Joan Smalls and Candice Swanepoel have spent years being recognised as both successful supermodels and longtime friends. Now, questions about their relationship have taken over entertainment discussions, with a cryptic social media comment and reports of a possible falling-out prompting fans to wonder what changed between them.
The speculation has gained another layer following reports that Tom Brady and Swanepoel are dating. But while several entertainment outlets have reported the romance, the claims connecting Brady to the alleged rift between the models remain unverified. Here is what the available reporting actually reveals, and what is still speculation.
Why Are Joan Smalls and Candice Swanepoel Facing Friendship Fallout Rumours?
The rumours surrounding Smalls and Swanepoel intensified after their appearance at the 2026 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in Los Angeles on October 18.
Although both models attended the event, fans reportedly noticed that they were not photographed together in the way they had been in previous years. Observations about their Instagram activity added to the discussion, with reports suggesting that they no longer followed each other.
These details prompted questions about whether their longtime friendship had changed. Further online discussion pointed to alleged signs of tension around their respective birthdays, although those observations circulated through fan accounts and entertainment coverage without establishing the cause of any disagreement.
Neither the absence of photographs together nor a change in social media activity independently proves that two people have ended a friendship. Nevertheless, the observations helped fuel growing interest in what might have happened between the models.
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What Did Joan Smalls Allegedly Say About a ‘Backstabber’?
The speculation became more intense when screenshots began circulating online that appeared to show Smalls responding to questions about her relationship with Swanepoel.
According to screenshots reported by Just Jared, one alleged response from Smalls read:
“I’m not friends with backstabbers.”
Another alleged comment reportedly referred to “girl code” and described feelings of betrayal, disrespect and dishonesty following approximately 15 years of friendship.
Cosmopolitan also reported that screenshots of the alleged comments circulated online, with Smalls apparently describing a betrayal after 15 years of friendship.
However, the comments were subsequently deleted, and their authenticity has not been independently verified. Smalls has not provided a detailed public explanation confirming precisely whom the alleged remarks concerned or what had happened.
Consequently, the screenshots have contributed to the friendship-breakup narrative, but they should not be treated as independently confirmed statements about Swanepoel.
Joan Smalls’ Cryptic ‘Summer House’ Comment Explained
A more direct development came when Smalls appeared to comment on a Just Jared Instagram post discussing the alleged fallout.
According to Just Jared, Smalls wrote:
“Two words: SUMMER HOUSE ! That’ll explain everything.”
The comment attracted attention because it appeared to refer to the discussion surrounding her friendship with Swanepoel. Just Jared interpreted the reference as pointing towards the complicated friendship and relationship drama involving Ciara Miller, Amanda Batula and West Wilson on Bravo’s reality series Summer House.
However, Smalls did not publicly explain exactly what she meant by the reference. While the wording suggests that she considered the show’s storyline relevant to understanding the situation, it does not establish that a particular romantic betrayal occurred between her and Swanepoel.
How Does the Summer House Storyline Connect?
During the 2026 season of Summer House, Batula and Wilson’s relationship became a major storyline after Wilson had previously been involved with Miller, who was a close friend of Batula.
Batula and Wilson eventually acknowledged their relationship after weeks of speculation. Their situation attracted attention because of Wilson’s previous connection with Miller and the friendship between Miller and Batula.
Miller subsequently discussed the breakdown of her friendship with Batula, making the storyline an example of how a romantic relationship can become intertwined with a close friendship.
That context helps explain why Smalls’ comment has been interpreted as a possible reference to friendship, romance and perceived betrayal. However, the comparison remains open to interpretation because Smalls has not publicly explained its precise meaning.
What About the Substance-Use Allegations?
Another element of the online discussion involved an allegation that the disagreement concerned one person attempting to help another with an alleged substance-use problem.
