A once-tight friendship between two Victoria’s Secret veterans has become one of the most talked-about celebrity rifts — and it all revolves around legendary NFL quarterback Tom Brady.
Us broke the news in October 2026 that Brady was dating supermodel Candice Swanepoel, days before the modeling legend’s longtime friend Joan Smalls left a shady social media comment seemingly taking aim at the pair’s budding relationship.A source told Us that Smalls previously dated Brady and felt “completely blindsided” after he moved on with Swanepoel.
Scroll breakdown of how the Swanepoel-Smalls fallout unfolded, what each side has said and where things stand now:
Getting through it. Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen have been working hard to remain cordial — and put their kids first — after calling it quits in fall 2022. The former New England Patriots quarterback and the supermodel initially sparked rumors there was trouble in paradise after Brady walked back his NFL retirement in March […]
Candice Swanepoel and Tom Brady’s Romance Goes Public
Us exclusively broke the news on October 24, 2026, that Brady and Swanepoel had been dating “for a while.”
A second insider later revealedBrady and Swanepoel have been seeing each other since the spring — “several months now.” Neither Brady nor Swanepoel has publicly addressed the relationship, and reps for both initially stayed quiet when Us reached out for comment.
Joan Smalls’ History with Tom Brady
A twist came days later, when a source told Us that Smalls and Brady “were seeing each other on and off for about a year between 2023 and 2024” in a casual fling.
“They were hooking up for a while and still kept in touch afterward,” the source adds.
Why Joan Smalls Felt ‘Blindsided’ by Tom Brady and Candice Swanepoel’s Relationship
Smalls and Swanepoel had been best friends for years after coming up together through the modeling world and Victoria’s Secret.
“[Joan was] completely blindsided by the whole thing and felt really betrayed,” a source told Us in October 2026. “To her, it was just the ultimate breaking of girl code. It wasn’t even necessarily about Tom, but more about the fact that Candice was someone she considered such a close friend. Joan had openly talked to Candice about Tom and had confided in Candice about the relationship.”
The inside also claimed that Swanepoel once warned Smalls to be careful dating Brady because his marriage to Gisele Bündchen had recently ended. (Brady and Bündchen, who share two kids, were married from 2009 to 2022.)
Joan Smalls’ Shares Social Media Comments About the Alleged Drama
Smalls appeared to address the drama in a series of since-deleted social media comments in early October 2026. On a Just Jared Instagram post about the news, she wrote, “Two words: SUMMER HOUSE ! That’ll explain everything” — a reference fans read as a nod to the Bravo love triangle involving Amanda Batula, West Wilson and Ciara Miller.
Also, when asked whether she was still friends with Swanepoel, Smalls replied, “I’m not friends with backstabbers.” In another comment, she wrote, “There is no girl code with some people. And the disrespect and carelessness in how they treat you is so unimaginable.”
Smalls’ comments have since been deleted, with fans also noticing that she and Swanepoel no longer follow each other on social media.
Candice Swanepoel’s Rep Responds
A rep for Swanepoel addressed the swirl in a statement to Us.
“Candice has always been exceptionally private about her personal life, with her focus remaining on raising her children,” her spokesperson said in an October 28, 2026, statement. “She and Joan share a longstanding history and a friendship that Candice will always respect.”
Another source claimed to Us that Swanepoel, who shares two sons with ex-fiancé Hermann Nicoli, has not apologized to Smalls.
Where Things Stand Between Candice Swanepoel and Joan Smalls Now
The two models crossed paths at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in October 2026, where a source told Us that Smalls “made a point to keep her distance” from Swanepoel.
“While no one really knew what was going on behind the scenes, Joan was pretty upset about the situation,” the source explained.
For now, the two models — once inseparable friends of 15 years — appear to be very much apart.
This story was compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists.
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