At a Glance
- Blake Lively called Justin Baldoni a doofus in texts to Taylor Swift.
- Swift was asked to endorse a revised script for It Ends With Us while Baldoni was present at Lively’s home.
- The lawsuit, filed December 2024, now heads to trial on May 18.
Why it matters: The exchange shows how personal relationships are influencing the legal battle over the film’s production.
Blake Lively’s text messages to Taylor Swift have surfaced as part of the legal fight over the film It Ends With Us. The messages reveal heated language about Justin Baldoni and a request for Swift’s support of a revised script. They come just days before a scheduled summary judgment hearing and a trial set for May.
The Text Exchange
During the exchange, Lively referred to Baldoni as “this doofus director of my movie” and called him “a clown” who “thinks he’s a writer now.” She asked Swift, who was allegedly on her way to visit a friend, to endorse a revised version of the script even though Baldoni was still present in Lively’s home.
- “I kept remembering stuff- You making s— up about me and lenses.”
- “And referring to yourself as my doll.”
- “This clown falling for all of it. But also resisting it.”
- “You are the worlds absolute greatest friend ever.”
Swift’s reply was brief: “I’ll do anything for you !!” said Taylor Swift.
Lively followed up by telling Swift that she was “so epically heroic today” and that she had “recapped every moment” to her husband Ryan Reynolds. She also added, “I recapped every moment” to Reynolds.
Legal Context
Lively filed a lawsuit against Baldoni in December 2024 alleging sexual harassment and retaliation. Baldoni denied the claims and filed a $400 million countersuit. The countersuit was dismissed in June by U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman.
Baldoni’s complaint, filed in January 2025, accused Lively of calling Swift a “dragon” and of pressuring him to accept rewrites on the movie. He also claimed that Lively leaned on outside influence during production disputes.
Lively’s attorneys argued that the released texts are missing necessary context. They pointed to her testimony that she “sent Taylor the script on her way to my apartment because Justin was still there, and I asked her to read them. I told her she didn’t have to, I didn’t want her to feel pressured to do that, but I hoped that she would.”
Swift’s Involvement
Taylor Swift, 36, is not a party to the lawsuit, yet her name has surfaced repeatedly. Lively’s legal team listed Swift as a potential witness, while Baldoni’s team attempted to subpoena her in May.
In response to the subpoena, Swift’s representative issued a statement distancing the pop star from the project: “Taylor Swift never set foot on the set of this movie, she was not involved in any casting or creative decisions, she did not score the film, she never saw an edit or made any notes on the film, she did not even see It Ends With Us until weeks after its public release, and was traveling around the globe during 2023 and 2024 headlining the biggest tour in history.”
The rep added: “The connection Taylor had to this film was permitting the use of one song, ‘My Tears Ricochet,'” and accused Baldoni’s side of using Swift’s name “to draw public interest by creating tabloid clickbait instead of focusing on the facts of the case.”
Court Proceedings
The alleged texts were unsealed on Tuesday, Jan. 20, before a summary judgment hearing scheduled for Jan. 22. Lively’s team filed re-refed exhibits on the same day, claiming the texts lacked context.
The court filings include Lively’s testimony that she had sent the script to Swift while Baldoni was still present. The legal team also referenced subsequent messages to Baldoni, stating that “we all benefit” from her relationships with Reynolds and Swift and that “you will too, I can promise you.”
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Dec 2024 | Lively files lawsuit against Baldoni |
| Jan 2025 | Baldoni files $400 million countersuit |
| Jun | Countersuit dismissed by Judge Lewis J. Liman |
| Jan 20, 2026 | Texts unsealed before summary judgment hearing |
| Jan 22, 2026 | Summary judgment hearing scheduled |
| May 18, 2026 | Trial scheduled to begin |
Key Dates and Next Steps
The next major event is the trial, set to commence on May 18. Both sides will present evidence regarding the text exchange, the alleged influence of Swift, and the claims of harassment and retaliation. The outcome could set a precedent for how personal relationships affect film production disputes.
The legal battle is still unfolding. As the court prepares for trial, the public will watch to see whether the texts will be used to prove bias or whether they will be dismissed as context-less anecdotes.
Takeaway
Blake Lively’s texts to Taylor Swift highlight the complex interplay between personal friendships and professional disputes in Hollywood. The lawsuit’s progression toward trial underscores the legal system’s role in mediating creative disagreements, especially when public figures become involved.
