Taylor Swift has been subpoenaed as a witness in the legal battle between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni. Baldoni's lawyer, Bryan Freed...
Taylor Swift has been subpoenaed as a witness in the legal battle between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni.
Baldoni's lawyer, Bryan Freedman, issued the subpoena earlier this week, as per Deadline.
The response from Swift's team was immediate.
In a statement obtained by Deadline and People, a representative for Swift said the subpoena was purely to "draw public interest" rather than "focusing on the facts of the case".
"Taylor Swift never set foot on the set of this movie," said the rep. "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 travelling around the globe during 2023 and 2024 headlining the biggest tour in history."
"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," the statement finished.
The subpoena timing is particularly convenient, given it follows months of reports that Swift and Lively's friendship is at a breaking point.
Back in February, the Daily Mail claimed that, according to an 'insider', the former BFFs were 'no longer speaking' to each other.
Swift's team's comments do nothing to contradict these claims, as the singer makes it clear she wants nothing to do with the case.
The headlines write themselves.
'Taylor Swift criticises being pulled into the Lively-Baldoni row,' wrote the BBC.
'Taylor Swift Rep Slams Singer's Subpoena in Blake Lively-Justin Baldoni Legal Battle,' wrote Rolling Stone Magazine.
The idea that Blake is too messy and Taylor wants nothing to do with her is one narrative that's been spun in the media since the first lawsuit was filed.
But what else could Taylor's team have said in response to the subpoena?
Considering Swift has been requested as a witness for Baldoni's case, it's not exactly shocking that she has come out swinging against the man that her friend, Lively, is currently suing.
Swift, and her team, will always want to be excluded from the narrative.
Is it possible that Baldoni knew exactly how the 'Blank Space' singer would react, and seized on that opportunity as part of his legal strategy to continue the narrative that Lively is the villain?
And doesn't this all sound familiar?
In Lively's original lawsuit, she alleged that after she reported alleged misconduct on the set of It Ends With Us, Baldoni and his team retaliated by orchestrating a media and PR campaign to "paint her as the villain."
Using Swift's name to draw increased public scrutiny plays perfectly into this strategy as the legal battle rages on.
Taylor Swift and Blake Lively's friendship has been placed under a microscope. Image: Instagram.
Baldoni's legal strategy to this point has been about playing in the court of public opinion, a space in which he seems to be winning. Throwing Swift to the wolves, and forcing her to release a statement that publicly disavows Lively, gives him yet another competitive edge.
Swift might be one of the biggest names being dragged into the case, but she isn't the only high-profile celebrity who may be called to give evidence.
Here's everyone who may have to testify.
Celebrities who will or may be called to testify.
Blake Lively: The plaintiff.
Blake Lively's lawyer, Mike Gottlieb, confirmed to People that the actress will testify in court.
"The ultimate moment for a plaintiff's story to be told is at trial. We expect that to be the case here," he said.
"So we would, of course, expect her to be a witness at her trial. Of course, she's going to testify."
Justin Baldoni: The defendant
As the defendant, Baldoni will also testify, as confirmed by his lawyer, Bryan Freedman.
The trial will not have cameras inside, but Freedman suggested it should be open to the public. Another strategic move, as his team continues playing into the court of public opinion.
"Since Ms. Lively is open to testifying, let's make it count," Freedman told People. "Hold the deposition at MSG, sell tickets or stream it, and donate every dollar to organisations helping victims of domestic abuse."
Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni in It Ends With Us. Image: Sony.
Ryan Reynolds
However, his legal team is actively trying to have him dismissed from the case before the trial.
Lively's attorney, Gottlieb, noted that if Reynolds is removed as a defendant, he "may or may not serve as a fact witness" in court, as per People.
Taylor Swift
As mentioned, Swift has reportedly been subpoenaed as a witness, though her involvement in the film was limited to licensing a song.
Her representative has criticised the subpoena as an attempt to generate media attention.
Hugh Jackman
Baldoni's legal team has indicated the Australian actor may be called. He is not party to the lawsuit, nor is he directly implicated in the allegations, but he is being drawn into the legal proceedings due to his close friendship with Ryan Reynolds.
As the actors starred together in Deadpool & Wolverine, he spent significant time with Reynolds during the period in question, making him a potential witness regarding the dynamics between the parties.
An insider told People that Swift and Jackman are "not privy to anything going on," adding that the claims they will be subpoenaed are nothing more than "smoke and mirrors and trying to distract from the allegations against Baldoni".
Leslie Sloane
Leslie Sloane, Blake Lively's longtime publicist, is also a defendant in the case.
Sloane has filed a motion to be dismissed to avoid participation in the trial, but Baldoni's legal team has opposed her removal, arguing that she played a significant role in the events at issue and that her testimony will be important, as per Deadline.
Other cast and crew.
Lively's lawyer has stated there are additional individuals who "were witnesses to or experienced misconduct that is relevant to Ms. Lively's claims".
"We expect their testimony, particularly about what took place on set, will come out through live witness testimony," he told People.
A separate source also told the publication that "anyone that had any knowledge of this situation will be subpoenaed, no matter of their celebrity status".
When is the trial?
The trial is scheduled to begin in March 2026 in Judge Lewis J. Liman's courtroom in New York City.
What are the accusations?
In a lawsuit filed December 31, 2024 Lively accused Baldoni, who both directed and co-starred in It Ends With Us, of repeated sexual harassment on set.
The allegations included unwanted physical advances, inappropriate comments, and what Lively describes as a toxic atmosphere where speaking up led to retaliation.
According to her complaint, when she or others tried to push back against Baldoni's behaviour, he and his producing partner, Jamey Heath, allegedly became hostile and obstructive, creating what she called a "deliberately hostile work environment".
Lively claimed that after she raised concerns and reported the incidents, Baldoni and his team, including his production company Wayfarer Studios and their PR firm, retaliated with a coordinated smear campaign.
The suit alleged that damaging stories were deliberately leaked to the press, and that online backlash was weaponised to tarnish her reputation and derail her career.
Lively's legal team accused Baldoni and his associates of negligence, emotional abuse, invasion of privacy, and deliberately sabotaging her professional opportunities.
Less than three weeks later, Baldoni hit back with a lawsuit of his own.
Baldoni filed his own countersuit against Lively (and more). Image: Getty.
Filed on January 16, 2025, his countersuit named not only Lively, but also her husband Ryan Reynolds and her longtime publicist Leslie Sloane.
In his version of events, Baldoni claimed Lively and Reynolds tried to seize creative control of the film by using their star power to pressure and intimidate the production team.
When they didn't get their way, he alleges, they launched a calculated campaign to discredit him, fabricating misconduct allegations, leaking manipulated information to the press, and leveraging media connections to control the narrative.
Baldoni is seeking a staggering $400 million (roughly A$622 million) in damages, citing reputational ruin, emotional toll, and a cascade of broken industry relationships.
No comments