Judge Rules Blake Lively Must Share Taylor Swift Texts in Lawsuit

Blake Lively Denied Request to Keep Taylor Swift Texts Private in Legal Battle

In a significant development in the ongoing legal dispute between actress Blake Lively and director/co-star Justin Baldoni, a judge has ruled that private text messages and other communications between Lively and pop superstar Taylor Swift must be turned over. Blake Lively’s motion seeking a protective order to keep these messages confidential was denied, drawing Swift further into the complex litigation surrounding their film “It Ends With Us.”

U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman issued the ruling on June 18, determining that communications between Lively and Swift were relevant to the case. Lively had sued Baldoni and his company Wayfarer Studios in December 2023, alleging sexual harassment, retaliation, and a smear campaign during the film’s production.

Why the Judge Ruled the Texts Are Relevant

Judge Liman’s decision hinges on the argument that the requested messages are “reasonably tailored to discover information that would prove or disprove Lively’s harassment and retaliation claims.” This reasoning stems from Blake Lively’s own legal team having represented that Taylor Swift had knowledge of complaints or discussions about the working environment on the film’s set. Given Swift’s close friendship with Lively, the judge found requests for messages concerning the film and the legal action pertinent to the discovery process.

While denying Lively’s request to block access entirely, the court did confirm that an existing protective order would apply to the messages. This measure is intended to prevent the sensitive communications from being leaked publicly, addressing concerns raised by Lively’s team about potential exploitation of the information for public relations purposes.

Context of the Legal Dispute and Swift’s Prior Involvement

The legal battle between Lively and Baldoni stems from the production of “It Ends With Us.” Lively’s lawsuit alleges serious misconduct, which Baldoni denies.

Taylor Swift’s name has been linked to the case before. In May, Baldoni’s legal team previously subpoenaed Swift as a witness. However, that subpoena was withdrawn shortly after Swift’s representative clarified that Swift had minimal involvement in the film. According to Swift’s team, her sole contribution was licensing her song “My Tears Ricochet” for the trailer and one scene. They emphasized she was not on set, involved in casting or creative decisions, scoring, or editing, having been on her global tour during the relevant production period (2023-2024). Swift’s team had characterized the initial subpoena as an attempt to generate “tabloid clickbait.”

Baldoni’s since-dismissed $400 million countersuit against Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds had also referenced Swift, including a claim about a text where Lively allegedly referred to Swift and Reynolds as her “dragons.” Baldoni had also previously claimed Swift was present during a meeting to discuss rewriting a scene.

Arguments from Both Sides

Lively’s legal team had argued that the demands for communication with Swift were not genuinely aimed at obtaining relevant legal information. Instead, they contended it was part of a deliberate media strategy by Baldoni’s team, ongoing since at least August 2023, designed to exploit Swift’s immense popularity and fanbase and serve as a distraction from the sexual harassment and retaliation accusations Baldoni faces. They cited an alleged “Scenario Planning” document from Baldoni’s crisis PR firm that supposedly included Swift, labeled her a “bully,” and outlined a strategy to influence the “TS fanbase.”

Lively’s representative also highlighted that the court simultaneously denied a separate motion from Baldoni’s team to compel other documents directly from Lively, noting that Lively has produced significantly more documents than Baldoni’s side. They pointed out what they view as inconsistencies in Baldoni’s team’s claims regarding previously receiving information from Swift.

While representatives for Baldoni did not immediately comment on the judge’s recent ruling regarding the texts, court documents indicate Baldoni’s team rejected a prior offer from Lively to provide other relevant documents in exchange for specific production footage and communications from Baldoni.

Reports also suggest the legal situation and Swift’s involvement have strained the friendship between Lively and Swift, with sources claiming Swift feels “betrayed” and “exploited” by the situation.

The original legal case initiated by Blake Lively is currently scheduled to proceed to trial in New York in March 2026.