The ongoing legal saga between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni over the “It Ends With Us” adaptation has twisted further as private text revelations come to light.
At a Glance
- A judge has granted Justin Baldoni’s legal team access to private communications between his co-star, Blake Lively, and singer Taylor Swift.
- The ruling comes in a lawsuit where Lively has accused Baldoni of misconduct during the film’s production.
- Baldoni’s team argues the texts are relevant because Lively identified Swift as someone knowledgeable about her complaints.
- Lively’s lawyers have refuted allegations that she attempted to coerce Swift into supporting her claims.
- The legal dispute has reportedly strained the friendship between Lively and Swift.
The Legal Dispute Background
The legal battle began when actress Blake Lively accused her “It Ends With Us” co-star and director, Justin Baldoni, of misconduct on set. Lively’s private communications with her friend, pop superstar Taylor Swift, became a focal point throughout the case. A judge has now granted Baldoni’s legal team access to these texts, despite objections from Lively’s camp.
A critical decision was made by U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman, who determined that the texts are relevant to the central claims of harassment and retaliation. As reported by Deadline, the judge found the request was “reasonably tailored to discover information that would prove or disprove Lively’s harassment and retaliation claims.”
Taylor Swift’s Unwilling Involvement
The inclusion of Taylor Swift has proven contentious. Baldoni’s team has argued that Lively used her powerful connection with Swift to intimidate him. In a statement to Page Six, Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, said, “Baldoni was not just dealing with Lively. He was also facing Lively’s ‘dragons,’ two of the world’s most influential and wealthy celebrities.”
The situation has reportedly strained Lively’s friendship with Swift. According to the Daily Mail, Swift’s father, Scott Swift, voluntarily provided some information to Baldoni’s team in a deal that would prevent his daughter from being subpoenaed and “dragged into this any further.”
The Court’s Ruling
Despite a previous subpoena targeting Swift being withdrawn, Judge Liman’s recent decision permits Baldoni’s legal team to explore the communications between the two women. The ruling offers a tactical win for Baldoni as he continues to assert that Lively’s accusations were part of a broader smear campaign. Meanwhile, Lively’s team maintains that her accusations were genuine and has dismissed claims of coercion and extortion as “categorically false.”
