Judge Rules on Access to Swift-Lively Private Texts in “It Ends with Us” Legal Battle
In a significant development regarding the ongoing legal dispute surrounding the film “It Ends with Us,” actor and director Justin Baldoni has been granted access to certain private text messages between actress Blake Lively and pop superstar Taylor Swift. The ruling, handed down by U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman on Wednesday, allows Baldoni’s legal team to review communications deemed relevant to the case.
Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni star in the upcoming 2024 film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s best-selling novel, which has become the center of a complex legal conflict. Lively filed a lawsuit against Baldoni and others associated with the film last year, alleging sexual harassment and claims that Baldoni orchestrated a smear campaign against her. Baldoni has denied these allegations.
Scope of the Judge’s Order
Judge Liman’s decision specifically permits access to texts between Lively and Swift that pertain directly to the film “It Ends with Us” or the legal action currently underway. According to the court filing, the judge found these requests permissible because Lively had previously indicated that Swift had knowledge of complaints or discussions concerning the working environment on the film set.
The judge stated that the requests for messages between Swift and Lively regarding the film and the lawsuit are “reasonably tailored to discover information that would prove or disprove Lively’s harassment and retaliation claims.” This limited scope means Baldoni’s team will not have unrestricted access to the celebrities’ private communications. A pre-existing protective order will also apply to the messages, aiming to prevent their public disclosure during the discovery phase.
Background of the Bitter Legal Fight
The legal battle intensified after Lively’s initial lawsuit. Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios, the film’s production company, filed a countersuit for defamation against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and The New York Times (which reported details of Lively’s allegations). This countersuit, which sought substantial damages, was dismissed by Judge Liman in court last week, just prior to the ruling on the text messages.
Swift’s Involvement and Reactions
This is not the first time Taylor Swift, a close friend and godmother to one of Lively’s children, has been drawn into the “It Ends with Us” dispute. Swift’s only credited involvement in the film is licensing her song “My Tears Ricochet” for the soundtrack, a contribution also made by numerous other artists.
Last month, Baldoni’s attorney attempted to subpoena Swift as a potential witness for a trial currently slated for March 2026. Swift’s spokesperson argued at the time that the subpoena was primarily designed to use Swift’s name for “tabloid clickbait” rather than being relevant to the case facts, noting her limited role in the production. The request to subpoena Swift was subsequently dropped days later.
Following the judge’s recent ruling on text access, a representative for Blake Lively strongly criticized the decision. The spokesperson labeled it a “major legal victory” for Baldoni and accused him of persistent efforts to involve Swift dating back to August 2024. Lively’s representative described Baldoni’s actions as a deliberate “strategy to influence the ‘TS fanbase'” and “relentless efforts to exploit Ms Swift’s popularity,” serving as a “distraction from the serious sexual harassment and retaliation accusations he and the Wayfarer parties are facing.”
Reports from court filings, including Baldoni’s now-dismissed countersuit, have previously introduced claims involving Swift and Reynolds. These filings alleged that Lively referred to Swift and Reynolds as her “dragons” and protectors in text messages and claimed Swift was present during discussions about script rewrites. While these specific countersuits have been dismissed, elements raised within them, combined with the judge’s ruling, keep Swift’s name connected to the case.
Swift and Lively have reportedly not been photographed together since the legal proceedings began last year, and Swift has not commented publicly on the case. Reports suggest the legal entanglements may have strained the friendship between the two stars. One report even included an allegation from Swift’s father claiming Lively threatened to expose Swift’s private texts to try and get the previous subpoena withdrawn, though this specific claim remains part of complex, and at times contentious, legal filings and reports surrounding the case.
Representatives for Swift and Baldoni did not immediately return requests for comment regarding the latest ruling. The legal battle continues to unfold ahead of the planned March 2026 trial date.
