Latest news with #ItEndsWithUs'
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
"She never expected it": Taylor Swift reportedly feels Blake Lively drama is 'a huge blow' amid quiet moments with Travis Kelce
Taylor Swift was close friends with Blake Lively for many years.(Image via) Travis Kelce , the tight end of the Kansas City Chiefs, seems to be in a pretty happy and fulfilling relationship with Taylor Swift . After an eventful year in 2024, many things in Taylor Swift's life have gone wrong since the beginning of this year. Not only did fans boo her at Super Bowl LIX, she has also been pulled into the Blake Lively's legal drama with Justin Baldoni but now, there is an update on Taylor Swift's friendship with the actress. Taylor Swift feels getting involved in Blake Lively's legal drama with Justin Baldoni 'is a huge blow' — Life_and_Style (@Life_and_Style) According to Life & Style, a source has recently revealed that, 'Taylor still considers Blake a close friend, but she never expected to be so involved in this drama…(she is) trying to lay low after her tour and football season ended.' The source also added that Taylor Swift feels that being involved in the It Ends With Us' stars' drama 'is a huge blow.' However, Taylor Swift has stayed away from issuing any statements on this and has not confirmed any speculations yet. In the last few weeks, Taylor Swift has been spotted with Travis Kelce on dates and on family outings and the two seemed very much in love with each other. According to the Daily Mail, a source has revealed that, 'Taylor and Travis are treating this relationship as their last relationship, and when they get engaged, when they get married and when they start a family, it will be exactly when it is meant to happen.' The source also added, 'Everyone is just waiting for Travis to ask her parents for her hand in marriage..." Fans are concerned about the AMAs 'snubbing' Taylor Swift Currently, Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are keeping things to themselves and trying their best to stay out of the spotlight. In the last few months after Super Bowl LIX, Taylor Swift has also been missing many events. Many of her fans expected the pop sensation to make a joint appearance with Travis Kelce at the American Music Awards, but neither of them was spotted at the event. Taylor Swift also did not win in any of the categories in which she was nominated at the American Music Awards, and this has sparked concerns among fans. Also Read: "When they start a family": Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce rumored to be planning something big while fans accuse the AMAs of "snubbing" the pop star
Los Angeles Times
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Blake Lively backed by advocacy groups in legal fight with Justin Baldoni over #MeToo speech law
Blake Lively's effort to dismiss Justin Baldoni's defamation countersuit is getting a boost from several advocacy groups, who say the case threatens a hard-won legal protection for people who speak out about sexual harassment and misconduct. Equal Rights Advocates, a San Francisco–based legal nonprofit that advocates for gender equity and workplace protections, filed an amicus brief on Tuesday urging a federal judge to uphold Lively's motion and defend California's new free speech law protecting those who speak publicly about sexual misconduct. Additional briefs are expected in the coming days from advocacy groups including Child USA and Sanctuary for Families. The briefs mark the latest salvo in a months-long legal clash between Lively and Baldoni, whose bitter dispute stemming from the production of last year's romantic drama 'It Ends With Us' has played out in court and the press. Lively has accused Baldoni, her co-star and the film's director, of harassing her during filming, citing improvised on-set physical contact, inappropriate conduct and alleged retaliation after she raised concerns — claims he has denied. Advocates say her case highlights the kind of public allegations that the law was meant to protect, and warn that a ruling against her could chill speech around harassment. 'If the law were to be struck down, it wouldn't just affect Blake Lively — it would essentially do away with the protections for all survivors,' said Jessica Schidlow, legal director at Child USA, a nonprofit that advocates for stronger protections for abuse survivors. 