It was May 2015. Taylor Swift was basically at the peak of her 1989 era world domination, and she decided to drop a music video that felt less like a music video and more like a summer blockbuster. Honestly, the hype was unreal. Everyone was asking the same thing: who was in Bad Blood video and how did she get all of them in one place?
It wasn't just a video. It was a statement. By the time the Joseph Kahn-directed masterpiece premiered at the Billboard Music Awards, the "Squad" had become a legitimate cultural phenomenon. Swift didn't just cast actors; she cast her actual best friends, the biggest supermodels on the planet, and literal living legends.
Looking back now, it feels like a time capsule. Some of those friendships are still rock solid. Others? Well, things got a little more complicated as the years rolled by. But if you're trying to track down every single face in that star-studded lineup of assassins and tech-noir warriors, you’ve come to the right place.
The Inner Circle: The heavy hitters of the Bad Blood cast
You can't talk about who was in Bad Blood video without starting at the very top. Taylor herself played Catastrophe, the protagonist who gets betrayed by her partner-in-crime. That partner? Arsyn, played by none other than Selena Gomez.
At the time, seeing Selena and Taylor on screen together was a massive deal for fans. They had been "BFFs" in the public eye for years, and having Selena play the villain—the one who kicks Taylor out of a window—was a stroke of genius. It leaned into the rumors of celebrity feuds while keeping the focus on their real-life bond.
Then you had the supermodels. This was the era where the "Victoria’s Secret Angel" was the ultimate status symbol, and Taylor had basically recruited the entire roster. Karlie Kloss appeared as Knockout. At the time, she and Taylor were inseparable, often referred to as "Kaylor" by the fanbase. Their boxing scene in the video is one of the most recognizable moments of the whole production.
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Gigi Hadid played Slay-Z. Think about that for a second. This was right as Gigi was becoming a household name. She was wielding a compact-mirror-turned-weapon, looking every bit the high-fashion mercenary. Martha Hunt (Homeslice) and Lily Aldridge (Frostbyte) rounded out the model contingent, bringing that high-glam, dangerous aesthetic that defined the video’s "Sin City" vibe.
A mix of Hollywood royalty and indie darlings
What made the casting so fascinating wasn't just the models. It was the randomness of the Hollywood stars involved. Jessica Alba, a literal tech mogul and movie star, showed up as Domino. Why? Because she’s Jessica Alba and she looks cool on a motorcycle. It was that simple.
Then there was Zendaya. People forget that in 2015, Zendaya was still transitioning out of her Disney Channel roots. Playing Cut-Throat in the "Bad Blood" video was a huge "I’ve arrived" moment for her. She was throwing knives and looking incredibly fierce, proving she had the range to move into more mature, cinematic roles.
And we have to talk about Ellen Pompeo and Mariska Hargitay. Taylor is a well-documented superfan of Grey’s Anatomy and Law & Order: SVU. She literally named her cats after their characters (Meredith Grey and Olivia Benson). Seeing Luna and Justice walking in slow motion together was the ultimate "fan girl" moment for Taylor, and it gave the video a level of prestige that most pop clips just don't have.
Lena Dunham also made an appearance as Lucky Fiori, the cigar-smoking mastermind behind the desk. While Lena’s public image has shifted plenty since then, in 2015, she was the "It" girl of HBO, and her inclusion cemented the video’s status as a crossover event between music, fashion, and prestige TV.
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The full roster of names you might have forgotten
If you’re doing a deep dive into who was in Bad Blood video, you’ll realize the list is actually longer than most people remember. Here is a breakdown of the characters and the stars who breathed life into them:
- Taylor Swift as Catastrophe. The lead.
- Selena Gomez as Arsyn. The betrayer.
- Kendrick Lamar as Welvin Da Great. He didn't just act; his verses transformed the song from a synth-pop track into a gritty remix.
- Lena Dunham as Lucky Fiori.
- Hailee Steinfeld as The Trinity. This was a clever bit of editing where she played three identical versions of herself.
