Does Taylor Swift’s “Life of a Showgirl” Cover Hint at Blake Lively?
Many Taylor Swift enthusiasts believe that the cover art for her Life of a Showgirl album subtly alludes to Blake Lively, considering their ongoing drama.
Recently, some Swifties highlighted that the cover of the “It’s Rapturous” CD showcases Swift, 35, donned in a pink diamond bracelet that resembles one Lively, 38, has sported in the past.
During the London premiere of It Ends With Us in August 2023, Lively flaunted a custom chunky diamond bracelet designed by Lorraine Schwartz. Swift, on the other hand, appeared in a similar piece embellished with extra silver beads amidst the pink ones for her album’s photoshoot.
There’s no clear indication that the blinged accessory was intentionally referencing Lively, as both women frequently wear Schwartz’s creations at various events.
Swift’s 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, premiered on October 3, with fans eagerly exploring possible meanings behind each track. (Notably, Swift seldom names her lyrical influences directly.)
“There are definitely some theories that are completely unfounded,” Swift commented during a Friday broadcast on Elvis Duran‘s iHeartRadio show. “But some of them are so much fun when they’re figured out.”
She added, “Just yesterday, someone discovered that if you align the album’s track titles, they form the same shape as the Eras Tour stage. It was a real discovery [that] took some time to uncover, and it was really exciting.”
However, Swift did not clarify if Lively, who liked her Instagram post celebrating the album’s release, served as inspiration for any of her music.
Swift and Lively have been friends since 2016, but their friendship reportedly soured by 2024. Us Weekly previously confirmed that the two had limited communication after Swift was implicated in Lively’s legal issues with Justin Baldoni.
Lively filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against her It Ends With Us co-star and director in late 2024. Baldoni, 41, who denied Lively’s assertions, later attempted to subpoena Swift, claiming she was involved in Lively’s attempt to take control of the film. Swift firmly denied any connection to the project.
Blake Lively’s ongoing legal challenges with Justin Baldoni unexpectedly dragged Taylor Swift into the spotlight. After collaborating on It Ends With Us, Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment and conducting a smear campaign in December 2024. She claimed Baldoni implicated Swift in her legal filings.
“Taylor Swift never visited the movie set, she had no role in casting or creative choices, she never scored the film, nor did she see any edits or give feedback,” a representative for Swift told Us Weekly in a May statement. “She didn’t even watch It Ends With Us until weeks after its public debut, while she was performing globally on the biggest tour in history in 2023 and 2024.”
While Swift was on the European leg of her Eras Tour throughout 2024, she co-wrote Showgirl with producers Max Martin and Shellback. Some fans speculated that the track “Cancelled!” was about her fallout with Lively.
“Did you girlboss too close to the sun? / Did they catch you having far too much fun?” Swift sings. “Come with me, when they see us, they’ll run / Something wicked this way comes / Good thing I like my friends cancelled / I like ‘em cloaked in Gucci and in scandal.”
Swift only mentioned that “Cancelled!” was a “tongue-in-cheek look at social outrage.”
“Experiencing cancellation can stem from any backlash one might face. I’ve been part of numerous discussions regarding my life, actions, and words,” Swift remarked during her “Release Party of a Showgirl” screening. “Whenever someone faces backlash, I tend to be the person they reach out to. I aimed to capture how such experiences can lead to wisdom and increased perception. Over time, I’ve become more discerning about people.”
She concluded, “I judge people based on who they are and their actions, rather than on public opinion or consensus. I’m only going to step back if they prove otherwise.”
The Life of a Showgirl is now available.
