Blake Lively’s ongoing legal battle with Justin Baldoni has just hit a rough patch.
Despite her team’s efforts to shield private communications, a New York judge has denied her request to protect her messages with former close friend Taylor Swift.
This latest development adds another twist to what’s already been a dramatic and tangled lawsuit.
The Protective Order Request Gets Rejected
Lively’s lawyers had asked the court to keep her communications with Taylor Swift confidential, hoping to prevent Baldoni’s legal team from seeing texts, emails, and other messages exchanged between the actress and the singer.
However, Judge Lewis J Liman denied this protective order, clearing the way for Baldoni’s lawyers to review all messages related to the hit film It Ends With Us.
This decision means Baldoni’s team can now dive deep into the interactions between Lively and Swift during the ongoing discovery phase of the case.
Swift Avoids Direct Subpoena Thanks to Her Dad
Interestingly, while Baldoni’s lawyers were initially pursuing Swift directly with a subpoena, they later withdrew it.
Sources reveal that this was because they obtained the information they wanted from Taylor’s father, Scott Swift.
Scott, who is a seasoned financial advisor and has been instrumental in managing Taylor’s career, voluntarily provided the requested information to avoid dragging his daughter deeper into the legal mess.
Allegations of Blackmail Shake Things Up
The legal drama took a darker turn with allegations that Lively’s lawyers tried to pressure Taylor Swift into publicly supporting Blake.
According to court documents, Lively’s attorney allegedly threatened to release private text messages about Swift if she refused to back Lively publicly.
Swift’s team reportedly called these threats “inappropriate” and “extortionate.”
Scott Swift’s involvement seems to have been crucial in protecting his daughter from further entanglement.
Lively’s Team Denies the Threat Claims
Blake Lively’s lawyer, Michael Gottlieb, has strongly denied these accusations, calling them “categorically false.”
His team later filed a motion to have the allegations removed from the court record, which was granted.
Despite these denials, the back-and-forth has shed light on how badly things have deteriorated between Lively and Swift.
The Friendship Between Lively and Swift Falls Apart
Once best friends, the relationship between Lively and Swift has severely soured over the past months.
Swift reportedly feels exploited by the ongoing legal battle, especially since she’s been unintentionally pulled into the fray.
To make things more complicated, Taylor is godmother to Blake’s three daughters, which adds a deeply personal layer to the conflict.
Background: The Origin of the Legal Fight
The entire legal saga began last December when Blake Lively accused Justin Baldoni — her co-star and director on It Ends With Us — of sexual harassment and orchestrating a smear campaign against her.
Baldoni responded with a countersuit, demanding $400 million and accusing Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, of defamation.
While many of the claims have been denied, and some dismissed, the case remains highly contentious.
The Infamous ‘Dragon’ Texts and Other Revelations
One of the most talked-about moments in the legal filings was a series of texts where Lively referred to Taylor Swift as “my dragon” in a message that seemed intended to intimidate Baldoni.
Additionally, Baldoni’s lawyers claim Swift was present at a secretive meeting in Lively’s New York penthouse about script changes — something Swift’s camp insists she was unaware of until she arrived.
Taylor Swift’s Support Circle Reacts
Taylor’s family and friends have rallied to her side throughout this legal turmoil.
Besides Scott Swift’s proactive stance, her boyfriend, NFL star Travis Kelce, unfollowed Ryan Reynolds on Instagram, and close friend supermodel Gigi Hadid reportedly cut ties with Lively in solidarity with Swift.
Lively’s Team Accuses Baldoni of Exploiting Swift’s Fame
In response to the ongoing legal skirmishes, a spokesperson for Blake Lively accused Baldoni’s lawyers of trying to drag Taylor Swift into the lawsuit repeatedly to capitalize on her celebrity status.
They highlighted that the court rejected Baldoni’s motions to compel documents from Lively and emphasized that Taylor has not directly provided any documents to Baldoni’s team — contradicting earlier claims by insiders.
The Drama Continues With No Clear End in Sight
This tangled web of legal fights, friendship breakdowns, and public accusations is far from over.
Baldoni’s relentless efforts to involve Taylor Swift have been a consistent thread since mid-2024, including strategic PR documents targeting Swift’s fan base.
Meanwhile, Lively’s team insists that these tactics are nothing more than distractions from the serious allegations she has raised.