- Serayah as Dilemma. You might remember her from the show Empire, which was huge at the time.
- Gigi Hadid as Slay-Z.
- Ellie Goulding as Destructa X. She was carrying a rocket launcher. Very subtle.
- Martha Hunt as Homeslice.
- Cara Delevingne as Mother Chucker. She was using nunchucks, naturally.
- Zendaya as Cut-Throat.
- Hayley Williams as The Crimson Curse. The Paramore singer looked iconic with that bright red hair and combat gear.
- Lily Aldridge as Frostbyte.
- Karlie Kloss as Knockout.
- Jessica Alba as Domino.
- Mariska Hargitay as Justice.
- Ellen Pompeo as Luna.
- Cindy Crawford as Headmistress. The ultimate OG supermodel passing the torch.
Why the "Bad Blood" casting actually mattered
You might think it’s just a bunch of famous people in a room, but the strategy here was brilliant. By including such a diverse range of stars—from 90s icons like Cindy Crawford to rising stars like Hailee Steinfeld—Taylor ensured that the video would appeal to every single demographic.
It also created a "Pokemon" effect. Fans spent the weeks leading up to the premiere "collecting" the posters. Taylor released individual noir-style character posters on Instagram one by one. It was a masterclass in social media marketing before that was even a standardized term in the music industry.
The video also served as a shield. At the time, the media narrative around Taylor was often focused on her dating life. By pivoting to the "Squad," she changed the conversation to female friendship and professional collaboration. It was a power move. She wasn't just a singer; she was a director of talent.
The Kendrick Lamar factor
We can’t ignore the fact that the video version of "Bad Blood" is significantly different from the album version. The inclusion of Kendrick Lamar was a massive "get." In 2015, Kendrick was the most respected voice in hip-hop, fresh off the success of To Pimp a Butterfly.
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His presence gave the song a street cred that it otherwise lacked. When people ask who was in Bad Blood video, they usually focus on the women, but Kendrick’s role as Welvin Da Great is the glue that holds the cinematic narrative together. He acts as the "handler" for Catastrophe, guiding her through the training process for her eventual revenge.
Where are they now? The evolution of the squad
It’s been over a decade since the video dropped. A lot has changed. The "Squad" isn't the tight-knit unit it once appeared to be, at least not in the public eye.
For instance, the friendship between Taylor and Karlie Kloss has been the subject of endless speculation. They haven't been seen together in years, leading fans to believe there was a falling out. On the flip side, Gigi Hadid and Selena Gomez remain close staples in Taylor's life.
Zendaya has gone on to become one of the biggest movie stars in the world with Dune and Euphoria. Hailee Steinfeld joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Kate Bishop. The video was a snapshot of a moment in time when all these trajectories crossed paths in a warehouse in Los Angeles.
How to watch and appreciate the details
If you go back and watch the video today, look for the small details. Notice the futuristic weapons—many of which were inspired by films like The Fifth Element and Kill Bill.
The training sequences are actually quite well-choreographed. Most of the women did their own stunts (within reason). It wasn't just standing around looking pretty; it was an athletic production.
Actionable steps for fans and creators:
- Study the Marketing: If you're a creator, look at how Taylor used individual posters to build hype. It’s a strategy that still works today on platforms like X and Instagram.
- Listen to the Remix: Compare the album version of "Bad Blood" to the Kendrick Lamar remix. Notice how the production was beefed up to match the visual scale of the video.
- Check the Credits: Joseph Kahn directed this, and his signature "hyper-real" style is all over it. If you like this aesthetic, check out his other work with stars like Britney Spears or Eminem.
- The Easter Egg Hunt: This was one of the first times Taylor really went heavy on the "Easter Eggs." Look at the numbers on the walls and the names of the weapons—they usually mean something.
The legacy of the "Bad Blood" video isn't just about the song. It’s about a moment in pop culture where a female artist gathered her peers and said, "Look what we can do together." It set the bar for what a high-budget music video could look like in the streaming age, and honestly, we haven't seen anything quite like it since.