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New York Post
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Blake Lively loses bid to hide private texts with Taylor Swift in Justin Baldoni legal case
It's a cruel summer. Justin Baldoni can officially gain access to Blake Lively and Taylor Swift's private messages that pertain to 'It Ends With Us,' US District Judge Lewis Liman ruled on Wednesday. In court documents obtained by The Post, Judge Liman denied Lively's motion for a protective order to hide her messages with Swift, 35, from Baldoni, 41, amidst their ongoing legal battle. 11 Taylor Swift and Blake Lively at the 2024 Super Bowl. Getty Images 11 Justin Baldoni attends Variety Faith And Spirituality In Entertainment Honors in Beverly Hills in Dec. 2024. Variety via Getty Images The ruling stated that since Lively, 37, 'has represented that Swift had knowledge of complaints or discussions about the working environment on the film,' the requests for her messages with the 'Style' singer 'are reasonably tailored to discover information that would prove or disprove Lively's harassment and retaliation claims.' But Judge Liman did note that the messages must be related to the 2024 film or Lively and Baldoni's legal case. 11 Blake Lively, Taylor Swift seen in SoHo in September 2023. GC Images He also stated that the parties' pre-exesting protective order will cover the messages to prevent them from leaking to the press. According to the ruling, Lively's lawyers made a proposal to Baldoni's team in which she would hand over all documents related to the case, except her messages with Swift, in return that Baldoni produced 'all video footage related to the film and full, unredacted versions of communication' listed in Baldoni's complaint. Baldoni's team ultimately declined Lively's bargain. 11 Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni in 'It Ends With Us.' AP Lively's spokesperson told The Post in a statement: 'The Court outright denied the Wayfarer Parties' motion to compel documents from Ms. Lively, who has produced far more documents in this case than the Wayfarer Parties combined. Further, the Court's protective order ruling rests on the Wayfarer Parties' admission that they received nothing from Taylor Swift, which is exactly the opposite of what their 'insider' claimed two weeks ago.' 11 Blake Lively at the 'Another Simple Favor' screening in New York on April 27. WireImage 'As for the rest, Justin Baldoni and the Wayfarer parties demanded access to Taylor Swift's private communications—despite having already subpoenaed and then withdrawn that subpoena,' the statement continued. 'Baldoni's desire to drag Taylor Swift into this has been constant dating back to August 2024, when the crisis PR firm led by Melissa Nathan included her in their 'Scenario Planning' document, referred to her as a bully, and called for a strategy to influence the 'TS fanbase.' We will continue to call out Baldoni's relentless efforts to exploit Ms Swift's popularity, which from day one has been nothing more than a distraction from the serious sexual harassment and retaliation accusations he and the Wayfarer parties are facing.' 11 Justin Baldoni at the 'It Ends With Us' premiere in New York in Aug. 2024. Adela Loconte/Shutterstock The Post has reached out to Baldoni's attorney and Swift's rep for comment. In May, Swift was subpoenaed as a witness by Baldoni's legal team in the never-ending 'It Ends With Us' legal nightmare. But in a shocking move by Baldoni's legal team, they dropped the subpoena on May 22 after a representative for Swift denied she had any involvement in the drama. 11 Blake Lively and Taylor Swift seen in New York City in Dec. 2023. GC Images '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 traveling around the globe during 2023 and 2024 headlining the biggest tour in history,' the rep told The Post in response to the original subpoena. The 'Lover' singer was mentioned in Baldoni's $400 million countersuit against the actress and her husband Ryan Reynolds, in which Baldoni accused Lively of calling Swift and Reynolds, 48, her 'dragons' and referring to herself as Khaleesi from 'Game of Thrones' in an alleged text conversation. 11 Hugh Jackman, Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively and Taylor Swift. Hugh Jackman/Instagram Baldoni further alleged that Swift was present for a pivotal meeting he had with Lively at her and Reynolds' NYC penthouse about rewriting the infamous 'It Ends With Us' rooftop scene. Baldoni's attorney, Bryan Freedman, later issued a letter to Judge Liman, claiming he was told by an anonymous source that Lively's lead lawyer, Michael Gottlieb, allegedly threatened to release Swift's text messages if the 'You Need to Calm Down' hitmaker didn't publicly support Blake. 11 Justin Baldoni at an event in Los Angeles in December 2024. Variety via Getty Images Gottlieb denied the allegations — and the judge granted Lively's motion to strike the letter, calling Freedman's filing 'improper' and 'irrelevant' in the order obtained by The Post. Lively and Swift's friendship has allegedly suffered due to the legal case. 'Even though Taylor has totally cut ties with her, Blake hasn't with Taylor,' a source recently told the Daily Mail, claiming that Lively has been 'ignoring' her former bestie, who is the godmother of Lively and Reynolds' three daughters. 11 Taylor Swift and Blake Lively at the 2024 Super Bowl. Getty Images The source further claimed that Swift is icing out Lively because she feels 'betrayed' and 'exploited' by the 'Gossip Girl' alum. The legal battle began when Lively sued Baldoni in December 2024, claiming he sexually harassed her while filming 'It Ends With Us.' She also accused him of spearheading a smear campaign against her and of an intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress. 11 Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively filming 'It Ends With Us' in New Jersey in Jan. 2024. Christopher Peterson / Baldoni, who denied the allegations, countersued Lively and Reynolds in January, alleging extortion and defamation. But the $400 million lawsuit was dismissed by Judge Liman earlier this month, as was Baldoni's $250 million defamation lawsuit against the New York Times. The legal case is still scheduled to go to trial in March 2026.