'It would be a devastating setback and completely undermine the purpose of the law, which was to make it easier for victims to come forward and to speak their truth without fear of retaliation.' Lively invoked the law — California Civil Code Section 47.1, enacted in 2023 as part of Assembly Bill 933 — in a motion filed in March to dismiss Baldoni's $400-million countersuit, which alleges she falsely accused him of harassment and retaliation and tried to wrest control of the film from him. Baldoni's legal team has strongly opposed the dismissal motion, arguing that Lively's accusations were knowingly false and that the statute she invoked is itself unconstitutional. They argue the law goes too far by threatening steep financial penalties, saying it could discourage people from going to court to defend themselves against false accusations. 'In no event, on this Motion or at any stage of this proceeding, will the First Amendment permit the extreme and unconstitutional award of fees, costs and treble and punitive damages Lively demands,' the filing states. That position drew a sharp response from Victoria Burke, an attorney who helped push for AB 933 and is now leading efforts to pass similar legislation in 16 other states. 'I was highly disappointed with that move,' said Burke, who is filing her own amicus brief in the case. 'He's put himself out there as a feminist, and this undoes a lot of the good he had been doing. It just seemed cruel and unnecessary — to try to destroy a law that was designed to protect all survivors, just to go after one.' Lively's attorneys Mike Gottlieb and Esra Hudson also pushed back forcefully on the constitutional challenge, saying in a statement that Baldoni and the other defendants were 'so hell bent on trying to destroy Blake Lively that they are willing to shred a law designed to protect all victims just to make sure they 'bury' one.' AB 933 was designed to shield people who speak out about sexual harassment, assault or discrimination from retaliatory defamation suits, provided their statements weren't made with 'actual malice.' It also includes a fee-shifting provision that requires unsuccessful plaintiffs to pay legal costs and allows for treble and punitive damages. In a March 4 filing in federal court in New York, Lively's attorneys argued that Baldoni's countersuit is precisely the kind of retaliation that California's new law was meant to prevent. 'The law prohibits weaponizing defamation lawsuits, like this one, to retaliate against individuals who have filed legal claims or have publicly spoken out about sexual harassment and retaliation,' the brief states. The case marks the first major test of AB 933 since it was signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom in October 2023. The outcome could set an early precedent for how far courts are willing to go in upholding the law — and what protections it ultimately provides for those who speak out about alleged misconduct. 'As more survivors came forward, the people who harmed them were increasingly using defamation lawsuits as weapons to try to silence them,' said Jessica Stender, deputy legal director at Equal Rights Advocates, one of the organizations that co-sponsored AB 933. 'When you see high-profile cases, like the Amber Heard–Johnny Depp case or in this case Blake Lively — survivors without money or fame are scared when they see what can happen to even a rich and famous person, and think, 'That could happen to me, and I can't take that chance.'' Lively's team, in a May 13 reply brief, defended the law's constitutionality and reiterated that her public statements were protected under AB 933. 'The First Amendment empowers legislatures to protect victims' First Amendment rights via fee-shifting rules designed to deter retaliatory litigation,' her attorneys wrote. The court has not yet ruled on Lively's motion to dismiss. If granted, it could deal a significant blow to Baldoni's countersuit — and shape how AB 933 is interpreted in future cases involving public allegations of misconduct. As other states look to adopt similar legislation, advocates say the outcome of the case could have ripple effects far beyond California. 'We want to be able to ensure that there is a social and legal environment where you can speak your truth and report sexual assault and harassment without fear of being sued,' said Dorchen Leidholdt, senior director of legal services at Sanctuary for Families, a New York–based nonprofit that provides legal and support services to survivors of gender-based violence. 'Legal retaliatory actions like the one brought by Mr. Baldoni and his team are doing enormous damage to victims, not just in California but across the country — affecting not only celebrity victims, but ordinary people.'
