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Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
State of Taylor Swift and Blake Lively's friendship after subpoena was withdrawn
Taylor Swift is 'feeling an immense sense of relief' after her subpoena in the Blake Lively legal mess was dropped— but that doesn't mean the former besties are patching things up. The pop superstar was dragged into the feud between Lively and It Ends With Us director Justin Baldoni when a legal letter filed earlier this month by Baldoni's lawyers alleged that Lively had attempted to 'coerce' Swift to issue a public statement in support of her and urged her to delete text messages between them. The court filing claimed Lively's lawyer, Michael Gottlieb, had contacted Swift's attorney and demanded 'that Ms. Swift release a statement of support for Ms. Lively, intimating that, if Ms. Swift refused to do so, private text messages of a personal nature in Ms. Lively's possession would be released'. Lively's lawyers later filed a motion asking the court to strike the accusations from its docket as 'baseless, unnecessary, improper and abusive,' and Lively's motion to dismiss Baldoni's letter was granted. Now, a source told Us Weekly that while Swift isn't publicly addressing the case, 'There's been radio silence between Taylor and Blake since the subpoena was dropped,' adding that their once-close friendship has 'stalled.' have reached out to reps for Swift and Lively for comment. According to the source, the 'legal tension' between the former besties has created noticeable 'distance' in their relationship. 'They won't pick up where they left off because of all the emotional residue,' the insider explained. Swift has privately expressed that the past few weeks have been 'stressful,' and she now appears 'happier and lighter' since the legal pressure eased, the source added. She's made it 'very clear she is feeling an immense sense of relief.' 'Taylor has handled it with a lot of grace and is not solely focused on it,' the insider continued. 'She's moved on.' The Us Weekly report comes comes not long after a source exclusively told that the singer 'is done' with Lively due to feeling like she had been 'exploited.' Earlier this month, the singer was officially subpoenaed in Lively's lawsuit when she was sent a legal notice by Baldoni's lawyer Bryan Freedman as a witness. Swift's team slammed the subpoena as they argued that she was not very involved in the drama on set of 2024 film It Ends With Us. A rep for Taylor gave a blistering response to which read: 'Taylor Swift never set foot on the set of this movie, she was not involved in any casting or creative decisions, she did not score the film... 'She never saw an edit or made any notes on the film, she did not even see It Ends With Us until weeks after its public release, and was traveling around the globe during 2023 and 2024 headlining the biggest tour in history.' The rep noted that the only involvement Taylor had in the film was the use of one of her tracks titled My Tears Ricochet which was off of her 2020 album Folklore. The statement concluded: 'Given that her involvement was licensing a song for the film, which 19 other artists also did, this document subpoena is designed to use Taylor Swift's name to draw public interest by creating tabloid clickbait instead of focusing on the facts of the case.' However, Justin's team soon withdrew the subpoena and a source exclusively told why his attorney did so by stating: 'They got exactly what they were seeking.' Swift made a big announcement on Friday - and revealed that she is now the owner of her entire music catalog. The buy-back deal has been reported to be worth 'between $600million-$1billion' - although sources claimed to MailOnline that number is 'highly inaccurate.' A separate insider informed Billboard that the Grammy winner had purchased back the rights to her music for around $360 million. Her boyfriend Travis Kelce offered subtle support for the songstress who teased the news on Instagram - and the NFL player notably liked the post. The couple - who were first romantically linked in 2023 - were recently spotted on a date night at Harry's Bar & Restaurant in West Palm Beach. A source told People that Swift whisked herself away to Florida to 'support and spend time' with the Kansas City Chiefs tight end. 'Travis was working on Friday before his dinner date with Taylor. He left early to go meet her.' Lively has also been seen hanging out with new A-list pals, and stepped out for dinner in NYC earlier this month with fellow actress Salma Hayek. Blake and Justin's ongoing lawsuit began when she sued him for sexual assault late last year in December. Baldoni responded by filing a $400 million lawsuit against Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds, and is also suing the New York Times for $250 million. All of the parties deny the allegations against them. The legal battle is scheduled to go to court next year in March 2026.
