Taylor Swift’s upcoming 12th studio album, “The Life of a Showgirl,” has ignited a wave of fan theories and media speculation, particularly surrounding the alleged fallout with longtime friend and Hollywood actress Blake Lively. Among the twelve tracks revealed in the album are notably provocative titles like “Ruin the Friendship” and “CANCELLED!”, which fans believe are pointed diss tracks aimed at Blake Lively amid the 37-year-old actress’s ongoing legal battle with her It Ends With Us co-star and director Justin Baldoni. Fans and insiders have drawn connections between the song titles and the tension between Taylor Swift and Blake Lively, highlighting that the pop star has not publicly supported Blake in this dispute. ‘The Life of a Showgirl’: Taylor Swift Announces 12th Album on Travis Kelce’s Podcast After Mysterious Countdown (Watch Video).

Taylor Swift’s Silence, Fan Reactions and the Album as Potential Playback

Taylor Swift notably has not publicly supported Blake Lively, as the It Ends With Us actress accused Justin Baldoni of alleged sexual harassment and also coordinating a smear campaign against her. The legal battleground and alleged shocking revelations reportedly caused Taylor to distance herself from The Age of Adaline star. Taylor Swift’s subdued public silence during the legal storm has not gone unnoticed, leading many observers to interpret her absence as significant. There have been many reports suggesting that Taylor has been reportedly hurt by Lively’s actions and the legal drama that entangled her, further fuelling the belief among netizens that the songs “Ruin the Friendship” and “CANCELLED!” may metaphorically represent this alleged “fall-out.” None of these interpretations has been confirmed by Taylor Swift or her team and remains speculative.

Fans Speculate on Hidden Messages in New Tracklist

Fans Decode Taylor Swift’s New Album Tracklist (Photo Credits: X)

Take Help of Grok To Decode Alleged Friendship Fallout Drama

Fans Decode Taylor Swift’s New Album Tracklist (Photo Credits: X)

Social Media Buzzes With ‘Ruin the Friendship’ Theories

Fans Decode Taylor Swift’s New Album Tracklist (Photo Credits: X)

Some Fans See Parallels Between Song Titles and Blake Lively Drama

Fans Decode Taylor Swift’s New Album Tracklist (Photo Credits: X)

Even Billy Bush Believes Taylor Swift Will Throw Shade at Blake Lively in Her Forthcoming New Album

Did She? Netizens Link Song Titles to Alleged Feud

Fans Decode Taylor Swift’s New Album Tracklist (Photo Credits: X)

Fans Seem to Really Believe Taylor Swift Has Several Diss Tracks Against Blake Lively in Her New Album

And Then This Person Would Be Disappointed If It All Turns Out To Be Just a Fan Theory

Internet Is Convinced Of The Wild Fan Theory Behind 'Ruin The Friendship'

The Blake Lively and Taylor Swift Friendship Strained?

The context behind the speculation involves Blake Lively’s ongoing legal battle with Justin Baldoni. Lively has been accused of leveraging Taylor Swift’s name to exert influence and control over the situation. Court documents revealed that Lively referred to Swift as one of her “dragons” in private messages with Baldoni, likening herself to Khaleesi from Game of Thrones. This alleged apparent misuse of Swift’s name made Taylor feel “used” and “exploited,” according to insider reports, eventually leading to an alleged and very public fallout between the two women, who had once shared a close friendship, with Taylor even being godmother to Lively’s three children. According to People, Swift and Lively’s decade-long friendship, dating back to 2015, has “halted” in warmth. They are reportedly “working toward being on good terms,” but “their friendship isn’t the same as it was before.”

The Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni Legal Conflict and Its Ripple Effect

In December 2024, Blake Lively filed a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department, accusing It Ends With Us co-star and director Justin Baldoni (and his team) of sexual harassment, creating a hostile work environment and orchestrating a smear campaign. Baldoni countered in January 2025 with a $400 million lawsuit, alleging defamation, extortion and that Lively used her creative influence, including her friendship with Taylor Swift, to gain control over the film’s direction. Baldoni’s now-dismissed lawsuit claimed Lively referred to Swift and Ryan Reynolds as her “dragons,” implying she leveraged their power to sway negotiations. Swift’s representatives promptly denied any involvement beyond licensing one song (“My Tears Ricochet”) for the film.

‘The Life of a Showgirl’ Release Date and Tracklist

The album, set for release on October 3, 2025, reunites Swift with famed producers Max Martin and Shellback, marking a return to her high-energy pop sound. Beyond these two highly talked-about songs, the tracklist also includes “The Fate of Ophelia,” “Elizabeth Taylor,” “Opalite,” “Father Figure,” “Actually Romantic,” “Wi$h Li$t,” “Wood,” “Honey” and the titular “The Life of a Showgirl,” the latter featuring pop star Sabrina Carpenter.

Taylor Swift Makes The Big Album Announcement on 'New Heights' Podcast With Her Boyfriend Travis Kelce

Taylor Swift's 'The Life of a Showgirl' Tracklist

While speculation continues about the personal inspirations behind certain song names in the tracklist, Taylor Swift has yet to address the rumours, leaving fans to decode the meanings for themselves.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 14, 2025 02:49 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).