Judge: Justin Baldoni can see texts between Taylor Swift and Blake Lively
Judge: Justin Baldoni can see texts between Taylor Swift and Blake Lively
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Blake Lively's team slams Baldoni's over Taylor Swift subpoena
Blake Lively's team has condemned Justin Baldoni's team's decision to subpoena Taylor Swift, calling it a blatant attempt to exploit Lively's friendship for tabloid attention.
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Justin Baldoni can obtain private text messages between Blake Lively and Taylor Swift that pertain to the filming of 'It Ends With Us,' a court ruled on Wednesday, June 18. It's the latest development in an ongoing legal feud between co-stars Lively and Baldoni, over what occurred on the set of the film, released in 2024.
Baldoni, who also directed the film, first sued Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and The New York Times in late 2024 after the actress went public with claims that Baldoni sexually harassed her and helped orchestrate a smear campaign against her. The lawsuit was filed in response to Lively's sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit in late 2024, and the Times article about it.
Lively previously sought a protective order to prevent sharing the text messages requested by Baldoni's lawyers, arguing that the communications were irrelevant to the case, and could instead be used "to prop up a public relations narrative outside of court." However, Judge Lewis Liman ruled on Wednesday that the information is pertinent because Lively identified Swift as someone who would know about complaints or discussions regarding the working environment on the set of the film.
"Given that Lively has represented that Swift had knowledge of complaints or discussions about the working environment on the film, among other issues, the requests for messages with Swift regarding the film and this action are reasonably tailored to discover information that would prove or disprove Lively's harassment and retaliation claims," the judge wrote.
Baldoni's legal team will only have access to messages about 'It Ends With Us' and the co-stars ongoing legal battle.
USA TODAY has reached out to Baldoni and Lively's representatives for comment on the development.
Baldoni's $400M extortion lawsuit against Lively, the Times dismissed
Liman previously dismissed Justin Baldoni's $400 million countersuit against Lively, Reynolds and the Times on June 9. However, the judge gave Baldoni's team a second chance to address specific claims by filing a second amended complaint – for breach of implied covenant and tortious interference with contract – by June 23.
"As we have said from day one, this '$400 million' lawsuit was a sham, and the Court saw right through it," Lively's lawyers said on June 9 in a statement to USA TODAY. "We look forward to the next round, which is seeking attorneys' fees, treble damages and punitive damages against Baldoni, Sarowitz, Nathan, and the other Wayfarer Parties who perpetrated this abusive litigation."
In a statement obtained by USA TODAY on June 10, Baldoni's lawyers slammed the Lively team's "predictable declaration of victory" in the case, suggesting they intend to refile four of their claims, as Liman has recommended.
Contributing: Taijuan Moorman and Brendan Morrow
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