According to the reporting, a commenter on Just Jared’s Instagram made the claim, and Smalls appeared to respond. In the response reported by Just Jared, Smalls objected to allegations involving Black and Latina women, saying that such claims were harmful. She also referred to an allegation involving the use of medication without a prescription by an unnamed person.
These claims have not been independently established as facts.
There is no verified evidence showing that substance use or prescription medication caused the alleged disagreement between Smalls and Swanepoel. Given the sensitive nature of these allegations, they should not be presented as a confirmed explanation for the reported friendship troubles.
How Did Tom Brady Become Linked to Joan Smalls and Candice Swanepoel?
Tom Brady entered the discussion through an anonymous tip submitted to DeuxMoi, rather than through a public statement from Brady, Smalls or Swanepoel.
According to the anonymous allegation reported by Just Jared, Smalls and Brady had allegedly dated on and off for approximately a year. The tipster claimed that Swanepoel had expressed concern about the supposed relationship, allegedly out of respect for Brady’s former wife, Gisele Bündchen.
The same tip further alleged that after Smalls and Brady’s supposed relationship ended, Swanepoel became romantically involved with the former NFL quarterback.
However, the claims that Smalls and Brady dated, and that the alleged relationship influenced the models’ friendship, remain unverified. Neither Smalls nor Brady has publicly confirmed that they were romantically involved, and no verified evidence establishes that the allegation explains the reported falling-out.
The distinction became especially important when separate reports about Brady and Swanepoel’s relationship began appearing in established entertainment publications.
Tom Brady and Candice Swanepoel Dating Reports: What We Know
On October 24, 2026, Us Weekly reported that Brady and Swanepoel were dating, citing an unnamed source who said they had been together “for a while.” The source did not provide a specific date for when the relationship began.
The following day, PEOPLE reported on October 25 that the pair had been together for several months, according to its source.
PEOPLE’s source also said the couple spent “a lot of time together” and that their shared base in Miami made the relationship convenient.
The Independent and Page Six subsequently also reported the romance, with both publications referencing the claim that the pair had been together “for a while.” The Independent reported that it had contacted representatives for comment, while Page Six noted that representatives had not immediately commented.
PEOPLE likewise reported that neither Brady nor Swanepoel had publicly addressed the romance and that representatives for both had not responded to requests for comment.
The reports from multiple outlets mean the dating story is no longer based solely on the original anonymous DeuxMoi submission. However, the relationship remains reported rather than publicly confirmed by either Brady or Swanepoel.
Key Dates in the Joan Smalls, Candice Swanepoel and Tom Brady Story
| Date | Development |
| 2025 | Anne Klein featured Smalls and Swanepoel in a campaign celebrating their real-life friendship. |
| October 18, 2026 | Both models appeared at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in Los Angeles. |
| October 23, 2026 | Just Jared published reporting about the alleged friendship fallout and Smalls’ Summer House reference. |
| October 24, 2026 | Us Weekly reported that Brady and Swanepoel were dating. |
| October 25, 2026 | PEOPLE reported that the pair had reportedly been together for several months. |
Does Tom Brady’s Reported Romance Prove the Friendship Fallout Theory?
No. This is the most important distinction in the entire story.
The reporting from Us Weekly, PEOPLE, The Independent and Page Six concerns Brady and Swanepoel’s reported relationship. It does not independently establish that Brady previously dated Smalls.
It also does not prove that Swanepoel became involved with Brady immediately after an alleged relationship with Smalls ended, or that such a sequence of events caused the reported friendship fallout.
The anonymous DeuxMoi tip made those allegations before the Brady-Swanepoel romance was reported by Us Weekly and PEOPLE. The later coverage provides additional reporting about the alleged relationship between Brady and Swanepoel, but it does not corroborate the separate claims involving Smalls.
For that reason, the dating reports and the alleged friendship dispute should be treated as distinct stories unless further evidence connects them.
The Victoria’s Secret Connection and Gisele Bündchen’s History With Brady
The reported romance has attracted additional attention because Brady was previously married to Gisele Bündchen, another prominent Victoria’s Secret model.
