Entertainment · Celebrity · 1 hr ago
Report says Tom Brady's new romance has strained two models' friendship
Tom Brady is reportedly dating model Candice Swanepoel, after separating from his former wife, Gisele Bündchen, in 2022.
The romance is said to have strained Swanepoel's 15-year friendship with Joan Smalls, another Victoria's Secret model.
Smalls and Brady reportedly dated on and off, and Swanepoel had encouraged her to end things with him.
Smalls is reportedly upset that Swanepoel is now dating Brady and has told mutual friends to choose sides.
The two models have unfollowed each other on Instagram, and comments attributed to Smalls called Swanepoel a backstabber.
Neither model's representatives responded to requests for comment, and the reported details of their relationships have not been confirmed by them.
Bündchen reportedly does not see Swanepoel's relationship with Brady as a betrayal.
Reports say Tom Brady’s relationship with model Candice Swanepoel has strained her long friendship with fellow model Joan Smalls.
Smalls was reportedly seeing Brady on and off before Swanepoel began dating him.
Swanepoel had reportedly encouraged Smalls to end her relationship with Brady, but later pursued a relationship with him herself.
Smalls was said to be angry and to have urged mutual friends to choose sides.
Neither model’s representatives responded to the Daily Mail’s request for comment.
- Who
- Models Joan Smalls and Candice Swanepoel, and former NFL quarterback Tom Brady.
- What
- Reports say Brady’s relationship with Swanepoel has strained the friendship between the two models.
- When
- News of Brady and Swanepoel’s relationship reportedly emerged on Saturday night; the article was published on October 28, 2026.
- Where
- Not stated.
- Why
- Smalls reportedly viewed Swanepoel’s relationship with Brady as a betrayal, after Swanepoel had encouraged her to end things with him.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Brady and his former wife Gisele Bundchen split.
Smalls and Swanepoel teamed up to front a joint campaign for Anne Klein.
Friends reportedly noticed Smalls and Swanepoel were no longer following each other on Instagram.
News emerged that Brady and Swanepoel were reportedly dating.
- Friendship
- Smalls and Swanepoel had been close friends for 15 years.
- Brady's marriage
- He and Gisele Bundchen split in October 2022 after 13 years of marriage.
- Reported romance
- Brady and Swanepoel were believed to have been dating for a while.
- Models' event
- Both women walked in the 2026 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.
What people are saying
I'm not friends with backstabbers.
There's no going back. Some people lack humility and moral compass. And the way they gaslight, lie and minimize your feelings is the worst slap in the face after 15 years of friendship. Not a sorry said or written. Onwards and upwards!