It was 2015. You couldn't open an app or walk into a Target without seeing a futuristic, neo-noir poster of a woman with a codename like "Arsyn" or "The Crimson Curse." Joseph Kahn and Taylor Swift basically broke the internet before that was a cliché. When people ask who is in the Bad Blood music video, they aren't just looking for a cast list. They’re looking for a time capsule.
The video wasn't just a music video. Honestly, it was a tactical nuclear strike on pop culture. It solidified the "Squad" era—a moment where female friendship was marketed as a high-fashion, high-artillery superpower. But looking back from today, the roster is almost more interesting for who wasn't there and where all these stars ended up.
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The Core Players: Arsyn and Catastrophe
The whole thing hinges on a betrayal. Selena Gomez plays Arsyn, the one who kicks Catastrophe (Taylor) through a window. It’s meta, right? People spent months analyzing if this was a jab at Katy Perry, but on screen, it was just two best friends playing enemies. Selena brought a specific, dark edge that we hadn't really seen from her Disney days yet.
Then you have the heavy hitters.
Kendrick Lamar wasn't just a cameo; he was the structural backbone of the remix. Appearing as "Welvin Da Great," his verses gave the track a grit that the 1989 album version lacked. It’s wild to think about now, but seeing a Pulitzer Prize-winning rapper inside a high-budget pop spectacle was a huge "prestige" move for Taylor.
Breaking down the legendary cameos
Let's get into the weeds of the roster. You had a mix of Victoria's Secret models, Oscar nominees, and actual legends.
- Lena Dunham (Lucky Fiori): Smoking a cigar, looking like a mob boss. This was peak Girls era.
- Hailee Steinfeld (The Trinity): She played triplets. It was a clever way to use her screen time without needing a complex subplot.
- Serayah (Dilemma): Fresh off the success of Empire, which was the biggest show on TV at the time.
- Gigi Hadid (Slay-Z): This was arguably the moment Gigi moved from "model" to "household name." She wielded a compact-mirror-shuriken that became an instant gif.
- Ellie Goulding (Destructa X): Carrying a rocket launcher. Because why not?
- Martha Hunt (Homeslice) and Lily Aldridge (Frostbyte): The Victoria's Secret contingent. They provided the high-fashion athleticism that Joseph Kahn wanted for the training sequences.
It’s easy to forget that Zendaya was in this too. Long before Euphoria or Dune, she was "Cut-Throat." She was just 18 or 19 then, throwing a knife with a look that proved she was going to be a massive movie star. You could see the screen presence even in a four-second clip.
The unexpected power moves: Mariska Hargitay and Ellen Pompeo
This was the "mic drop" moment of the casting. Taylor is famously obsessed with Grey’s Anatomy and Law & Order: SVU. She named her cats Meredith and Olivia after the lead characters.
When Mariska Hargitay (Justice) and Ellen Pompeo (Luna) walked in slow motion toward the camera, it wasn't for the "youth" demographic. It was a nod to the iconic women who paved the way. It gave the video a sense of authority. It said, "This isn't just a group of girls; this is a legacy." Seeing Justice and Luna together was a fever dream for anyone who spent their Sunday nights watching procedural dramas.
Why the cast felt different in 2015
If you look at the names today—Cara Delevingne (Mother Chucker), Karlie Kloss (Knockout), Jessica Alba (Domino)—it feels like a Met Gala guest list. Back then, it was a statement of defense. Taylor was coming off a period of intense media scrutiny regarding her dating life. By filling a screen with eighteen of the most powerful women in the world, she shifted the narrative to her social circle.
But here’s what's interesting. The "Squad" eventually became a point of criticism. Some felt it was exclusionary or performative.
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The video features Cindy Crawford as "Headmistress." That was the ultimate seal of approval. Having an original Supermodel oversee the training of the new guard was a stroke of genius. It bridged the gap between the 90s fashion world and the 2010s social media era.
The "Bad Blood" cast list at a glance
If you're looking for a quick reference, here’s the roll call of who appeared:
Taylor Swift (Catastrophe), Selena Gomez (Arsyn), Kendrick Lamar (Welvin Da Great), Lena Dunham (Lucky Fiori), Hailee Steinfeld (The Trinity), Serayah (Dilemma), Gigi Hadid (Slay-Z), Ellie Goulding (Destructa X), Martha Hunt (Homeslice), Lily Aldridge (Frostbyte), Zendaya (Cut-Throat), Hayley Williams (The Crimson Curse), Joey King (Slay-Z), Karlie Kloss (Knockout), Jessica Alba (Domino), Serayah (Dilemma), Mariska Hargitay (Justice), Ellen Pompeo (Luna), and Cindy Crawford (Headmistress).
Wait, I missed one. Hayley Williams.
The Paramore lead singer played "The Crimson Curse," rocking a tactical look and red hair that looked like it was ripped straight from an anime. Her inclusion was a huge deal for the "alternative" kids who didn't usually see their idols in high-gloss pop videos.
The technical side of the cameos
Joseph Kahn, the director, didn't have these women for weeks. Most of them were on set for only a few hours.
The "training" rooms were designed to be modular. This allowed the production to swap stars in and out as their schedules permitted. Jessica Alba, for example, was filmed largely on a motorcycle rig. It was efficient filmmaking disguised as an Avengers-level crossover event.
Impact on the music video industry
Before "Bad Blood," music videos were starting to feel like a dying art form. Budgets were shrinking.
Taylor changed that. She turned the premiere into a global event, debuting it at the start of the 2015 Billboard Music Awards. It reminded the industry that a video could be a cultural "moment" if you had enough star power and a clear aesthetic. It paved the way for the high-concept videos we see today from artists like SZA or Lil Nas X.
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There’s a lot of talk about the "Eras Tour" now, and "Bad Blood" remains a staple in the setlist. But the video is where the mythology of the "stronger together" Taylor really took flight. It was aggressive. It was shiny. It was expensive.
How to revisit the Bad Blood era today
If you want to dive deeper into this specific moment in pop history, you shouldn't just watch the video. You have to look at the "behind the scenes" clips Taylor posted on Instagram at the time.
- Watch the Joseph Kahn Director’s Cut: There are versions and interviews where Kahn explains the "Sucker Punch" and "Sin City" influences that dictated the lighting.
- Look at the Poster Campaign: The individual character posters were a masterclass in marketing. They treated the video like a summer blockbuster.
- Track the "Squad" Evolution: It’s fascinating to see which of these friendships endured. Gigi Hadid and Selena Gomez are still frequently seen with Swift, while others have naturally drifted into different circles.
- Listen to the Kendrick Remix vs. The Original: The video uses the Kendrick Lamar version, which fundamentally changes the energy of the song from a rhythmic pop track to a confrontational anthem.
The legacy of "Bad Blood" isn't just about a feud or a catchy hook. It's about the sheer scale of the production. Seeing all those names in one place—from Cindy Crawford to Zendaya—remains one of the most impressive casting feats in the history of the medium. It was a moment when the music industry decided to act like the movie industry, and for a few minutes in 2015, it actually worked.
To truly understand the impact, look at the VMA wins. The video took home Video of the Year, proving that the "event video" was back. If you’re analyzing the video today, pay attention to the costumes. They were mostly sourced from a high-end sex shop called The Pleasure Chest, but styled to look like futuristic riot gear—a fun bit of trivia that shows how much the styling team (led by Joseph Cassell) worked to make "pop" look "dangerous."