Justin Baldoni Wins Access to Taylor Swift & Blake Lively’s Texts

©Kathy Hutchins / Vecteezy
Actor-director Justin Baldoni just scored a key legal victory in the heated “It Ends With Us” lawsuit. U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman has ruled Baldoni may obtain private text messages between Blake Lively and Taylor Swift, but only those related to the film or the legal case, signaling a major shift in the already high-profile dispute.
The Legal Turning Point for Justin Baldoni
Baldoni had previously subpoenaed Swift, but dropped that request in May. Still, his team argued that Lively herself described Swift—and husband Ryan Reynolds—as her “dragons,” claiming they played a behind-the-scenes role in creative decisions and legal strategy. Judge Liman accepted this argument, allowing Baldoni to access Swift-Lively communications specifically tied to harassment and retaliation claims.

Lively’s Bid to Block Them
Earlier in June, Lively had filed for a protective order to shield her messages with Swift from Baldoni’s legal team, arguing the texts were irrelevant and being used for media theatrics. However, the judge ruled these conversations are “reasonably tailored” and relevant, since Lively acknowledged Swift had knowledge of set-related concerns.

Swift’s Role: Witness or Pawn?
Though the subpoena for Swift as a witness was dropped, Baldoni’s team still aims to assess whether Swift and Reynolds played any part in influencing Lively’s complaints or production decisions. Swift’s camp maintains her involvement was limited to licensing the song “My Tears Ricochet” for the film, emphasizing she had no on-set or creative input.
Fallout for the Swift–Lively Friendship
This judicial decision adds strain to the friendship between Swift and Lively. Page Six reports Swift is “forever furious” with Lively for involving her in the legal battle. The dynamic between two major celebrities now includes public fractures and growing media interest. So, what’s next?
- Discovery continues: Baldoni’s team will review Swift–Lively messages related to the production and set environment.
- Protective measures: Even with access granted, the court has likely imposed safeguards to prevent public leaks.
- March 2026 showdown: Lively’s sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit—and Baldoni’s discredited counterclaims—head to trial in March.
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