Inside Joan Smalls and Candice Swanepoel’s backstage cold war at Victoria’s Secret show amid friendship fallout

Joan Smalls and Candice Swanepoel were reportedly kept apart backstage at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in Los Angeles on 18 October, amid a breakdown in their 15-year friendship. The reported split became public days later, when Smalls called Swanepoel a “backstabber” in an online comment; the claims matter because sources link the rift to their personal lives and a relationship involving Tom Brady.

Sources allege Swanepoel had advised Smalls to end her on-and-off relationship with Brady, but later met him through someone in fashion and is said to have been with him since May. Smalls was reportedly hurt by rumours about Brady and influencer Alix Earle, and accused Swanepoel in a now-deleted post of disregarding their friendship and “girl code”. Swanepoel’s representative said she values their longstanding history, while representatives for both models and Victoria’s Secret did not comment.