Justin Baldoni has been granted a huge victory in his legal fight against Blake Lively, and it includes her close friend, Taylor Swift.
Taylor Swift has officially been removed from the witness stand during the ongoing court battle that is brewing between It Ends With Us co-stars Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively However, her name remains in the midst of the conflict.
On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman decided that Swift is not legally obligated to testify before a judge, even though Baldoni’s legal team is free to approach Swift and Lively about the impending film adaptation of It Ends With Us.
In court papers discovered by Page Six the judge agreed that messages about Swift could relate to the claims of harassment as well as retaliation, but he restricted the subject solely to conversations regarding the film or the legal issues in question.
Lively’s legal department had tried to reach a settlement that would give them full access to the internal video footage as well as unredacted emails mentioned in Baldoni’s complaint. However, it was with the condition that Swift’s personal messages would remain confidential. The team of Baldoni’s rejected the deal, PEOPLE reports.
The legal fight started when Lively began a lawsuit in the month of December 2024, claiming the Baldoni family of harassment, and coordinating an effort to undermine the career of her.
In reaction, Baldoni brought an additional $400 million counterclaim (now removed) that identified Swift and her spouse Ryan Reynolds as key figures in the conflict.
In his report Baldoni alleged that Lively made use of her close bond with Swift and Reynolds, as well as the potential that is Swift and Reynolds to influence her the creative decisions made on the set.
He referred to texts from Lively which reportedly referenced Swift as well as Reynolds as “dragons” and defenders, saying that Baldoni was pressured by their involvement.
Baldoni also said that she attended a dinner at the home of the couple where Swift claimed to have been a part of discussions on rewriting the film inspired by Colleen Hoover’s bestseller novel.
While Swift was summoned to appear in the trial set for March 2026. However, that request was later dropped.
Although she stayed clear of the testifying stage, Swift is reportedly upset over her involvement in the controversy. A source told the publication that Swift has been “forever furious” with Lively for having her dragged into the legal quagmire.