Tom Brady's New Romance Reportedly Causes Rift Between Victoria's Secret Models

Retired NFL quarterback Tom Brady is reportedly dating Victoria's Secret model Candice Swanepoel, a development that has allegedly created a rift between Swanepoel and her longtime best friend, fellow model Joan Smalls.

Reports of Brady's new romance with Swanepoel emerged earlier this week, with sources suggesting the pair have been dating for "some time" and are being cautious to keep their relationship private. Brady, 49, finalized his divorce from Gisele Bündchen in October 2022 after 13 years of marriage, making him one of the league's most eligible bachelors. Swanepoel, 38, has been dating Brady for months, with both individuals living in Miami, which facilitates their time together. The two reportedly bond over their shared experiences as parents.

Brady has three children from his previous relationships: Jack, 19, with Bridget Moynahan, and Benjamin, 16, and Vivian, 13, with Gisele Bündchen. Swanepoel has two sons, Anacan, 10, and Ariel, eight, with her ex-partner Hermann Nicoli.

While Brady's ex-wife, Gisele Bündchen, reportedly does not view his new relationship as a breach of 'girl code,' the situation is said to be different for Smalls. Smalls, 35, and Swanepoel have been close friends for 15 years, sharing numerous professional experiences and catwalks throughout their careers. However, reports suggest that Smalls is now estranged from Swanepoel due to the burgeoning romance with Brady, whom Smalls had also reportedly been involved with intermittently.

Speculation about the rift intensified after fans noticed that Smalls and Swanepoel were no longer following each other on Instagram. According to gossip site DeuxMoi, Smalls made deleted comments on social media, reportedly stating, "I'm not friends with backstabbers," and suggesting that Swanepoel had broken 'girl code.' Smalls allegedly expressed that the "disrespect and carelessness" from Swanepoel and Brady was "unimaginable" and indicated there was "no going back" after 15 years of friendship, citing a lack of humility and moral compass.

Despite the alleged fallout between the models, sources close to Bündchen told TMZ that she has no issues with Brady's new flame. The relationship between Bündchen and Swanepoel was reportedly never a close friendship, and they have not been seen together in recent years, making the idea of a feud over Brady seem unlikely. Bündchen retired from her Victoria's Secret contract in 2006, a year before Swanepoel's debut, meaning they did not walk the runway together during the brand's peak.

Brady, a seven-time Super Bowl champion, has been linked to other women, including Kim Kardashian and Irina Shayk, since his divorce from Bündchen. Earlier this year, he told People that he had little time for a personal life due to his work and family commitments, emphasizing his dedication to his children and professional endeavors.

Swanepoel had a long-term relationship with Brazilian model Hermann Nicoli, whom she met in 2005. They became engaged in 2015 but confirmed their separation three years later.