Latest news with #MyTearsRicochet
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Insider Reveals Update On Taylor Swift And Blake Lively's Friendship After Dropped Subpoena
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.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Taylor Swift officially subpoenaed as a witness in Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni's legal war
Taylor Swift has officially been subpoenaed as a witness in Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni's ongoing legal feud. Baldoni's attorney Bryan Freedman subpoenaed the 'Cruel Summer' songstress on Friday to testify in their upcoming trial, which is scheduled for March 2026, sources with direct knowledge told TMZ. A spokesperson for the pop star blasted the subpoena in a statement to 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 traveling around the globe during 2023 and 2024 headlining the biggest tour in history.' 'The connection Taylor had to this film was permitting the use of one song, 'My Tears Ricochet,'' the statement continued. '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.' Reps for Swift and Baldoni did not immediately respond to Page Six's requests for comment. Baldoni dragged Swift into the legal war in January, when he launched his $400 million countersuit for defamation against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, 48, over their 'It Ends With Us' drama. In the legal docs, he alleged Lively, 37, weaponized her friendship with Swift as an attempt to take control of their 2024 film's production. The 'Jane the Virgin' alum, 41, claimed, in a complaint obtained by Page Six, that one of Lively's 'famous and, famously close' friends praised one of Lively's script rewrites regarding the rooftop scene when he was invited to her and Reynolds' New York City penthouse. Though he did not name the Grammy winner explicitly, he referenced her in a text about that evening. 'I really love what you did. It really does help a lot,' he wrote of the scene in question. 'Makes it so much more fun and interesting. (And I would have felt that way without Ryan or Taylor).' Lively allegedly described Swift and Reynolds as her 'creative barometers' and 'dragons' she was 'lucky' to have in her corner. 'The message could not have been clearer. Baldoni was not just dealing with Lively,' said Baldoni's attorney at the time. '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.' The legal mess allegedly caused a strain on Lively's relationship with Swift, 35, who couldn't 'help but feel used' by her friend in the feud, a source told us in February. Lively has since offered her gal pal a 'genuine and heartfelt' apology, another insider claimed last month, and Swift is reportedly 'ready to move forward' without any 'hard feelings.' In addition to Swift, a source told the Daily Mail last month that the couple's other pal Hugh Jackman — who co-starred in Reynolds' 'Deadpool & Wolverine' last year — could also find himself pulled into the legal drama. Lively launched the current war with the director in December 2024 when she sued Baldoni for emotional distress and lost wages. She also claimed Baldoni and his crisis PR manager orchestrated a scheme to 'destroy' her reputation.
Daily Mirror
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce spotted out on low-key date after subpoena dropped
Pop star Taylor Swift, 35, and her partner Travis Kelce, 35, enjoyed a late dinner at Harry's restaurant in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Friday night in a rare outing Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce have been spotted out on a low-key after Justin Baldoni dropped the subpoena which required the pop star to appear as a witness in his legal battle against Blake Lively. The Cruel Summer hitmaker, 35, and the National Football League player, also 35, enjoyed a late dinner at Harry's restaurant in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Friday night. An eyewitness said the couple walked in holding hands, with Taylor donning a floral-print off-the-shoulder dress while Travis wore a printed black and white shirt. MMA fighter Jose Andres Cortes shared a photo of the pair, with sources claiming they arrived at the restaurant at 10pm. They were flanked by security guards as they strolled in with a glass in their hands before sitting down. The eyewitness told TMZ that Taylor appeared to enjoy white wine while Travis had a signature cocktail. It was a rare outing for the couple who have been keeping a low-profile since Travis' team, the Kansas City Chiefs, lost the Super Bowl in February. It comes after Taylor, who is friends with actress Blake, was officially subpoenaed to appear as a witness in her legal battle with her It Ends With Us co-star Justin. The pop star was delivered a legal notice by Justin's lawyer Bryan Freedman - a decision which had been slammed by her team as a tactic to create clickbait. Now, in a move that is set to please Blake and Taylor, Justin is no longer calling on the singer to appear as a witness. Mr Freedman had claimed Blake had called on "her high-profile friends" including Taylor to "manipulate Justin at every turn." Taylor licensed her hit song My Tears Ricochet to be used in the film but was not involved in the making of It Ends With Us, said her reps. They slammed the subpoena, claiming it was "designed to use Taylor Swift 's name to draw public interest by creating tabloid clickbait instead of focusing on the facts of the case." Justin's legal team have dropped the subpoena, as Blake's spokesperson said they are "pleased" with the decision. "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 told People. "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," they claimed. They alleged that "exploiting Taylor Swift's celebrity was the original plan in [PR professional] Melissa Nathan's scenario planning document, and it continues to this day."
