In a dramatic development in the ongoing It Ends with Us legal battle, actor Justin Baldoni’s legal team has successfully subpoenaed global pop star Taylor Swift, seeking evidence from a private exchange between her and Blake Lively, a close friend of the singer.
The move comes as part of Baldoni’s defense strategy in a heated court case involving allegations of smear campaigns and retaliation. In response, Lively’s legal team filed a motion asking Judge Lewis J. Liman to block Baldoni’s team from accessing the private communication between the two celebrities.
However, on Wednesday, June 18, the judge denied Lively’s request, ruling that the conversation between the actress and Swift constitutes relevant evidence and can be considered part of the proceedings. In response to the court’s decision, a representative for Lively issued a pointed statement to TMZ, criticizing the ruling and the motives behind the subpoena.
“The Court’s protective order ruling rests on the Wayfarer Parties’ admission that they received nothing from Taylor Swift, which is exactly the opposite of what their ‘insider’ claimed two weeks ago,” the statement read.
The representative further referenced Lively’s accusations that Baldoni and public relations executive Melissa Nathan were involved in a smear campaign against her. The statement noted that Baldoni’s interest in involving Swift dates back nearly a year.
“Baldoni’s desire to drag Taylor Swift into this has been constant dating back to August 2024,” it continued. “When the crisis PR firm led by Melissa Nathan included her in their ‘Scenario Planning’ document (Lively Amended Complaint, Exhibit D), referred to her as a bully, and called for a strategy to influence the ‘TS fanbase.’”
The representative strongly criticized the legal tactic of invoking Swift’s name and popularity, calling it a distraction from the core allegations facing Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios.
“We will continue to call out Baldoni’s relentless efforts to exploit Ms. Swift’s popularity, which from day one has been nothing more than a distraction from the serious s* harassment and retaliation accusations he and the Wayfarer parties are facing,” the statement concluded.
Judge Liman has scheduled the next hearing in the It Ends with Us case for March 6, 2026. As the legal battle escalates, the court’s decision to include Swift’s private messages is likely to intensify public and media interest in the already high-profile case.