Taylor Swift has removed herself as godmother to Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds' three daughters, insiders have told the Daily Mail, as the fallout from Lively's legal battle with director Justin Baldoni claims one of Hollywood's most celebrated friendships.
Swift, 36, was godmother to James, 11, Inez, nine, and Betty, six. Sources say she made the decision a few months ago, after conversations with her husband Travis Kelce, 36, confirmed it was the right move.
"It was one of the toughest decisions she's ever had to make," a source close to Swift told the outlet. "It was very emotional because she loves the girls. It hurt her heart, but she had no choice given the circumstances."
A Verbal Agreement, Taken Seriously
There was never a written arrangement formalizing Swift's role. The source said it was a verbal agreement between Swift and Lively, 38. That did not stop Swift from embracing the duties fully: she took the girls trick-or-treating, hosted the family at her Rhode Island mansion, and wove their names into her music, including the characters James, Inez and Betty on her 2020 album Folklore. She also used James' baby voice at the opening of her song Gorgeous.
Swift publicly confirmed the godparent title in July 2024 in an Instagram post promoting Reynolds' film Deadpool and Wolverine, joking that he was her "godkids' sperm donor." Reynolds later told Deadline the post was genuine: "She is the godparent to my daughters."
During her Eras Tour stop in Madrid in May 2024, Swift gave the girls a shoutout from the stage. The three sisters were photographed jumping up and down as they watched the show from the front row with their mother.
Why She Stepped Away
A second source told the Daily Mail that Swift's decision comes down to the impossibility of maintaining a close relationship with the children while having virtually no relationship with their parents.
"Right now, she doesn't feel it's healthy or realistic to maintain a close relationship with the children while having virtually no relationship with their parents," the source said. "Taylor doesn't believe it's fair to anyone involved, especially the kids, to put them in the middle of such a strained situation. She believes stepping away is the most respectful path forward for all parties."
The source added that Swift is otherwise happy: newly married to Kelce at a ceremony held at a heavily transformed Madison Square Garden earlier this month, with Lively, Reynolds and their children notably absent from the guest list.
How the Lawsuit Drew Swift In
Lively filed a lawsuit in December 2024 accusing Baldoni, 42, of sexual harassment and launching a smear campaign against her. Baldoni countered with a $400 million suit against Lively, Reynolds, and others, in which he alleged Lively used her friendship with Swift to gain leverage over the film It Ends with Us, which he also directed. All parties denied the allegations against them.
Baldoni's action was dismissed, and most of Lively's action was also dismissed. They settled the remaining claims out of court in May, two weeks before a scheduled civil trial in New York, with no payment changing hands.
Unsealed text messages included in the filing showed Lively asking Swift to endorse a revised version of the script. Swift allegedly replied that she would do anything for her. Other messages showed Swift referring to Baldoni with an expletive and discussing how her association with the film gave Lively leverage over him.
A spokesperson for Swift had previously said she had no creative involvement in the film.
Hope for the Future
Despite the painful split, insiders say Swift has not closed the door permanently on the three girls.
"While many people view the title of godparent as largely symbolic, Taylor embraced the role wholeheartedly. Because of that, walking away has been incredibly painful and heartbreaking," the second source said. "She hopes that once the children are adults, and 18 and able to make their own decisions, they'll be free to reconnect if they choose."
The Daily Mail said it contacted representatives for Swift, Lively and Reynolds for comment.