Brady and Bündchen were married from 2009 until their divorce in 2022. They share two children, Benjamin and Vivian. Brady also has a son, Jack, with his former partner Bridget Moynahan.
Swanepoel has a longstanding association with Victoria’s Secret and walked in the brand’s 2026 fashion show in Los Angeles on October 18.
The shared connection to the fashion brand has added another point of interest to the story. However, it does not establish a connection between Bündchen, Smalls and Swanepoel beyond the claims already reported.
Joan Smalls and Candice Swanepoel’s Longstanding Friendship
The speculation has attracted attention partly because Smalls and Swanepoel have publicly presented themselves as close friends for years.
In 2025, Anne Klein featured the pair in a campaign that explicitly celebrated their real-life friendship. The campaign described them as “supermodel BFFs”, highlighting their longstanding relationship and connection beyond their professional work.
Their history makes the current speculation particularly notable. Yet a previous public friendship cannot establish the current state of their private relationship.
As of October 25, 2026, Swanepoel has not publicly confirmed a feud with Smalls or explained an alleged disagreement. Smalls’ reported Instagram comment and the screenshots attributed to her have generated discussion, but they do not provide a complete, independently verified account of what happened.
What Is Confirmed and What Remains Unverified?
The available information falls into several distinct categories.
Established background and reported developments: Smalls and Swanepoel have a longstanding professional and personal association. Both attended the 2026 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show on October 18, and Anne Klein celebrated their friendship in a 2025 campaign. Multiple entertainment publications have reported that Brady and Swanepoel are dating, citing sources.
Reported but unconfirmed details: Just Jared reported Smalls’ “SUMMER HOUSE” comment and published a screenshot. Screenshots of alleged deleted “backstabber” and “girl code” comments have also circulated, but their authenticity has not been independently verified. Social-media observations have contributed to speculation about a change in the models’ friendship.
Unverified allegations: There is no independent confirmation that Smalls and Brady dated, that Swanepoel became involved with Brady after an alleged relationship with Smalls, or that Brady’s reported romance caused the friendship dispute. Claims concerning substance use and prescription medication have also not been established as facts.
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Conclusion
The Joan Smalls and Candice Swanepoel friendship rumours remain unresolved, with the exact cause of their alleged falling-out unknown. Smalls’ reported “Two words: SUMMER HOUSE ! That’ll explain everything” comment has fuelled interpretations involving romance and friendship, but she has not publicly explained precisely what she meant.
Meanwhile, Tom Brady and Candice Swanepoel are reportedly dating, according to Us Weekly, PEOPLE, The Independent and Page Six, although neither has publicly confirmed the relationship. Those reports do not prove that Brady previously dated Smalls or that the alleged relationship caused a rift between the models.
Until either woman provides a clearer explanation, the friendship fallout remains unconfirmed in its details, and the alleged Brady connection should not be treated as an established cause.
Source Disclaimer: This article has been prepared based on research of the sources provided, including reporting from PEOPLE, Us Weekly, The Independent, Page Six, Just Jared and Cosmopolitan. It reflects the information available in those sources as of October 25, 2026. Allegations and claims that have not been independently verified are identified as such, and the article does not imply independent confirmation beyond what the cited reporting supports.
Sources
- PEOPLE: Tom Brady and Candice Swanepoel Have Been Dating “for a While”
- The Independent: Tom Brady and Candice Swanepoel Dating Report
- Page Six: Tom Brady Dating Candice Swanepoel Report
- Just Jared: Joan Smalls, Candice Swanepoel and “Summer House” Comment
- Cosmopolitan: Joan Smalls and Candice Swanepoel Friendship Speculation
- Just Jared: Tom Brady and Candice Swanepoel Reported Dating
Featured Image Credit: CHRISTOPHER MACSURAK / CC BY 2.0 / Wikimedia Commons
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