Taylor Swift's PR Dragon Slaying
How Blake Lively's (Former?) PR Weapon is Orchestrating Her Exit from the "It Ends With Us" Drama
There's silly tabloid fodder, and then there is strategic public relations. This recent TMZ post? It's firmly in the latter category.
TMZ's headline "BAD BLOOD WITH BLAKE LIVELY...I'M NOT YOUR DRAGON" might look like typical clickbait, but here's the thing: TMZ isn't your average gossip site scraping the internet for hits. They're a powerful resource that celebrities and newsmakers strategically use during crisis moments.
Sure, entertainment publicists can drop valuable scoops to anyone. But TMZ? They can flood the zone through their website, syndicated and primetime TV programs, and social media. (When a big name makes a move – no matter how minor – you can bet there's something deeper at play.)
According to TMZ, Taylor Swift feels Blake Lively used her in the messy battle against Justin Baldoni. That "dragon" reference to their friendship painted Taylor not just as Blake and Ryan Reynolds' friend but as an accomplice in what some might call a retaliatory campaign against Baldoni.
Can't you just picture Swift's powerhouse publicist Tree Paine reacting when her client's name appeared in legal documents? The documents suggested Swift was present during that infamous Penthouse sit down where Baldoni was on the receiving end of Reynolds' anger. For Swift, this isn't just a reputation complication – it could have legal implications.
Here's why I firmly believe this TMZ "dragon" scoop came directly from Taylor's camp:
The timing is impeccable (isn't it always with Team Swift?). The story dropped right after Taylor's appearance at the 2025 Grammy Awards. Had she dominated the night, the spotlight would have intensified questions about the legal drama with her A-list friend Blake Lively. Instead, other moments took center stage – Beyoncé's win and Kanye West's wife Bianca Censori's controversial dress dominated headlines. While Swift's "The Tortured Poets Department" didn't win, she successfully pivoted attention to her red dress – a perfect nod to her next focus: Travis Kelce's Super Bowl appearance. Front and center on the thigh - a little T charm. T for Taylor? Or Travis?
Don’t know?
That’s the point.This "bad blood with Blake" story creates perfect distance between two key events. Swift clearly wants to move past the "dragon" association quickly, and this TMZ post serves that purpose beautifully. Crisis management is all about timing, and Swift's team are masters of the craft. (Don't expect NFL commentator Tom Brady to mention Blake Lively during cutaways to Taylor in the Kelce family suite at the Caesars Superdome.)
Once again, Taylor Swift is showing celebrities how it's done. Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds? They might want to rethink their PR playbook.
Want to discuss Taylor's PR strategy further? Join me today for a livestream at 3 p.m. ET, February 7.
This isn’t Taylor’s first rodeo.
Once again, Taylor Swift is showing celebrities how it's done. Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds? They might want to rethink their PR playbook.
Want to discuss Taylor's PR strategy further? Join me today for a livestream at 3 p.m. ET, February 7.