Bad Blood

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Remember 2015?

It was a period of great personal freedom, it was a period of collective unity.

During that period, it was all about achieving #squadgoals as a group of twelve renowned friends stood united on the red carpet prior to entering an arena filled with admirers, where they were being recognized for their extraordinary awesomeness. This era also saw the emergence of diss tracks, including those that featured Kendrick Lamar, which didn’t explicitly name individuals but instead left room for speculation and personal interpretation.

Back in a time not so long ago, yet seemingly eons past, it was the year that echoed with “Bad Blood.” The unforgettable single from Taylor Swift’s 1989 album might as well have been released yesterday or a decade past, but on May 17, 2015, it made its grand entrance into our world, accompanied by an iconic music video that saw some of her dearest supermodel comrades in arms.

In my own words, I expressed in August 2015 to W magazine, similar to how “Bad Blood’s” Slay-Z, or Gigi Hadid, put it, “It was truly a demonstration of our unwavering support for each other. We all carved time from our busy schedules to be present, and she aimed to make us look strong and powerful. It was an incredible experience to be a part of something so grand. Our aspiration is to be recognized not just for our rivalry, but for the kindness we show towards one another.

In this video, we welcomed some unexpected fresh faces to my envisioned cinematic universe, talents that I’d have given anything to be part of the iconic decade-defining revenge symphony they starred in.

In an interview with Prestige Hong Kong in September, Cindy Crawford shared that Taylor reached out to her and requested her participation. She expressed immediate enthusiasm at the prospect, saying “Sign me up!” Even before Taylor elaborated on the idea, Cindy was thrilled to be asked. She truly felt honored by the invitation, and she believes Taylor felt similarly upon receiving her affirmative response.

Ever since I dropped “Bad Blood” with all its grandeur (landing me the prestigious 2015 MTV Video Music Award for Album of the Year and delivering a speech without a single interruption), I’ve been on an unstoppable creative journey. Over the past decade, I’ve churned out a whopping ten albums, four of which are re-recordings, proving that my passion for music is stronger than ever!

She’s reconciled with certain individuals, with Katy Perry lending her voice during the Eras Tour to a song believed to be about her, all while addressing some in a critical manner.

And now she’s a Kansas City Chiefs fan, having found love with tight end Travis Kelce in 2023.

But here’s how it all came together for Team Taylor in 2015:

Oh boy, there’s no denying that I’m smitten with Catastrophe, the undisputed alpha among them all! Yet, it’s not that she’s constantly creating chaos – far from it. However, it feels like her shadow is always cast over by a cloud of unforeseen predicaments. This enigmatic antihero of mine seems to be inextricably linked with whatever calamity may come her way!

For a long time, Taylor and Selena were close friends, standing by each other in good times and bad. Similarly, Justin was friends with Joe, John, and Jake. Given this history, Taylor found it amusing to suggest that Selena take on the role of Arsyn, a character who initially works alongside Catastrophe but later betrays her, leaving her for dead. The video concludes with Cat and her team pursuing Arsyn and preparing for a confrontation, suggesting a fierce showdown between them.

Originally, our video was meant to end with us simply looking at each other, but then Joseph suggested they should go all out. Gomez recounted this to MTV News in June, saying ‘I love you,’ to which she responded ‘I love you too’, and we ended up playfully slapping each other. It turned out to be a fun moment.

In 2019, when Taylor learned that Scooter Braun had acquired Big Machine Label Group, giving him control over the master recordings of her initial six albums, Selena was one of many who came to her aid.

13 years have passed since I first got acquainted with Taylor, as she shared on her Instagram Story. She is an incredibly dedicated, courageous, spirited, and powerful woman whom I’ve had the honor of knowing – one who stands firm against adversity. While some may label such a woman as tough, what I want to emphasize is that she embodies true femininity and strength, refusing to back down. Prior to its release, I listened to her album “Fearless,” and I vividly remember us bouncing on a bed together, with Taylor shining like a star.

It’s only natural to desire a renowned supermodel like Cindy Crawford as the head of your school, given her status as one of the greatest ever. Crawford viewed her cameo role as part of her continuous transformation, a journey that includes establishing her own skincare brand.

She shared with Red Carpet Roxy in October 2015 that she simply does things she enjoys. Occasionally, luck favors you, such as Taylor Swift inviting her to feature in the “Bad Blood” video. It was enjoyable because all of a sudden, my children expressed approval, saying, ‘That’s neat.’ It boosted my street credibility.

