harder the fall.
The "It Ends With Us" Drama and the Great Divide
Everything started to sour during the press tour for It Ends With Us. What was supposed to be a career-defining moment for Blake Lively turned into a PR nightmare that eventually trickled down into her personal friendships.
The backlash against Blake was swift. Critics and fans felt the marketing of the movie—which deals with heavy themes of domestic violence—was being treated like a lighthearted rom-com ("Wear your florals!"). While Blake was dealing with the "Team Justin Baldoni" versus "Team Blake" narrative, a much bigger problem was brewing behind the scenes involving legal maneuvers.
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By early 2025, the drama got legal. Reports emerged that Taylor Swift had been served with a subpoena by Justin Baldoni’s legal team. This is where the Gigi Hadid and Blake Lively friendship seemingly hit a brick wall.
Why the loyalty shifted:
- The Taylor Factor: Gigi has always been famously loyal to Taylor. When Taylor's name was dragged into the It Ends With Us legal battle, insiders claimed Gigi felt "terrible" that her closest friend was being pulled into the mud.
- Choosing Sides: Multiple sources reported by May 2025 that Gigi had "distanced herself" from Blake. While she reportedly still considers Blake a friend in a general sense, the day-to-day closeness vanished.
- The 30th Birthday Snub: The clearest piece of evidence for the rift came in April 2025. Gigi celebrated her milestone 30th birthday at Le Chalet in New York. The guest list was a "who's who" of her inner circle: Taylor Swift (obviously), Zöe Kravitz, and Anne Hathaway. Blake Lively? Nowhere to be found.
Is the Rift Permanent?
It’s easy to look at a missed birthday party and scream "feud," but Hollywood dynamics are rarely that black and white.
Some people argue that Gigi is just playing it safe. If you're a high-profile model with massive brand contracts, you don't necessarily want to be standing front and center next to a friend who is currently embroiled in a messy legal battle and a public reputation crisis. It's "brand preservation" as much as it is personal loyalty.
However, the "loyalty to Taylor" angle carries a lot of weight. In that specific circle of friends, Taylor is the sun, and everyone else is a planet orbiting her. If there is friction between the sun and another planet, the other orbits tend to shift. Sources close to the group have used pretty strong language lately, suggesting that the friendship hasn't just cooled—it's "halted."
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There’s also the Ryan Reynolds factor. Since Gigi is also close with Ryan (remember those "girls' night" comments?), it makes the social geometry even more awkward. You can't really "break up" with Blake without it being weird with Ryan.
What This Means for Celebrity Friendships
The saga of Gigi Hadid and Blake Lively serves as a pretty stark reminder that even the most "Instagram-perfect" friendships are vulnerable to the pressures of the industry.
When your personal life is your brand, a PR crisis isn't just a private headache; it's a contagion. If Blake’s reputation took a hit because of how she handled a sensitive movie topic, everyone standing next to her by association was suddenly under the microscope.
So, where do they go from here? Honestly, don't expect a big public "we're fine" statement. That’s not how this circle operates. They usually let things quiet down for a year or two and then suddenly reappear at a Met Gala after-party like nothing happened. But for now? The "sisters" are definitely living in different houses.
Actionable Insights for Following the Drama:
- Watch the Digital Footprint: Don't just look for "unfollows." Look for the lack of interaction on major milestones. If Blake doesn't post for Gigi's next big project, the chill is real.
- The "Plus One" Rule: Keep an eye on the next major fashion events (like the Met Gala). Who someone chooses as their "date" to an after-party is the ultimate status symbol of their current inner circle.
- Check the Mutuals: Notice if other friends in the group—like Cara Delevingne or the Haim sisters—start moving in unison. These squads usually move as a block.
The takeaway? Enjoy the red carpet glamour for what it is, but remember that the real story is usually happening in the texts we'll never see.
Next Steps:
- You can monitor the ongoing It Ends With Us legal filings to see if Taylor Swift’s involvement continues, as this remains the primary wedge in the friendship.
- Keep an eye on the Guest In Residence (Gigi’s brand) events; Blake was a frequent supporter in the past, and her presence (or absence) at future launches will be telling.