Time of India
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Taylor Swift's dad exposes Blake Lively's alleged threat in explosive legal twist, shielding daughter from $400M scandal
Taylor Swift's father reportedly helped Justin Baldoni's team (Getty Images) Amid the ongoing legal storm between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni , a new name has come into the spotlight—Taylor Swift's father, Scott Swift. In a surprising twist, it was Scott who reportedly stepped forward to protect his daughter from being further entangled in the controversy, which centers around Lively's sexual harassment lawsuit against Baldoni related to the film It Ends With Us. Scott Swift emerges as key figure in shielding Taylor Swift from explosive legal drama According to court documents cited by the Daily Mail, Scott Swift provided crucial information to Baldoni's legal team. He revealed that Lively had allegedly threatened to leak Taylor Swift's private text messages unless the pop star publicly supported Lively's side in the feud. As a result of Scott's intervention, Taylor was reportedly removed from the legal proceedings altogether. An insider familiar with the situation told the outlet, 'Scott Swift did not want his daughter to be dragged into this any further and he voluntarily gave up this information as part of a deal.' The move has been seen by many as a calculated yet protective step by a concerned parent to safeguard Taylor's reputation and privacy in an increasingly messy legal saga. Court filings by Baldoni's attorney, Bryan Freedman, assert that Blake Lively's lawyer, Michael Gottlieb, demanded Taylor's public support—implying that if she didn't comply, text messages 'of a personal nature' would be released. Lively allegedly also asked Swift to delete their exchanges, suggesting an attempt to erase digital trails. While Lively's camp has denied any such threats, the judge ultimately ruled that the text message allegations were 'improper' and 'irrelevant' to the $400 million defamation and extortion lawsuit filed by Baldoni. The result: the subpoena against Taylor Swift was dropped. Adding intrigue to the situation, Taylor's boyfriend Travis Kelce reportedly unfollowed Ryan Reynolds—Blake Lively's husband—on Instagram, fueling speculation of loyalty shifts and deepening divisions among the once-close celebrity circle. Taylor Swift, for her part, has maintained her distance. Her representative issued a statement clarifying: 'Taylor Swift never set foot on the set of this movie, she was not involved in any casting or creative decisions, and did not see 'It Ends With Us' until weeks after its release.' Also Read: Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce fuels break up rumors as she looks miserable during their date night amid Blake Lively scandal As the drama continues to unfold, it appears that Scott Swift's quiet but strategic move may have spared his daughter from a high-profile legal entanglement—and possibly protected her legacy. Get IPL 2025 match schedules , squads , points table , and live scores for CSK , MI , RCB , KKR , SRH , LSG , DC , GT , PBKS , and RR . Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Shake That Subpoena Off: Taylor Swift Probe Dropped By Justin Baldoni In Blake Lively Battle's Latest Twist
BREAKING ….Caught in the blast radius of multiple multi-million dollar lawsuits between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni over accusations of sexual harassment and an online smear campaign, Taylor Swift can now shake off that pesky subpoena. In an unexpected move, the It Ends With Us star and director has withdrawn the paperwork seeking information from Swift about what she knew about what went down between her pal Lively and Wayfarer Studios co-founder Baldoni on the domestic violence themed film. Part of the reason the request was dropped was because details that the Bryan Freedman-represented Baldoni and crew sought were already provided, I hear. More from Deadline A Full Timeline Of Blake Lively & Justin Baldoni's 'It Ends With Us' Feud In Court, Online & In The Media Elisabeth Moss Clears Up Taylor Swift's 'Handmaid's Tale' Cameo Rumors: "God, I Love Them" From Wrexham To The Ice Rink: Edmonton Oilers Doc Series 'The Great Ones' Coming From Ryan Reynolds' Maximum Effort Having said that, reps for Baldoni, his Wayfarer Studios, its execs and publicists did not respond Thursday to request for comment on the withdrawal of the high-profile subpoena against the 'Fortnight' superstar and her lawyer J. Douglas Baldridge. Team Swift did respond, with a polite 'no comment.' Swift is a longtime friend to Lively and even the godmother to one of her and Ryan Reynolds' children. Even before news of more backlash from a previously served Swift subpoena leaked out on May 14, the IEWU soundtrack contributor had already made several cameos in various lawsuits and countersuits ever since Lively on December 20 filed her sexual harassment and retaliation complaint with California's Civil Rights Department. With all that, Baldoni's team may be mum today and Swift's people circumspect, but Lively's side certainly had something to say. 