Judge Compels Blake Lively to Share Taylor Swift Texts in Justin Baldoni Legal Battle
A judge has ruled that actress Blake Lively must hand over private text messages with her friend, pop superstar Taylor Swift, to actor and filmmaker Justin Baldoni as part of their ongoing legal dispute stemming from the film “It Ends With Us.” The decision is a significant development in the high-profile case, which involves allegations of sexual harassment and retaliation on the film’s set.
U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman issued the ruling, denying Lively’s request for a protective order to shield the communications. The judge determined that the messages are potentially relevant to the core issues in the litigation, specifically Lively’s claims of harassment and retaliation against Baldoni.
Why the Texts Were Deemed Relevant
According to court documents, the judge’s decision is rooted in Blake Lively’s own representations suggesting that Taylor Swift had knowledge of complaints or discussions concerning the working environment during the production of “It Ends With Us.”
Judge Liman stated that the requests for messages between Lively and Swift regarding the film and the legal action are “reasonably tailored to discover information that would prove or disprove Lively’s harassment and retaliation claims.”
While Lively’s legal team had sought to protect the messages, arguing they were “not central” to the case and that Baldoni’s demand was a tactic to leverage Swift’s fame for public relations purposes, the judge was not persuaded. Judge Liman noted that concern over PR strategy does not justify withholding relevant discovery. A protective order is in place, however, to ensure that the specific communications deemed relevant and handed over remain confidential within the legal process and are not improperly leaked.
Context of the Bitter Legal Dispute
The ruling takes place within a complex and contentious legal battle initiated by Lively. In December 2024, Lively filed a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department and subsequently a lawsuit in federal court, accusing Baldoni and his associates at Wayfarer Studios of sexual harassment, creating a hostile work environment, and orchestrating a retaliatory smear campaign against her after she voiced concerns about alleged misconduct.
Baldoni vehemently denies Lively’s allegations. The legal fight intensified with Baldoni and Wayfarer filing counter-actions, including a substantial $400 million lawsuit against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and their publicist, alleging civil extortion and defamation. Baldoni also sued The New York Times over its reporting on Lively’s initial allegations.
However, just prior to the ruling on the Swift texts, Judge Liman dismissed Baldoni’s $400 million lawsuit against Lively, Reynolds, and their publicist, as well as his separate lawsuit against The New York Times.
Swift was initially drawn directly into the conflict in January 2025 when Baldoni’s now-dismissed counter-lawsuit mentioned her, alleging Lively attempted to leverage the status of Swift and Reynolds to influence matters on the film set. Baldoni’s team had previously issued and then withdrawn a direct subpoena to Swift in May 2025, but the demand for her communications with Lively persisted through discovery requests to Lively.
Baldoni’s attorney has cited alleged messages where Lively referred to Swift and Reynolds as her “dragons” and protectors, arguing that communications involving Swift are relevant to challenging Lively’s claims and understanding the dynamics surrounding the film’s production.
Despite Lively’s argument that the demands for Swift’s messages are merely a distraction or a PR tactic, the court has prioritized their potential relevance to the central harassment and retaliation claims that are proceeding towards a scheduled trial date in March 2026.
The necessity of involving Swift’s private communications in the dispute is reportedly causing strain on her friendship with Lively, highlighting the personal cost of this high-stakes legal confrontation.
References
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- www.eonline.com
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