The legal dispute involving Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, and Justin Baldoni is now affecting their close circle: Travis Kelce is publicly distancing himself from the couple.
For many years, Blake Lively, 37, and Taylor Swift, 35, were considered best friends. Along with their partners Ryan Reynolds, 48, and Travis Kelce, 35, they formed a model celebrity clique that always made headlines with their public appearances. However, those days now appear to be over, as the American football player made clear on his Instagram profile.
Travis Kelce Turns Away from Ryan Reynolds
Keen-eyed Taylor Swift fans noticed on Sunday, April 27, 2025, that Travis Kelce had unfollowed Ryan Reynolds on Instagram, according to multiple U.S. media outlets. Blake Lively is also no longer on his followed list. While the “Gossip Girl” star doesn’t follow him either, it seems Reynolds still maintains a connection to the NFL pro — for now.
In the age of social media, unfollowing a former close associate is often taken as evidence of a falling-out. It seems Kelce made a conscious decision to no longer be associated with the couple, who have been entangled in a legal battle with Lively’s It Ends With Us co-star Justin Baldoni, 41, since late 2024. “Travis unfollowed Ryan because he’s fed up with all the drama,” a source told the Daily Mail.
Blake Lively Dragged Taylor Swift into Legal Dispute with Justin Baldoni
Kelce’s rift with the couple likely reflects the still-strained relationship between Swift and Lively. The singer and the tight end have kept a low profile since the Super Bowl this past February, deliberately avoiding public appearances. Meanwhile, Swift has been unwillingly pulled into the legal feud between Lively, Reynolds, and Baldoni.
To recap: After Lively sued her co-star in December 2024 for sexual harassment, Baldoni filed a countersuit against her and Reynolds for defamation and extortion. In that filing, the actor claimed Lively tried to leverage her friend Taylor Swift’s influence to push through changes to the film’s script. Reportedly, a meeting between Baldoni and the couple — with Swift also present — had been arranged. In a text to Baldoni, Lively allegedly jokingly referred to Swift as one of her “dragons” who would back her unconditionally.
Taylor Swift has so far refused to publicly comment on the allegations. However, that doesn’t shield her from possibly being called as a witness. “Travis is worried he might be questioned too, since he was with Taylor when some of this went down,” the Daily Mail insider explained.
Singer and NFL Star Deliberately Distance Themselves from the Couple
The source added, “Travis isn’t going to pretend to be friends with people who would throw him or Taylor under the bus.” Therefore, it’s true that “the two have distanced themselves from Ryan and Blake for the time being.”
A reconciliation between the four is not entirely off the table after the court case, which is scheduled for March 2026. But, as the insider put it, “Taylor and Blake will never be the same after this,” and “Travis doesn’t want people in his life he feels are inauthentic.”
