Taylor Swift Slams Legal Drama Over Film Ties with Lively and Baldoni

Swift's representatives shoot down allegations linking her to the ongoing feud between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni amidst a harassment lawsuit.

In recent developments, Taylor Swift has spoken out against being dragged into a legal dispute involving her close friend Blake Lively and actor Justin Baldoni. Swift’s representatives informed the BBC that the singer was summoned to a US court in what they deemed an effort to create “tabloid clickbait.” The controversy revolves around claims that Swift allegedly prompted Baldoni to accept script revisions implemented by Lively for the film "It Ends With Us," a project currently embroiled in a sexual harassment case.

Baldoni has stated that during a 2023 meeting at Lively's New York home, which he attended alongside Lively's husband, Ryan Reynolds, and Swift, they discussed changes to the film's script. He referenced a text from Lively, comparing herself to "Khaleesi" from "Game of Thrones," suggesting that she had "dragons" to safeguard her interests. Baldoni claims he responded favorably, acknowledging Lively's contributions and expressing excitement about working together.

Amidst these allegations is a lawsuit filed by Lively in December 2024, where she accused Baldoni of sexual harassment and launching a smear campaign against her. Baldoni has countersued for civil extortion, defamation, and invasion of privacy. Their disputes have arisen following the film's release last summer, which is based on Colleen Hoover's novel.

Swift's involvement reportedly extends only to granting permission for her song "My Tears Ricochet" to be featured in the film, where she was one of 20 featured artists. Although Isabela Ferrer, who portrayed a younger version of Lively's character, claimed that Swift played a pivotal role in her audition, her representatives maintain that Swift had no role in casting or creative decisions and did not visit the film set at any point.

Seeking to clarify her position, Swift’s team emphasized that she only viewed the film weeks after its premiere, as she was on a worldwide tour. They criticized the issuance of the subpoena as an attempt to exploit Swift’s celebrity status rather than addressing the core issues at hand in the legal battle surrounding Lively and Baldoni.