In a February 2015 Vogue article, it was mentioned that images of Delevingne were found among Swift’s collection of Polaroids in her Tribeca penthouse, and the song “Mother Chucker” still keeps an eye on “Catastrophe.” (In this context, “Catastrophe” likely refers to a specific event or situation, but it is not explicitly stated.)

In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Delevingne expressed admiration for Swift’s decision to re-record her music previously owned by Braun, saying, “It takes courage to stand up for yourself, not just because you’re a woman, but because you’re asserting your rights and being true to who you are. That’s what I admire about Taylor – her inner strength and wisdom.

In a more conversational style, consider this alternate phrasing: Could the actress portraying Olivia Benson, a character named after one of Taylor Swift’s cherished pets, possibly refuse the role of Justice?

In 2015, on the show “Late Night With Seth Meyers,” Mariska Hargitay shared that Taylor Swift, who she found to be very kind, had reached out to her at the Met Gala a few years prior to express her admiration and name one of her cats after Hargitay’s character on “Law & Order: SVU.” Their paths crossed again in 2014 when Swift provided Hargitay and her husband a ride home from an Ingrid Michaelson concert in New York City. Consequently, when Swift contacted her about being involved in the song “Bad Blood,”…

On Watch What Happens Live, Hargitay shared that she was unsure about what to anticipate when asked to be part of the video. She found it touching because she didn’t know what to expect since they were all 12 years old. However, they turned out to be incredibly kind, inclusive, and welcoming, which made her enjoy the experience even more. On the day of filming, she had previously met some of them, but Karlie Kloss took her hand and promised, “I’m staying with you.

It was like being back in seventh grade when a popular girl chose me, but it was delightful and enjoyable. These girls are very close-knit, and Taylor is incredibly gifted; her talent is beyond my comprehension for someone of that age.

Similarly, Meredith Grey, who is also known as her cat’s namesake and plays Luna, followed suit. Two days after the video release, actress Ellen Pompeo of ‘Grey’s Anatomy’, presented the Top Female Artist award at the 2015 Billboard Music Awards to Taylor Swift.

In the course of his work, Swift encountered a Victoria’s Secret model during the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, and they, both being new residents of New York City, quickly formed a strong friendship. Hunt, it turns out, was Catastrophe’s partner in crime, known as HomeSlice.

2015 saw Hunt expressing to TopMob News that her friend is consistently available and offers wise counsel. Being a long-time figure in the limelight, her friend has amassed plenty of advice, which Hunt values greatly. She admires learning from her friend and speaks highly of her talent, as she composes her own music. In essence, she only has positive things to say about this exceptional individual.

In the movie Sin City, the actress who portrayed a character, confessed that she wasn’t acquainted with Taylor Swift prior to being cast as Domino in the video. However, upon arrival at the set, Taylor Swift was found to be “very kind.” (It’s not hard to surmise that Alba had a positive encounter, considering she was seen taking her children to one of Swift’s 1989 Tour shows in August.)

On Watch What Happens Live, Alba expressed her surprise to Andy Cohen, saying, “It’s quite surprising about her, she’s genuinely very nice. I must admit, I didn’t anticipate this…She’s remarkably kind, enjoyable, and fun-loving, all at once.

Just like Alba, the actress from Empire, her friendship with Swift began when she received a call to play Dilemma – or when Taylor’s team contacted hers. The director of “Bad Blood,” Joseph Kahn, had noticed her on Empire and proposed that she join the gathering.

In an interview with Billboard, Serayah McNeill shared that her management received a proposal from another team. She found the idea intriguing and jumped on board immediately. As she delved deeper into the concepts for the video and its treatment, her excitement grew, exclaiming, “Wow! This is amazing! I can’t wait to get started!

Later on, she disclosed to ASOS that it was Taylor Swift who contacted her over the summer. “While I was driving, my mom phoned me excitedly and shared, ‘Guess who just called me? It was Taylor Swift!’ She told me that Taylor had requested my number for a chat about the video. I exclaimed, ‘Don’t bother me! Just have her text me right now!’

She recollected, “When Taylor spoke, she expressed, ‘I appreciate your agreement to help immensely.’ To which I responded, ‘Of course! I’ll do anything! I’m ready!’ It’s heartening to see such humility from big-name stars, truly inspiring.

