Blake Lively seeks to block Taylor Swift involvement in Justin Baldoni legal case
Blake Lively has requested a protective order to block Justin Baldoni's legal team from pursuing her communications with former friend Taylor Swift, as tensions escalate in their ongoing legal battle. According to court documents obtained by Daily Mail, Lively's attorneys argue that Baldoni's team is using Swift and her fanbase as a media tool in the dispute.
Lively, 37, is entangled in a sexual harassment lawsuit against Baldoni, 41, and has claimed that his legal team is employing aggressive tactics, including attempts to involve Swift unnecessarily. Her legal counsel, Esra Hudson, contends that Baldoni and his associates previously claimed to have secured communications from Swift's team in exchange for withdrawing subpoenas, yet have refused to produce the materials.
'This is a tactic to draw attention and weaponize Taylor Swift's name in the public eye,' Hudson wrote. Lively's lawyers say Swift was targeted as early as August 2024 by Baldoni's crisis PR firm, led by Melissa Nathan, which cited Swift's fanbase in a 'Scenario Planning' document as a public relations factor to 'take extremely seriously.'
The protective order filing came after social media rumors claimed Swift had recently deleted Instagram posts featuring Lively, sparking speculation about their relationship. Swift's fans quickly refuted the claim, noting the posts were removed years ago during a marketing campaign for her 2017 Reputation album.
Additionally, Lively has subpoenaed Scooter Braun and his company HYBE, seeking records related to Nathan's PR work for Baldoni. Braun, who famously clashed with Swift after acquiring her master recordings, was included as part of Lively's broader legal strategy.
While Swift recently regained ownership of her early recordings and announced plans to release her debut album's rerecorded version, she admitted in a fan letter that rerecording Reputation has been delayed. She explained that the album was deeply tied to a specific period in her life, making it difficult to revisit creatively.
Representatives for Swift and Baldoni have not publicly commented on the latest developments.
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