Buzz Feed
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
Taylor Swift's Subpoena Withdrawn In Lively V. Baldoni
Taylor Swift's subpoena has been withdrawn from the ongoing Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni litigation. Last December, Blake sued her It Ends With Us co-star and director, alleging sexual harassment and a retaliatory smear campaign. In return, he denied the allegations and sued her, claiming defamation and extortion. The case is set to go to trial next year. So, why the involvement from Taylor? Justin essentially tried to argue that Blake used her friendship with the superstar to pressure him into making editorial changes in the movie. Hence, earlier this month, Taylor was subpoenaed as a witness. Taylor's team immediately shut down the allegations, saying in a statement, "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 statement continued, "The connection Taylor had to this film was permitting the use of one song, 'My Tears Ricochet.' 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, Taylor's name continued to be drawn into media attention on the case, as Justin's lawyer, Bryan Freedman, wrote a letter to the judge claiming that he'd heard that Blake's team had attempted to blackmail the singer into supporting her by threatening to release old text messages. A judge quickly struck the letter from the record, accusing the move of trying to "'promote public scandal' by advancing inflammatory accusations" and adding, "Counsel is advised that future misuse of the Court's docket may be met with sanctions." This week, Lively's team pushed for Justin's team to be sanctioned, requesting "attorneys' fees and costs' and 'a formal reprimand for the filing of baseless claims as a means of harassing Ms. Lively and gaining favor in the court of public opinion." Justin's team didn't respond to a request for comment. Fast forward to yesterday, and Variety reported that Taylor would no longer face a court summons as Justin's team had withdrawn the subpoena. As per the publication, both Blake and Taylor's lawyers had filed motions to previously dismiss the summons, which "sought communications between their respective legal teams." A spokesperson for Blake subsequently said, "We are pleased that Justin Baldoni and the Wayfarer Parties have withdrawn their harassing subpoenas to Taylor Swift and her law 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." "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," they further alleged. "Exploiting Taylor Swift's celebrity was the original plan in Melissa Nathan's scenario planning document, and it continues to this day. 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." The "scenario planning document" refers to the PR document that Blake's legal complaint says was sent to Justin, which planned for what might happen "should [Ms. Lively] and her team make her grievances public." The document reportedly said, that it could '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." As of right now, Justin's team hasn't issued a statement. BuzzFeed has reached out to Bryan Freedman for comment.
Perth Now
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Justin Baldoni drops Taylor Swift subpoena
Justin Baldoni has dropped the subpoena issued to Taylor Swift in his ongoing legal battle with Blake Lively. The 41-year-old actor is being sued by his 'It Ends With Us' co-star for sexual harassment and attempting to destroy her reputation, while he has hit back with a lawsuit accusing her of extortion and defamation, and though he had wanted Blake's close friend to give evidence in the case, the 'Gossip Girl' star's representative has revealed that is no longer the case. A spokesperson for Blake said in a statement: 'We are pleased that Justin Baldoni and the Wayfarer Parties have withdrawn their harassing subpoenas to Taylor Swift and her law firm. '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.' The representative accused Justin and his company, Wayfarer Studios, of trying to put the 'Cruel Summer' hitmaker "at the centre of this case" from the beginning and suggested the subpoena had been a distraction tactic. The statement continued: "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 centre of this case since day one. "Exploiting Taylor Swift's celebrity was the original plan in Melissa Nathan's scenario planning document, and it continues to this day. 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." Taylor's spokesperson previously slammed the decision to issue her with a subpoena because she had no major connection to the filming of 'It Ends With Us'. Her representative said: "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 connection Taylor had to this film was permitting the use of one song, 'My Tears Ricochet.' 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." Justin had claimed in his countersuit that Taylor and Blake's husband Ryan Reynolds pressured him into accepting a rewrite by the actress and described a meeting at the couple's home, during which he alleged the 'Bad Blood' singer "began praising Lively's script." The documents added: "Baldoni understood the subtext: he needed to comply with Lively's direction." A trial is scheduled to take place in March 2026.