They remained friends, as Serayah emphasized, also mentioning that they often socialize. “We regularly meet up,” she said. “Sometimes we dine together and visit late-night cafes. It’s not some star-studded event; it’s just a group of girls having a good time.

During the 1989 Tour, Swift invited her onstage to perform alongside her. Speaking with Coveteur, Serayah said it was similar to entering a room and acting with Taraji Henson, “You just can’t truly prepare for these moments when they’re so grand.

Catastrophe boasts a hidden asset – her companion Knockout, who at one point was Taylor’s most intimate friend within the entire circle. These two close friends even graced the March cover of Vogue’s influential “Power” issue together that year.

On “Good Morning America”, Karlie expressed that nothing could surpass that moment for her when the magazine cover featuring Taylor Swift was released, a few months before “Bad Blood” premiered. She emphasized the significance of this cover as it highlights strong friendships between women in power positions, even though they work in different fields. Both Taylor and Karlie, being twentysomething-year-old women, are dedicated to their respective careers and share a bond of mutual support. According to her, such friendships—whether with a sister or a friend—are incredibly powerful and have played a significant role in her personal success.

In addition, they crossed paths in 2013, behind the scenes at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. This encounter was followed by a girls’ vacation to Big Sur, an experience that influenced their subsequent photo shoot for Vogue. Taylor recalled this encounter in an interview with Vogue, stating, “For years, people have been suggesting we meet. I recall makeup artists and hair stylists commenting, ‘She looks like Karlie, don’t you think? They’d be the best of friends. They’re so alike. Karlie is such a good girl. She always brings us cookies whenever we work together.’

Karlie emphasized once more that she feels fortunate to have Taylor as a great friend. Moreover, she believes there’s immense value in the camaraderie of women empowering each other.

In terms of artistic synergy, it wasn’t your typical run-of-the-mill friendship, but rather, it seemed like a celestial union orchestrated by fate itself. I had the immense pleasure of working alongside a Pulitzer Prize-winning rap maestro, who graced the screen as Welvin Da Great in our music video collaboration.

On her show a fortnight after the release of “Bad Blood,” Lamar shared with Ellen DeGeneres that he had long admired her. Turns out, she was also a fan of his music, and she extended an invitation which led to our collaboration.

Among Jessica Alba’s friends in her group, excluding Taylor Swift (revealed on WWHL), there is one particular individual who holds a special place! Prior to being cast as the character Lucky Fiori, Dunham had also been featured on the wall of Polaroids.

In an interview with Vogue, Dunham stated that during her time on SNL, both Taylor and Karlie Kloss attended. She described the situation at the after-party as perplexing to everyone, likening them to identical twins from Amazon, due to their impressive heights. Together, they created a surreal experience.

She referred to Taylor as “the Betty Crocker of friendships,” implying that she is like a reliable and dependable friend who’s always there when needed. It’s astounding to have a friend who manages to be so busy yet still reachable. No matter where Taylor is in the world, whether it’s on tour in Hong Kong or dealing with personal matters, if I text her, she responds promptly. If something positive happens to me, such as receiving a nomination, celebrating my birthday, or the day before my birthday, or publishing a book, I receive a message from Taylor even before I hear from my mom.

Taylor wanted someone with true grit, so she got her Oscar-nominated friend to play The Trinity.

Talking to Nylon in early 2014, Hailee called Taylor “an amazing friend.”

The actress from Dickinson commented, “I often face the question, ‘Share something unknown,’ and it’s quite challenging since my friend and I value each other deeply. We prefer to maintain our friendship privately. She is truly remarkable, an inspiration not just to me but to countless others.

Hailee Stepped forward to share with TopMob News her encounter with Taylor, which happened around 2010, thanks to their mutual friend Emma Stone. As for the pair, they enjoy engaging in fun, spontaneous activities when they’re together. “We simply delight in unwinding, playing music, watching TV shows, baking treats, and enjoying movies,” Hailee shared about their leisure time.

In her own words, the British singer expressed that the inclusion of Destructa X in the song “Bad Blood” motivated her to showcase a more assertive and powerful demeanor in her own music videos.

In November 2014, Goulding shared with the Daily Mirror in London that her first encounter with Swift was during an episode of The Jonathan Ross Show on ITV in England. She described them as being good friends who share a similar sense of humor.