News.com.au
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Taylor Swift insider who leaked Blake Lively's alleged ‘threat' to release pop star's private texts revealed
Taylor Swift's father, Scott Swift, reportedly went to Justin Baldoni's team with the bombshell claim that Blake Lively threatened to leak his daughter's texts if the pop star did not publicly support her in her ongoing feud with her 'It Ends With Us' co-star. '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 that would include [Baldoni's team] withdrawing their subpoena for Taylor,' an insider alleged to the Daily Mail Friday. Baldoni's lawyer Bryan Freedman made the alleged threat public in a court filing last week, claiming Lively's lawyer Michael Gottlieb of Willkie Farr brought the demand to Taylor's law firm, Venable, Page Six reports. The documents alleged Gottlieb 'demanded that Ms. Swift release a statement of support for Ms. Lively, intimating that, if Ms. Swift refused to do so, private text messages of a personal nature in Ms. Lively's possession would be released.' The docs claimed Lively also asked Swift to delete their messages. Freedman doubled down further in a sworn affidavit, saying he spent an hour on the phone with a 'person very closely linked' to Taylor, who revealed the information. Scott's identity was not disclosed at the time. Gottlieb, meanwhile, told Page Six, 'We unequivocally deny all of these so-called allegations, which are cowardly sourced to supposed anonymous sources, and completely untethered from reality.' An insider backed Freedman Friday, though, telling Daily Mail that it seemed Lively's team 'tried to extort Taylor by threatening to release private information about her so that she would support a narrative that she was not a part of.' Page Six reached out to reps for Baldoni, Lively, Taylor and her dad but did not immediately hear back. Scott's reported efforts to protect his daughter come after her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, also pledged his allegiance by unfollowing Lively's husband, Ryan Reynolds, on Instagram because of the ongoing drama. Despite all of the back-and-forth about the alleged threats, though, the judge in Lively, 37, and Baldoni's case ruled that those allegations are inadmissable in court, calling them 'improper' and 'irrelevant.' Baldoni, 41, then promptly dropped his subpoena against Taylor, 35, in what appeared to be a shocking legal move, given Freedman had argued for months that the Grammy winner played a role in Lively's alleged attempts to assert her control over his client's 2024 film. In Baldoni's $400 million extortion and defamation lawsuit against Lively — which he filed after she sued him for sexual harassment — it was alleged Taylor and Reynolds, 48, were present for a meeting about script rewrites in which the Wayfarer Studios co-founder felt pressured to follow the powerful stars' notes. 'The message could not have been clearer. Baldoni was not just dealing with Lively. He was also facing Lively's 'dragons,' two of the most influential and wealthy celebrities in the world, who were not afraid to make things very difficult for him,' Freedman alleged in the complaint. Despite those claims, an insider hinted to Page Six recently as to why Baldoni's team ultimately chose to drop their probe into Taylor. 'When information is voluntarily received, there is no need for subpoenas,' the source cryptically said. The information now appears to be the claims about the texts. The 'Lover' singer, for her part, has maintained she had nothing to do with the 'It Ends With Us' drama. Her rep previously told Page Six, 'Taylor Swift never set foot on the set of this movie, she was not involved in any casting or creative decisions, she did not score the film, she never saw an edit or made any notes on the film, she did not even see 'It Ends With Us' until weeks after its public release, and was travelling around the globe during 2023 and 2024 headlining the biggest tour in history.'
News.com.au
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Blake Lively's lawyer allegedly threatened to expose Taylor Swift's private texts
Justin Baldoni's legal team is accusing Blake Lively's lawyer of threatening to release private texts — seemingly between Lively and Taylor Swift — if the pop superstar did not publicly support the actress in her ongoing legal battle with her co-star. In court documents obtained by Page Six, the lawyers claim the It Ends With Us actress' lead counsel, Michael Gottlieb of Willkie Farr, allegedly made the demand to Venable, the law firm that represents Swift. They claim he 'demanded that Ms. Swift release a statement of support for Ms. Lively, intimating that, if Ms. Swift refused to do so, private text messages of a personal nature in Ms. Lively's possession would be released,' per the filing. Gottlieb emphatically denies these allegations to Page Six, calling them 'categorically false.' 'We unequivocally deny all of these so-called allegations, which are cowardly sourced to supposed anonymous sources, and completely untethered from reality,' he says on behalf of himself and Lively. Baldoni and his company Wayfarer Studios' lawyers also claimed in their filing — citing information from an anonymous source 'who is highly likely to have reliable information' — that the Gossip Girl star requested that 'Taylor Swift delete their text messages.' It's unclear when the alleged demands were made. They also claim that a rep for Swift, 35, 'addressed these inappropriate and apparently extortionate threats in at least one written communication transmitted to Mr. Gottlieb.' 'It is those communications that the Wayfarer Parties seek to obtain by way of subpoena, as they would evidence an attempt to intimidate and coerce a percipient witness in this litigation,' they further allege. Page Six has reached out to Swift's rep for comment. Gottlieb, meanwhile, further insists, 'This is what we have come to expect from the Wayfarer parties' lawyers, who appear to love nothing more than shooting first, without any evidence, and with no care for the people they are harming in the process. He concludes, 'We will imminently file motions with the court to hold these attorneys accountable for their misconduct here.' The bombshell court filing was in response to Lively and husband Ryan Reynolds' motion to squash a subpoena Baldoni's team filed for Swift's attorneys at Venable. The law firm responded to the subpoena by claiming they had 'nothing to do with the film at issue or any of the claims or defences asserted in the underlying lawsuit.' 'There is no reason for this subpoena other than to distract from the facts of the case and impose undue burden and expense on a non-party,' the Washington, DC-based firm added, per Billboard. The legal action taken toward Venable comes after Swift herself was subpoenaed last week. Lawyers for Baldoni — who is countersuing Lively for defamation and extortion after she sued him for sexual harassment and other claims — believes the Shake It Off singer was involved in his former co-star's attempts to assert her control over their film, It Ends With Us. In his complaint, filed in January and obtained by Page Six, Baldoni, 41, claimed he received a text from Lively, in which she referred to Swift and Reynolds, 48, as 'dragons' who 'protect' her in all of her battles. The message was sent after a meeting they had over script rewrites. 'The message could not have been clearer. Baldoni was not just dealing with Lively. He was also facing Lively's 'dragons,' two of the most influential and wealthy celebrities in the world, who were not afraid to make things very difficult for him,' Baldoni's lawyers argued in the lawsuit. However, Swift's rep shut down claims that the Grammy winner was involved in any way with the movie. 'Taylor Swift never set foot on the set of this movie, she was not involved in any casting or creative decisions, she did not score the film, she never saw an edit or made any notes on the film, she did not even see It Ends With Us until weeks after its public release, and was travelling around the globe during 2023 and 2024 headlining the biggest tour in history,' the publicist told Page Six. Lively's rep, meanwhile, called Baldoni a 'bully' for subpoenaing Swift, telling Page Six that their team 'continue[s] to turn a case of sexual harassment and retaliation into entertainment for the tabloids.'
