Insider Reveals Update On Taylor Swift And Blake Lively's Friendship After Dropped Subpoena

Yahoo

2 days ago

is putting her legal stress behind her, but not all of the fallout has been so easy to shake.
The pop icon reportedly feels 'an immense sense of relief' now that she's no longer entangled in the high-profile legal dispute between longtime friend and actor-director
Taylor Swift had been subpoenaed by Justin Baldoni's legal team earlier this month, but it was confirmed on May 22 that the summons was dropped after her team voluntarily provided information.
While the Grammy winner is said to be 'not talking about the case' and 'has moved on,' insiders say the same can't be said about her once-close bond with Lively.
'There's been radio silence between Taylor and Blake since the subpoena was dropped,' a source told Us Weekly, adding that their previously tight-knit friendship has 'stalled' under the weight of 'legal tension.' According to the insider, the emotional fallout has created enough distance that 'they won't pick up where they left off.'
The legal battle began in December 2024 when Lively filed a lawsuit accusing Baldoni, her "It Ends with Us" co-star and director, of sexual harassment, a hostile work environment, and an alleged smear campaign. Baldoni has denied all allegations and responded with his own $400 million countersuit against Lively and her husband, actor , claiming defamation, civil extortion, and more.
Swift became embroiled in the dispute when her song 'My Tears Ricochet' was featured in the film. Although she wasn't involved in any creative or production aspects of the project, Baldoni's legal team alleged that Lively pushed Swift to delete years of text messages, prompting the subpoena.
Swift's rep quickly shut down speculation, stating that the singer 'never set foot on the set,' had no input on casting or editing, and didn't even see the movie until after its release.
'The connection Taylor had to this film was permitting the use of one song,' the statement read, calling the subpoena a tactic meant to 'draw public interest' by leveraging Swift's name for 'tabloid clickbait.'
Lively, for her part, publicly expressed satisfaction over the dropped subpoenas, calling them 'harassing' and unnecessary.
Despite this latest report, Daily Mail previously shared that Swift was left blindsided after being briefly subpoenaed and allegedly mentioned in sensitive messages tied to Lively's explosive lawsuit against Baldoni.
The pop icon, who once publicly supported Lively, now reportedly feels 'exploited' by the actress, believing their friendship was used for personal leverage in a case that had nothing to do with her.
'Right now, if Taylor had one wish, it would be that she never met Blake,' one insider told the outlet at the time. 'Although there were good times, the issues around the Baldoni case have outweighed them. When Taylor looks back, she sees all the red flags she missed. It just wasn't worth the stress.'
The source went on to reveal that Swift often felt pressured to 'tone Blake down' and maintain harmony within their A-list circle of friends, but that loyalty came at a personal cost.
'She always wanted to be the leader of the pack,' the insider said, adding, 'Taylor's relieved the relationship is over. She put up with Blake's antics for too long because she's loyal, but this drama pushed her too far.'
What makes the rift even more complicated is Swift's role as godmother to Lively and Reynolds' three daughters. While neither star has commented publicly on how the tension may affect their children's relationships, fans are left wondering whether the once-close family bond can survive the public fallout.
In a major development in the ongoing legal battle between Lively and Baldoni, a federal judge ruled in Lively's favor to strike a controversial claim involving Taylor Swift.
On Thursday, May 15, Judge Lewis J. Liman approved a motion to remove allegations that Lively's lawyer, Michael Gottlieb, had threatened to release Swift's private text messages unless the singer publicly supported Lively in her lawsuit against Baldoni.
With conflicting reports continuing to swirl, the true status of their friendship remains unclear, and likely won't be known for sure until Swift and Lively speak out themselves.