For the model, who met Taylor in 2014, playing Slay-Z was really a fangirl’s dream come true.

In 2019, Gigi expressed to Variety that one remarkable aspect of her friendship with Taylor is their shared connection as songwriters, which spans from her childhood to adulthood. She added that forming a friendship with Taylor has provided her a unique glimpse into the mind behind those lyrics. Taylor writes words that resonate deeply with people, yet they struggle to express these same feelings themselves.

In turn, Gigi was treated to 10 shows each on Taylor’s 1989 and Reputation Tours.

Gigi shared with Variety that she wouldn’t need to buy [tickets] since Taylor is so generous, allowing her backstage access during her performances in 1989. “I’d lounge on her couch while she prepped for makeup and hair, then I’d be part of the audience,” Gigi explained. “It felt surreal, from watching her get ready to dancing at her concert as a tipsy fan. It’s fascinating to witness such an unusual friendship dynamic, where I value Taylor as a dear friend, yet I’m also an ardent admirer.

In 2011, Hayley Williams, who is the lead singer of Paramore, had her first encounter with Taylor when the latter visited town as part of her Speak Now Tour. Taylor graciously invited Hayley to perform alongside her on stage during one of the tour’s nights.

In 2020, Williams shared with Stereogum that he was unaware she often performed various artists’ songs during her nightly shows, which has turned out to be a significant aspect of her tours. He found it astonishing because, despite ‘Misery Business’ being popular at the time, he didn’t expect so many fans would recognize ‘That’s What You Get.’ The experience was enjoyable for him as he got to perform it.

For some time, they had been predominantly residing in Nashville, and their social interactions began following the significant event involving Kanye.

In simpler terms, Williams stated that Swift is very kind and the tough music industry has tried to undermine her countless times. However, he mentioned that he doesn’t know her as well anymore. He believes that she consistently excels because of her exceptional writing and artistic skills, adding that she truly is a good person.

Reflecting on the “Bad Blood” music video, Williams humorously commented, “It certainly seems obvious that I don’t quite fit the mold,” she chuckled. “That experience was incredibly awesome, even though they required choreography for the fight scene and later brought in a stunt double for tasks I couldn’t handle. It always feels as if I’m in an environment that doesn’t truly embrace me whenever Paramore achieves something extremely mainstream.

During that period, it’s worth noting that Williams was grateful for the opportunity to exercise complete creative control, allowing her to pursue The Crimson Curse according to her artistic impulses.

Taylor suggested creating a fighting style and a name for me, which I immediately agreed to. My inspiration came from the character Leeloo in ‘The Fifth Element’. This is essentially how our decision was made.

The entire day felt like a dream on set, she noted. I’m still sending messages to Taylor, utterly thrilled that I got to portray a character I’m deeply fascinated by.

Count the future Euphoria star as one of the bunch who was surprised but thrilled to get the call.

Zendaya praised Swift to ET at the 2015 Billboard Music Awards, saying she was incredibly intelligent. She predicted that people would be astounded and captivated by the video, unable to think about anything else!

The future Frostbyte introduced Taylor to Karlie at the Victoria’s Secret show.

In 2015, Aldridge shared with Net-a-Porter’s The Edit that he shares Taylor’s affection for her friends, just like him. He referred to his friends as “my girls,” indicating their strong bond as a close-knit group of women. What makes their friendship unique and powerful is their mutual support and happiness for each other. Aldridge believes that by uplifting those around you, you not only help them but also elevate yourself. His hope is that this upward momentum spreads throughout the world.

As a die-hard fan, I’ve always wondered if “Bad Blood” was indeed about Katy Perry, but no one from Taylor Swift’s squad has ever confirmed it. Yet, time heals all wounds and the lives of those in Taylor’s inner circle have undergone significant transformations over the years.

In Taylor Swift’s words from Elle in 2019 as she neared her 30th birthday, she noted that being in our twenties often brings people together into close-knit groups, akin to chosen families. These bonds might persist throughout one’s life or could be limited to a particular period, acting as companions during a significant phase but not lasting forever. It can be disheartening, but sometimes, as we grow and evolve, certain relationships may no longer fit our lives.

“You may leave behind friendships along the way, but you’ll always keep the memories.”

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2025-05-17 16:48