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
UMG Accused of Using Super Bowl Stage to Defame Drake, New Legal Complaint Reveals
The ongoing legal confrontation between global music icon Drake and industry behemoth Universal Music Group (UMG) has intensified dramatically. Last night, Drake's legal team submitted an amended complaint in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, revealing new, alarming allegations against UMG related to a large-scale, coordinated defamation campaign. The amended filing not only bolsters Drake's original claims but also raises the stakes considerably. It alleges that UMG orchestrated a sophisticated, high-budget strategy to damage Drake's reputation on a massive, international stage. According to court documents filed on April 16, 2025 (Southern District of New York, Case No. 1:24-cv-XXXX), Drake alleges that UMG made significant financial investments to fund a calculated publicity assault against him. The amended complaint asserts that UMG utilized its extensive professional connections within the media and entertainment industry to ensure the widespread dissemination of defamatory content. Specifically, the complaint details that UMG facilitated the broadcasting of defamatory material to over 133 million viewers during the 2025 Super Bowl and over 15 million viewers during the Grammy Awards, two of the largest and most visible stages in the entertainment world. Citing unnamed insiders and financial records expected to be revealed during discovery, Drake's legal team accuses UMG of deliberately engineering and amplifying false narratives through paid media campaigns, strategic leaks, and partnerships with key media outlets. Following the filing of the amended complaint, Michael Gottlieb, Partner at Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP and lead attorney for Drake, issued a firm public statement: 'Drake's amended complaint makes an already strong case stronger. UMG's PR 'spin' and failed efforts to avoid discovery cannot suppress the facts and the truth. With discovery now moving forward, Drake will expose the evidence of UMG's misconduct, and UMG will be held accountable for the consequences of its ill-conceived decisions.' Gottlieb's remarks signal a clear shift in tone. With discovery now authorized to proceed, Drake's team plans to seek internal UMG documents, communication records, PR firm contracts, and potentially deposition testimony from executives and media personnel involved. The court's approval for discovery sets the stage for what experts predict will be an extremely invasive examination of UMG's internal operations. Drake's amended complaint specifies the following categories of information to be uncovered: Internal communications regarding media strategies involving Drake Contracts with public relations agencies potentially tasked with negative campaigns Financial records demonstrating investments in smear efforts Communications with entertainment broadcasters and award show organizers Drafts and pre-publication versions of public statements and news articles mentioning Drake Legal analysts suggest that if documentary evidence corroborates Drake's allegations, UMG could face substantial legal, financial, and reputational consequences. According to Professor Sandra Westfall, an entertainment law expert at NYU School of Law: 'If UMG directed or knowingly financed defamatory content to be disseminated during events like the Super Bowl and the Grammys, it would not only constitute defamation but could also trigger claims for commercial disparagement and tortious interference.' Behind the scenes, insiders report that senior UMG executives are increasingly alarmed. According to confidential sources within the company, internal legal teams are conducting urgent reviews of all correspondence relating to Drake, particularly surrounding the production of media campaigns and award show promotions. One senior executive, speaking anonymously, disclosed: 'If discovery confirms that top brass authorized anything close to what Drake is alleging, it could destroy key relationships with artists and partners across the industry.' UMG's leadership is said to be considering emergency damage control measures, including potential settlement talks to avoid a prolonged courtroom spectacle. Throughout the escalating legal battle, Drake himself has remained notably silent, refraining from commenting publicly about the lawsuit. Legal observers interpret this silence as a tactical choice, allowing the strength of the amended complaint and forthcoming discovery disclosures to speak louder than any social media post or song lyric. However, industry insiders speculate that Drake may eventually address the dispute through his music, perhaps using future releases to reclaim the narrative on his terms. As the case progresses into discovery, the implications are immense not just for Drake and UMG, but for the entire entertainment industry's handling of public relations, media influence, and artist relations. If the allegations are substantiated, this lawsuit could set a powerful precedent, redefining the acceptable boundaries of media manipulation and corporate power plays. For now, all eyes are on the court docket and on Drake's next move. The post UMG Accused of Using Super Bowl Stage to Defame Drake, New Legal Complaint Reveals appeared first on Where Is The Buzz | Breaking News, Entertainment, Exclusive Interviews & More.
