A representative for Taylor Swift stated on Friday that the move to subpoena the singer as a witness in the case involving Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni is intended to exploit her name for public attention.
According to TMZ, Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, issued a subpoena to Swift in connection with the legal matters surrounding the 2024 film “It Ends With Us.” Freedman was unavailable for comment on Friday evening.
Representatives for Lively also did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Swift’s team rejected the notion she would have any relevant information and should not be involved in the legal tangle.
Swift’s spokesperson clarified on Friday that she never visited the movie set, was not involved in casting or creative decisions, did not score the film, and did not view or contribute notes to the film’s edit. The representative further noted that Swift only watched “It Ends With Us” weeks post its public release and was busy with her world tour in 2023 and 2024, which was the most significant tour in history.
Swift did license music for the film.
“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,” the spokesperson said.
The legal battle between Baldoni and Lively began late last year after Lively filed a civil rights complaint against her co-star and director, accusing him of sexual harassment during filming. She also accused him of retaliation after she raised issues about his on-set behavior. Lively then sued Baldoni, the film’s production company, Wayfarer Studios, and others, alleging they engaged in “a carefully crafted, coordinated, and resourced retaliatory scheme to silence her, and others, from speaking out.
An attorney for Baldoni has called the allegations “completely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious” and accused Lively of engaging in a smear campaign.
In December, Baldoni sued The New York Times for libel following the newspaper’s publication of an article detailing Lively’s accusations. The Times, which was first to report on the complaint, has stood by its reporting. That lawsuit is ongoing.
In January, he also filed a lawsuit against Lively, her husband actor Ryan Reynolds, her rep Leslie Sloane and Sloane’s PR firm. Baldoni alleges that the parties engaged in defamation and disregarded contractual claims.
He is seeking $400 million and a jury trial.
A trial is scheduled for March 2026 in New York.
Swift was pulled into headlines regarding the case after Baldoni filed his 179-page suit, which included examples of alleged text messages between him and Lively.
Swift is not named in the suit, save for one text message in which a “Taylor” is mentioned. In the text of the lawsuit, she is referred to as a “megacelebrity friend.”
Baldoni’s team confirmed to NBC News that the Taylor referred to in the lawsuit is Swift, a longtime friend of Lively.
“If you ever get around to watching Game of Thrones, you’ll appreciate that I’m Khaleesi, and like her, I happen to have a few dragons,” one purported text from Lively reads, according to the suit. “For better or worse, but usually better. Because my dragons also protect those I fight for. So really we all benefit from those gorgeous monsters of mine. You will too, I can promise you.”
