Brady’s Romance with Swanepoel Fractures 15-Year Model Friendship with Smalls

Key points

• Tom Brady and Candice Swanepoel have been dating since May 2026, with sources noting their shared Miami residence.
• Joan Smalls, a 15-year friend of Swanepoel, is publicly feuding with her over the new romance.
• Smalls is reportedly forcing mutual friends to choose sides, labeling Swanepoel a 'backstabber' on social media.
• Swanepoel’s representative emphasized her privacy and respect for the past friendship, while neither party has officially addressed the romance.
• The feud stems from Swanepoel previously encouraging Smalls to end her own relationship with Brady.

Background

This development follows the 2022 divorce of Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen. Since then, Brady has been linked to several celebrities, including Kim Kardashian and Irina Shayk, though he has generally kept his dating life private. Swanepoel, who split from Hermann Nicoli in 2018, has also maintained a low profile regarding her personal life. Our archive indicates that rumors of this specific feud began circulating on October 26, 2026, just days before the current confirmation of the romance.

How outlets are covering it

Page Six highlights the intensity of the feud, noting that Smalls is forcing mutual friends to pick a side and has scrubbed photos of Swanepoel from her social media. In contrast, Us Weekly and E! News focus primarily on the confirmation of the Brady-Swanepoel relationship, emphasizing that both parties have remained silent and that the couple has been together for 'a while.' While Page Six details Smalls’s public accusations of 'gaslighting' and 'lying,' other outlets do not mention the interpersonal conflict, focusing instead on the logistics of the new romance, such as their shared location in Miami.

Why it matters

The story illustrates how celebrity romances can disrupt long-standing professional and personal alliances. The public nature of the feud between two prominent Victoria’s Secret Angels highlights the tension between private relationships and public image management in the entertainment industry.

What to watch

Expect continued social media activity from Joan Smalls as she navigates the fallout. There may be further public statements from Swanepoel’s representatives or potential responses from Tom Brady, though both have previously avoided addressing their relationship directly. The feud could also impact their respective brand partnerships and public appearances.