'We are pleased that Justin Baldoni and the Wayfarer Parties have withdrawn their harassing subpoenas to Taylor Swift and her law firm,' a Lively spokesperson told Deadline this morning. 'We supported the efforts of Taylor's team to quash these inappropriate subpoenas directed to her counsel and we will continue to stand up for any third party who is unjustly harassed or threatened in the process,' they also noted. And of course, this being the Lively vs Baldoni case, there was always more to say. 'The Baldoni and Wayfarer team have tried to put Taylor Swift, a woman who has been an inspiration for tens of millions across the globe, at the center of this case since day one,' the Lively spokesperson said of their client's close close pal who has popped up in more than one filing or two since this all started with the Another Simple Favor actress' CRD complaint in late 2024. 'Exploiting Taylor Swift's celebrity was the original plan in Melissa Nathan's scenario planning document, and it continues to this day,' the statement adds, with a swipe at Baldoni's crisis management PR chief. 'Faced with having to justify themselves in federal court, they folded.' 'At some point they will run out of distractions from the actual claims of sexual harassment and retaliation they are facing.' With no settlement on the horizon and a vast cast of co-defendants and countersuits, Lively and Baldoni are set to face off in federal court on March 9, 2026. Last week saw a flurry of attorney accusations of strong-arming of Swift by Lively's side along with 'witness tampering and evidence spoliation,' plus protests by the Gossip Girl's crew of moves 'to launder scandalous and defamatory allegations about Ms. Lively and opposing counsel into the press.' It was a lot of thunder and not much lightning as Judge Lewis J. Liman reacted to a Lively team request and yanked the damning correspondence from Freedman and other Baldoni lawyers out of the court docket. 'The Letter is improper and must be stricken,' ordered Judge Liman in response to a motion by Lively's side filed mere hours after Freedman's letter. 'It is irrelevant to any issue before this Court and does not request any action from this Court,' he added, noting that Swift's Venables LLP counsel were fighting the subpoena in DC court. The reference by the Lively spokesperson Thursday to publicist Nathan, who along with ex-Jonesworks VP Jennifer Abel, directed Baldoni's public face, is noteworthy here, and clearly very personal. Lively and Deadpool star Reynolds' team have claimed that Nathan and Abel were the paid brains behind astroturfing social media effort to preemptively taint Lively before the actress went public with tales of her IEWU co-star's alleged misconduct. Both Nathan and Abel have denied those allegations, essentially stating they didn't need to attack Lively, the internet hated her all by itself. However, a mention of Swift in a Nathan/Abel planning document now in the court docket, can't be denied. 'As part of this, our team can also explore planting stories about the weaponization of feminism and how people in BL's circle like Taylor Swift, have been accused of utilizing these tactics to 'bully' into getting what they want,' Nathan wrote in August last year, around the time the Sony-distributed IEWU was released. With all the drama and stakes at play in what is a $400 million and growing legal action on many fronts, don't expect this withdrawal of a subpoena to be the last you hear of Ms. Swift in this matter. By a long shot. Best of Deadline 'Poker Face' Season 2 Guest Stars: From Katie Holmes To Simon Hellberg Everything We Know About Amazon's 'Verity' Movie So Far Everything We Know About 'The Testaments,' Sequel Series To 'The Handmaid's Tale' So Far
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Everything We Know About Amazon's ‘Verity' Movie So Far