New York Post
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Taylor Swift subpoena dropped in Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni case in shock move
New details have emerged in the Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni cause. After Taylor Swift was subpoenaed as a witness by the 'Jane the Virgin' star's legal team earlier this month, Baldoni's side has dropped the filing in a bombshell move, according to People. A spokesperson for Lively, 37, told The Post they are 'pleased that Justin Baldoni and the Wayfarer Parties have withdrawn their harassing subpoenas to Taylor Swift and her law firm.' 6 Justin Baldoni attends Variety Faith And Spirituality In Entertainment Honors. Variety via Getty Images 'We supported the efforts of Taylor's team to quash these inappropriate subpoenas directed to her counsel,' they told The Post, 'and we will continue to stand up for any third party who is unjustly harassed or threatened in the process.' 'The Baldoni and Wayfarer team have tried to put Taylor Swift, a woman who has been an inspiration for tens of millions across the globe, at the center of this case since day one,' the spokesperson continued. 'Exploiting Taylor Swift's celebrity was the original plan in Melissa Nathan's scenario planning document, and it continues to this day. Faced with having to justify themselves in federal court, they folded. At some point they will run out of distractions from the actual claims of sexual harassment and retaliation they are facing.' The Post reached out to Swift's rep and Baldoni's lawyer for comment. In response to the original subpoena filing, a representative for Swift, 35, said, '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 traveling around the globe during 2023 and 2024 headlining the biggest tour in history.' 6 Taylor Swift arrives to the stadium prior to the AFC Championship game between the Buffalo Bills and the Kansas City Chiefs. Getty Images On May 15, Judge Lewis J. Liman granted Lively's motion to strike a letter written by Baldoni's attorney, Bryan Freedman, in the ongoing legal battle. In the letter, Freedman claimed he was told by an anonymous source that Lively's lead lawyer, Michael Gottlieb, allegedly threatened to release Swift's text messages if the artist didn't publicly support Lively. He also claimed that the 'Gossip Girl' alum allegedly asked Swift to delete their text chain. 6 Blake Lively (L) and Taylor Swift are seen on September 30, 2023 in New York City. GC Images Gottlieb denied the allegations, and in the order obtained by The Post, Judge Liman ruled that the filing was 'improper' and 'irrelevant.' 'It took the court less than 24 hours to see through Mr. Freedman's irrelevant, improper and inflammatory accusations, strike them, remove them from the court and warn Mr. Freedman that further misconduct may be met with sanctions,' Lively's spokesperson told The Post at the time. Swift was also mentioned in Baldoni's $400 million countersuit against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, in which the 'It Ends With Us' director claimed that in an exchange of texts, Lively called Swift one of her 'dragons' and referred to herself as Khaleesi from 'Game of Thrones.' 6 Ice Spice, Taylor Swift and Blake Lively. Getty Images In the suit, Baldoni claimed the Grammy winner was present during an important meeting he had at Lively and Reynold's NYC penthouse. Baldoni and Lively's legal battle started in December 2024, when 'The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants' star claimed he sexually harassed her during the filming of 'It Ends With Us.' Lively also accused Baldoni of creating a smear campaign against her. Both parties have denied the allegations against them, and their trial date is set for March 2026. Amid the backlash, Swift and Lively's friendship has allegedly been put on the back burner despite the superstar being the godmother to Lively and Reynold's four children. 6 Blake Lively and Taylor Swift attend a private party at Lucalli Pizza restaurant in Brooklyn on January 10, 2024 in New York City. GC Images 'Their friendship has halted,' a source told People on May 15. The insider added, 'Taylor wants no part in this drama.' A second source echoed those sentiments, claiming that Swift and Lively are 'taking some space' but that the pair are 'not no longer friends.' Lively and Swift's friendship dates back to 2014, but the duo's friendship was already rumored to be in a 'fragile' place prior to the subpoena. 6 Blake Lively and Taylor Swift. Getty Images A source told People in April that Swift was 'really hurt' when she was implicated in the 'It Ends With Us' drama. According to another insider at the time, they were allegedly working to 'put it all behind them' until the filing reportedly 'fractured' the progress they made.
