Taylor Swift has been unexpectedly brought into a high-profile legal battle involving actor Justin Baldoni and actress Blake Lively. According to Swift’s representatives, her name is being used purely for “tabloid clickbait” purposes. The controversy stems from the production of It Ends With Us, a film adaptation of a Colleen Hoover novel.
Swift, 35, was summoned to a U.S. court over allegations that she influenced Baldoni to accept script rewrites proposed by Lively. However, Swift’s team firmly denies any creative involvement, emphasizing that she had no role in casting, editing, or production decisions for the film.
Mutual Lawsuits, Script Tensions, and Texts Define Lively and Baldoni’s Legal Battle
Blake Lively filed a lawsuit in December 2024, accusing Baldoni of sexual harassment and defamation. In response, Baldoni filed a countersuit against both Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, citing civil extortion, defamation, and invasion of privacy. The legal conflict centers around disagreements that reportedly began during script rewrites in 2023. Baldoni claims that during a visit to Lively’s New York residence to discuss these changes, he was surprised to find Swift and Reynolds present—allegedly there to support Lively as her “dragons.”
Taylor Swift Pulled Into Lively-Baldoni Lawsuit, Denies Involvement in Script or CastingA key element in the case is a series of text messages exchanged between Lively and Baldoni. Lively compared herself to the character Khaleesi from Game of Thrones, referring to Swift and Reynolds as protective “dragons.” Baldoni, at the time, responded positively to Lively’s creative contributions, expressing appreciation for the changes regardless of who was present. These messages are now part of the legal proceedings, with Baldoni maintaining that he did not object to the revisions and supported the collaboration.
Swift Denies Casting Involvement as Legal Team Condemns Fame-Driven Distraction Tactics
Controversy also arose regarding the casting of actress Isabela Ferrer, who played the younger version of Lively’s character. Ferrer claimed at the film’s premiere that Swift had a role in her audition process—something she learned only after being cast. However, Swift’s representatives strongly denied this, reiterating that her only connection to the project was allowing the use of her song “My Tears Ricochet.” They stressed that Swift never visited the set or saw any film edits before its release.
Swift’s representatives argue that the decision to involve her in the case is a deliberate distraction tactic aimed at attracting media attention. They assert that Swift was touring internationally at the time of the film’s release and only saw the movie weeks later. The team emphasized that she had no direct involvement in the production and that the subpoena served on her is an attempt to exploit her fame. Ultimately, they are pushing back against what they call an effort to divert attention from the legal facts and turn the trial into a media spectacle.