Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni’s legal battle over their 2024 film It Ends With Us has taken a dramatic turn. Lively’s team has strongly criticized Baldoni’s legal team for issuing a subpoena to Taylor Swift and suggesting Lively’s deposition be turned into a public spectacle.
The dispute, rooted in allegations of sexual harassment and defamation, continues to escalate. Both sides have filed lawsuits, with a trial set for March 2026. Here’s a detailed look at the latest developments in this high-profile Hollywood conflict.
Lively, 37, filed a complaint in December 2024 with the California Civil Rights Department. She accused Baldoni, her It Ends With Us co-star and director, of sexual harassment and unprofessional behavior on set. Lively also claimed Baldoni and his team at Wayfarer Studios launched a smear campaign to damage her reputation during the film’s promotion.
The film, based on Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel about domestic violence, was a box-office hit but stirred controversy behind the scenes. Lively’s lawsuit followed reports of tension between her and Baldoni during the press tour.
Baldoni, 41, denied Lively’s allegations and filed a $400 million defamation lawsuit in January 2025. He named Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and their publicist Leslie Sloane as defendants. Baldoni’s legal team, led by attorney Bryan Freedman, argued that Lively tried to control the film’s production.
They claimed she used her influence, including her friendship with Taylor Swift, to push for script changes. Baldoni’s lawsuit included text messages where Lively allegedly referred to Swift and Reynolds as her “dragons,” a nod to Game of Thrones.
On May 9, 2025, Baldoni’s team subpoenaed Taylor Swift, a longtime friend of Lively and godmother to her children. The move sparked outrage from both Lively’s and Swift’s representatives. Swift’s team stated she had no involvement in It Ends With Us beyond licensing her song “My Tears Ricochet” for the film.
“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. 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.”
Lively’s team also slammed Baldoni’s legal tactics. They called out a suggestion by Freedman that Lively’s deposition be held at Madison Square Garden with tickets sold to the public. The proceeds, Freedman proposed, could go to domestic violence charities.
“Mr. Baldoni, Mr. Sarowitz, and team continue to turn a case of sexual harassment and retaliation into entertainment for the tabloids, going as far as suggesting that they sell tickets to a concert venue – Madison Square Garden – to witness Ms. Lively’s deposition, to subpoenaing Taylor Swift, a woman who has given a voice to millions the world over. This is a very serious legal matter, not Barnum & Bailey’s Circus. The defendants continue to publicly intimidate, bully, shame and attack women’s rights and reputations. Including in the past month seeking to strike down for all, a powerful California victims’ rights law, calling it ‘unconstitutional.’ The disturbing actions by a billionaire, men who made their careers as ‘female allies’ and their team continue to show their true colors.”
The suggestion of a ticketed deposition was seen as offensive by Lively’s team. They argued it trivialized serious allegations and disrespected women’s rights. Lively’s attorney, Mike Gottlieb, confirmed she will testify at the trial. He emphasized that the focus should remain on the harassment and retaliation claims.
Baldoni’s team has stood firm. Freedman accused Lively of using her celebrity friends to manipulate the narrative.
“Although obviously uncomfortable for the Lively parties, the truth is not a distraction. The truth has been clearly shown through unedited receipts, documents and real life footage. More to come. Blake was the one who brought her high-profile friends into this situation without concern for their own personal or public backlash. As the truth shows, she used her dragons to manipulate Justin at every turn.”
The legal battle has drawn attention to text messages between Lively and Baldoni. In one, Lively compared herself to Khaleesi from Game of Thrones, calling Swift and Reynolds her “dragons.” Baldoni responded positively, praising her script contributions. His team later claimed this showed Lively’s attempt to pressure him. Lively’s side argued the messages were taken out of context.
The dispute also involves Ryan Reynolds, named in Baldoni’s countersuit. Baldoni alleged Reynolds mocked him in Deadpool & Wolverine through the “Nicepool” character. Reynolds has filed a motion to dismiss the claims, calling them baseless. Lively’s team is also seeking to have Reynolds removed from the lawsuit. It remains unclear if he will testify.
Another point of contention is Baldoni’s claim that Lively influenced the casting of Isabela Ferrer, who played a younger version of Lively’s character. Ferrer told Extra that Swift had a role in her casting, but Swift’s team denied any involvement. This contradiction has fueled the ongoing debate.
Lively’s team recently made a new demand. They asked the court to compel Baldoni to submit financial documents to prove his $400 million defamation claim. According to TMZ, Baldoni’s team refused to provide the records, offering only “non-privileged documents.” Lively’s lawyers argued this lack of transparency weakens Baldoni’s case.
The It Ends With Us legal saga has also sparked public reactions. On X, fans and observers have shared varied opinions.
“Taylor Swift’s rep slams Justin Baldoni’s legal team after they subpoenaed her in the Baldoni-Blake Lively case. Are you stupid or what? This proves Baldoni has always lied. This is just another embarrassing scenario for Baldoni.”“I just read that: Blake Lively’s representative criticized Justin Baldoni’s legal team for subpoenaing Taylor Swift and offering to sell tickets for the actress’s deposition. MY GOD, IS THIS TRUE? 😰”
The trial, set for March 2026 in New York, will combine both lawsuits. Lively and Baldoni are expected to testify, and the outcome could have significant implications for their careers. For now, the focus remains on the serious allegations at the heart of the case.