Colleen Hoover's thriller Verity will hit theaters following the feature adaptation of Regretting You. Both films have big shoes to fill after the feature adaptation of It Ends With Us starring Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, who directed the film. Verity is another one of Hoover's popular novels, and it has a thriller bent. The cast is stacked as is the team working behind the scenes. More from Deadline Colleen Hoover's 'Verity' At Amazon MGM Studios Gets Early Summer 2026 Release Which Colleen Hoover Books Are Becoming Movies? 'Verity,' 'Reminders Of Him' & 'Regretting You' Will Join 'It Ends With Us' Josh Hartnett To Headline Netflix's Newfoundland Limited Series; Jessica Rhoades Joins As EP For everything we know about Amazon's Verity adaptation, read on. When will the movie come out in theaters? The thriller has locked in the date of May 15, 2026 for its theatrical release. Is the movie in production yet? Yes, photos of Dakota Johnson and Josh Hartnett in New York City filming what looks to be a key intro scene from the beginning of Hoover's book were captured earlier this month. Who is in the cast of the film? Deadline exclusively broke the news that Anne Hathaway was cast in the triller film as the titular character Verity Crawford. We later first told you that Josh Hartnett will star as Verity's husband Jeremy, and that Dakota Johnson will star as author Lowen Ashleigh. 'I'm basically the bad guy I think,' Johnson said of her character in an interview with Deadline. 'It's so fun.' Johnson also shared that she didn't know what Verity was before she was sent the script. 'She's a really cool person,' the Materialists star said of Colleen Hoover. 'But yeah, it's Josh Hartnett, Anne Hathaway and me. I mean, obviously, everyone knows what it's about from the book, but it's about a ghostwriter or a writer who goes to finish the novels of this very established writer because she had been in an accident. So, she moves into the house with her and her husband and their kid and then all of these really weird twists and turns take place. It's juicy.' Deadline also exclusively reported the casting of Ismael Cruz Cordóva (The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power), Brady Wagner (Broadway's Merrily We Roll Along), Irina Dvorovenko (And Just Like That…), K.K. Moggie (The Good Wife), and Michael Abbott Jr. (The Drama). Who else is behind the film adaptation? Michael Showalter is reteaming with Anne Hathaway after they worked together on Prime Video's The Idea of You, adapted from the bestselling book by Robinne Lee. He will direct the feature. RELATED: Nick Antosca wrote the current script. Hillary Seitz, Angela LaManna and Will Honley & April Maguire wrote prior drafts. Antosca will produce alongside Alex Hedlund for Eat the Cat, and Showalter will produce alongside Jordana Mollick for Semi-Formal Productions. Hathaway produces for Somewhere Pictures, and Hoover produces alongside Shiny Penny and Stacey Sher for Heartbones Entertainment. Lauren Levine will executive produce for Heartbones. What is the movie about? The story centers on Lowen Ashleigh, a struggling writer on the brink of financial ruin who she accepts the job offer of a lifetime. Jeremy Crawford, husband of bestselling thriller author Verity Crawford (Hathaway), has hired Ashleigh to complete the remaining books in a successful series that his wife is unable to finish after a mysterious accident. Ashleigh's arrival at the lavish Crawford estate slowly reveals that things are not exactly as they seem when she finds an unfinished manuscript that possibly contains chilling revelations about the family's past and Verity's accident. As Lowen ingratiates herself with Jeremy and his young son Crew, she must discern if Verity's writings are just scarily vivid works of fiction or an ominous warning by a deranged psychopath, who, in the books, is comatose upstairs in the master bedroom. Does Colleen Hoover have other books getting adapted into movies? Yes. After It Ends With Us landed in theaters last August, Paramount's film adaptation of Regretting You will land in theaters in October 2025. A more recent novel from Hoover, Reminders of Him, is getting underway with casting and team behind the Universal adaptation. RELATED: Everything We Know About Paramount's 'Regretting You' Adaptation So Far Best of Deadline 'Poker Face' Season 2 Guest Stars: From Katie Holmes To Simon Hellberg Everything We Know About 'The Testaments,' Sequel Series To 'The Handmaid's Tale' So Far Everything We Know About 'The Devil Wears Prada 2'
