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15 May 2025 20:08
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  •   Home > News > International

    Taylor Swift subpoenaed in Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni legal battle

    Taylor Swift's subpoena in the It Ends With Us case is another attempt "to intimidate and attack women's rights and reputations," Lively's spokesperson said.


    The legal battle between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni has come back into the spotlight this past week.

    Taylor Swift, a long-time friend of Lively, was subpoenaed as a witness in Baldoni's lawsuit against his It Ends With Us co-star.

    It's the latest move in a bitter legal battle surrounding the dark romantic drama.

    Here's what we know about Swift's involvement.

    Why is Swift involved?

    Swift was first pulled into the headlines regarding the case after Baldoni filed his 179-page suit in January.

    The lawsuit included an example of one text message in which a "Taylor" is mentioned.

    "I really love what you did. It really does help a lot. Makes it so much more fun and interesting. (And I would have felt that way without Ryan and Taylor)," Baldoni wrote with a wink emoji.

    Another text allegedly has Lively referencing Game of Thrones.

    "If you ever get around to watching Game of Thrones, you'll appreciate that I'm Khaleesi, and like her, I happen to have a few dragons," the text reads.

    "For better or worse, but usually better. Because my dragons also protect those I fight for. So really we all benefit from those gorgeous monsters of mine. You will too, I can promise you."

    Baldoni claims the "dragons" were a reference to her husband Ryan Reynolds and Swift.

    Has she been subpoenaed?

    Yes.

    A spokesperson for Swift denied involvement outside of licensing her song My Tears Ricochet for use in a trailer and scene from the film.

    They claim the subpoena is just "tabloid clickbait".

    Here's the full statement, obtained by CNN:

    "Taylor Swift never set foot on the set of this movie, she was not involved in any casting or creative decisions, she did not score the film, she never saw an edit or made any notes on the film, she did not even see 'It Ends With Us' until weeks after its public release, and was travelling around the globe during 2023 and 2024.

    "Given that her involvement was licensing a song for the film, which 19 other artists also did, this document subpoena is designed to use Taylor Swift's name to draw public interest by creating tabloid clickbait instead of focusing on the facts of the case."

    Has Lively responded to Swift's subpoena?

    Yes.

    A spokesperson for Lively said Baldoni and his legal team "continue to turn a case of sexual harassment and retaliation into entertainment for the tabloids".

    "This is a very serious legal matter, not Barnum and Bailey's circus," the spokesperson added.

    "The defendants continue to publicly intimidate, bully, shame and attack women's rights and reputations."

    What happened between Lively and Baldoni?

    In December 2024, Lively sued Baldoni, the film's production company and others over allegations of sexual harassment and engaging in a smear campaign to "destroy" her reputation.

    Baldoni hit back in January 2025, filing a lawsuit against Lively and Reynolds on claims of civil extortion, defamation and invasion of privacy.

    An lawyer for Baldoni called the allegations "completely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious".

    He is seeking $US400 million ($625 million) and a jury trial.

    In an amended complaint filed in February, Lively alleged other women also raised claims about Baldoni's behaviour on set.

    Lively's lawyer Mike Gottlieb confirmed that his client is prepared to speak under oath in court.

    "The ultimate moment for a plaintiff's story to be told is at trial. We expect that to be the case here [with Lively]," Mr Gottlieb said.

    "Of course she's going to testify."

    The case Lively vs Wayfarer Studios is set to go to trial in March 2026.


    ABC




    © 2025 ABC Australian Broadcasting Corporation. All rights reserved

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