New York: Messages between Blake Lively and Taylor Swift can now be submitted as evidence in Lively’s legal dispute with actor and producer Justin Baldoni, a U.S. federal judge ruled on Wednesday.
The decision comes after Lively tried to block Baldoni from accessing the messages, calling them irrelevant. However, Judge Lewis Liman determined the communications are key to assessing Lively’s claims of sexual harassment and retaliation on the It Ends With Us film set.
Lively sued Baldoni and his studio in December 2023, alleging a smear campaign and misconduct. Baldoni countersued for defamation, but that case was dismissed last week.
Earlier, Baldoni’s legal team issued and withdrew subpoenas to Swift, prompting criticism from Swift’s lawyers, who called the move “tabloid clickbait.” Swift, described in court as one of Lively’s “dragons,” was present during a 2023 script meeting. The case involving threats and PR exploitation allegations is set for trial in March 2026.
