Tom Brady's rumored relationship with Victoria's Secret model Candice Swanepoel has reportedly led to a bitter feud between Swanepoel and fellow model Joan Smalls, who is described as a longtime friend. According to reports, Smalls has accused Swanepoel of being a "backstabber" and violating "girl code" following Swanepoel's alleged involvement with Brady.
Sources told Page Six that Smalls and Swanepoel, who have been close friends for 15 years, have experienced a falling out after Swanepoel reportedly began dating Brady. Smalls is allegedly issuing ultimatums to mutual friends, forcing them to choose sides and escalating the conflict within the modeling community.
In since-deleted social media comments, Smalls reportedly criticized Swanepoel, referring to her as a "backstabber" and accusing her of disrespect and carelessness. Smalls also wrote about the alleged gaslighting and minimizing of feelings after 15 years of friendship, stating, "Not a sorry said or written. Onwards and upwards!!!"
Representatives for Swanepoel stated to Page Six, "Candice has always been exceptionally private about her personal life, with her focus remaining on raising her children. She and Joan share a longstanding history and a friendship that Candice will always respect."
Brady's representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The reported romance is the latest romantic link for Brady since his divorce from supermodel Gisele Bündchen. Brady and Bündchen finalized their divorce in October 2022. They share two children, Benjamin and Vivian, and Brady also has a son, Jack, with Bridget Moynahan.
Since his divorce, Brady has been linked to several public figures, including model Irina Shayk, actress Sofia Vergara, and social media personality Alix Earle. He was reportedly seen with Earle at a New Year's Eve celebration in St. Barts and later at a pre-Super Bowl party, with sources suggesting they were "hooking up."
Swanepoel, who shares two sons with her former fiancé Hermann Nicoli, and Smalls both walked in the 2026 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, despite the reported tensions between them.