Taylor Swift, Blake Lively Feud: Is 'Ruin the Friendship' a Revenge Song About Being 'Used for Clout'?

For months, fans have wondered about the status of Taylor Swift and Blake Lively's once-inseparable friendship. Now, with the release of Swift's new album, The Life of a Showgirl, a song titled 'Ruin the Friendship' has sent the rumour mill into overdrive.

While many assumed the track was an explosive tell-all about Lively, the truth behind the lyrics is far more heartbreaking and completely unexpected.

The Lawsuit That Ruined Taylor Swift's 'Billionaire' Friendship

The friendship between Taylor Swift and Blake Lively publicly unravelled amid Lively's legal battle with her It Ends With Us co-star and director, Justin Baldoni, whom she accused of sexual harassment, retaliation, and invasion of privacy, among other claims.

The situation escalated when Baldoni claimed in a countersuit that Lively had tried to use her friendship with Swift for leverage. This led to the singer being subpoenaed by his legal team. Although the investigation was eventually dropped, sources say it irrevocably damaged their bond.

An unnamed source previously told Page Six: 'She will forever be furious at how Blake quite clearly was using her for clout and leverage in her dealings with Justin. She really hates that Blake would even think like that.'

The informant explained the depth of their connection, making the fallout even more painful. The source said: 'They were baking pals, travel pals, home decor pals... and to be totally honest, billionaire pals. It was nice to be with someone else who 'gets it' and who absolutely didn't seem to need a thing from Taylor, since she had her own millions.'

The insider concluded that the damage was severe: '[Swift] was deeply wounded and, even if that heals, the scar will remain.' The two have not reconciled, and it remains uncertain if Lively contacted Swift following her engagement to Travis Kelce.

A Song Title That Sent Swifties Spiralling

Given the dramatic and public nature of their falling out, fans immediately seized upon track six of Swift's new album. When a song titled 'Ruin the Friendship' was announced, many believed it could only be about one person.

The theories suggested Swift was finally breaking her silence on the betrayal. However, the lyrics tell a very different story, one that has nothing to do with Hollywood lawsuits or broken trust between famous friends.

The Tragic True Story Behind the Lyrics

Contrary to fan speculation, 'Ruin the Friendship' is a poignant tribute to a high school crush, believed to be Nathan Johnson, a sophomore who tragically died in a Jeep accident in 2006.

The song narrates a story of unspoken feelings and regret, with Swift singing, 'Your smile, miles wide / And it was not an invitation / Should've kissed you anyway.'

The narrative takes a devastating turn as she describes being forced to return to her hometown after his death: 'When I left school I lost track of you / Abigail called me with the bad news / Goodbye ... / And we'll never know why / It was not an invitation / But I flew home anyway / With so much left to say / It was not convenient, no / But I whispered at the grave / 'Should've kissed you anyway.''

While Johnson attended a rival high school, he was a talented musician in a band that, like Swift, was being scouted by Nashville record labels, according to Baptist News Global.

Ultimately, 'Ruin the Friendship' is not the celebrity tell-all some fans expected, but a poignant homage to a romance that never materialized. The song's title, however, serves as a haunting echo of the real-life friendship between Swift and Lively that was ruined after the singer felt 'used' for 'clout and leverage' in a bitter legal dispute. Taylor Swift's new album The Life of a Showgirl, is available for streaming now.

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