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Taylor Swift Slams Subpoena in Blake Lively–Justin Baldoni Legal Feud: “Tabloid Clickbait”
May
Taylor Swift wants no part in the legal storm brewing between It Ends With Us stars Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni — and her team is making that crystal clear.
The pop icon has been subpoenaed as a witness in the increasingly public legal dispute between Lively and Baldoni, prompting a sharp rebuke from Swift’s spokesperson, who condemned the move as a publicity ploy.
“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,” the spokesperson told Entertainment Weekly. “She was traveling around the globe during 2023 and 2024 headlining the biggest tour in history.”
Swift’s only connection to the film, the rep emphasized, was licensing one song — “My Tears Ricochet” — for the soundtrack. “Given that her involvement was licensing a song for the film, which 19 other artists also did, this document subpoena is designed to use Taylor Swift’s name to draw public interest by creating tabloid clickbait instead of focusing on the facts of the case.”
A Brewing Legal Battle
The legal drama between Lively and Baldoni began last December, when Lively filed a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department accusing Baldoni of sexual harassment, unprofessional conduct, and retaliation during production of It Ends With Us, which he also directed. The complaint later expanded into a federal lawsuit filed in New York.
In January, Baldoni filed a countersuit against Lively — along with his production company, Wayfarer Studios, and producer Jamey Heath — alleging defamation, civil extortion, and breach of contract, and seeking at least $400 million in damages.
While Swift is not named as a defendant, her name surfaces in Baldoni’s court filings, which describe a 2023 meeting at the New York penthouse of Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds. Baldoni’s legal team claims Swift expressed verbal support for a rewrite of the script led by Lively — a moment that Baldoni interpreted as pressure to follow Lively’s creative direction.
Lively’s Team Responds
A representative for Lively also criticized the subpoena and broader tactics employed by Baldoni’s legal team, saying, “This is a very serious legal matter, not Barnum & Bailey Circus.”
“Mr. Baldoni and his team continue to turn a case of sexual harassment and retaliation into entertainment for the tabloids,” the statement continued, citing previous claims that the defense joked about selling tickets to Madison Square Garden for Lively’s deposition. “They are now subpoenaing Taylor Swift, a woman who has given a voice to millions the world over.”
Lively’s camp further accused Baldoni and his co-defendants of undermining women’s rights, alleging they recently challenged a California law designed to protect victims of harassment, calling it “unconstitutional.”
High-Profile Friendships and Fallout
Swift, Lively, and Reynolds have been close friends for years. Swift is the godmother to the couple’s children, who have also been featured in her music. Their daughter James is heard on “Gorgeous,” and the names James, Inez, and Betty — all daughters of the couple — are used in Swift’s Folklore song “Betty.”
As of publication, representatives for Baldoni have not responded to requests for comment.
The dueling lawsuits are scheduled to head to trial in March 2026.
