Unsealed court documents from the Blake Lively legal fight expose text messages in which Taylor Swift reportedly disparaged Justin Baldoni, director of It Ends With Us, and confirmed backing Lively’s version of the film script after the actress requested her input. These communications were made public in May 2024 and highlight Swift’s involvement during the escalating dispute between Lively and Baldoni.
The released evidence includes hundreds of texts, emails, and documents exchanged between Swift, Lively, and Ryan Reynolds, Lively’s husband, who sought influential industry figures’ opinions in support of Lively. Swift’s messages surfaced just days before a December 2024 New York Times article accused Baldoni of orchestrating a smear campaign against Lively and Reynolds.
Swift’s Texts Criticize Baldoni While Affirming Support for Lively
According to the court filings, Taylor Swift sent a message to Lively referring to Baldoni as a “b—” and implying he anticipated negative developments by stating,
“he’s gotten out his tiny violin.”
Lively’s lawyers contend that this message undermines claims made by Baldoni’s team that Lively and Swift discussed the impending New York Times piece beforehand.
The lawsuit, initiated by Lively, accuses Baldoni and his studio, Wayfarer, of executing a deliberate scheme to damage her reputation following complaints about
“repeated sexual harassment and other disturbing behavior.”
While Baldoni and Wayfarer filed counterclaims citing defamation and extortion, those claims were dismissed by a judge in June 2024.
Legal Response Emphasizes Swift’s Limited Role in Film Production
Though Swift is not directly involved in the lawsuit, Baldoni’s attorneys attempted to subpoena her in May 2024. However, her legal team pushed back firmly, stating,
“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.”
Swift’s lawyers added that her only connection to the film was granting permission for the use of her song, ‘My Tears Ricochet.’ They accused Baldoni’s camp of exploiting Swift’s name
“to draw public interest by creating tabloid clickbait instead of focusing on the facts of the case.”
Blake Lively Labels Baldoni ‘Doofus Director’ and Seeks Swift’s Help With Script Changes
In text exchanges from April 2023, Lively harshly described Justin Baldoni as a “doofus director” and a “clown” who “thinks he’s a writer now.” At the time, Swift was reportedly visiting Lively’s home, where Baldoni was also present. Lively requested Swift’s support in conveying to Baldoni her enthusiasm for the new script edits.
She wrote, “I need help with him,” and offered to send a scene for Swift’s review with the caveat,
“You don’t have to read it of course.”
Swift responded eagerly, “I’ll do anything for you!!”
Following this, Lively praised Swift as “so epically heroic today” and told Reynolds that Swift had “recapped every moment.” She detailed her frustrations with Baldoni, lamenting how he believed false claims and
“referred to yourself as my doll,”
but called Swift
“the world’s absolute greatest friend ever.”
Lively Takes Control of Film Edit and Seeks Swift’s Opinion on Soundtrack Inclusion
On April 23, 2024, Lively allegedly informed Swift via text that she had taken over the post-production process without Baldoni’s involvement.
“I’ve finally gotten to get in the edit. Alone. No Justin,”
Lively wrote. She expressed determination to make the film
“great (successful) if it’s the last thing I do.”
Lively then solicited Swift’s thoughts on whether her song should remain in the film’s trailer, emphasizing Swift’s feelings would influence the decision. She wrote,
“Don’t be thrown by your song. They went out on a limb and kept it. Which is cheating because it imbues everything with such gravity and quality. I’m torn. Obviously your feelings decide it, but if you were open to it, on one hand, f— them forever. On the other, I want this movie to work, and your song hits a main artery.”
Baldoni’s dismissed legal filing had accused Lively of “stealing” the film from him and his production company.
Swift Congratulates Lively After Sexual Harassment Complaint Filed
The court documents reveal that Taylor Swift allegedly sent a message to Lively reading, “you won,” the day after Lively filed a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department accusing Baldoni of sexual harassment in December 2024. Swift also commented,
“Never has a cancellation reversed so fast.”
Lively Seeks Ben Affleck’s Feedback on Her Version of the Film
In May 2024, Blake Lively reached out to actor Ben Affleck via email, requesting that he watch her cut of It Ends With Us and provide any notes or suggestions. She framed the request as a low-pressure ask, explaining she was emerging from
“the most upsetting experience I’ve ever had on a movie.”
Lively described enduring chaos caused by Baldoni, calling him a “chaotic clown” who filled multiple roles: director, actor, producer, financier, and studio head. She explained,
“If I would’ve just formally directed it, it would’ve been much easier, but having to troubleshoot through his taste, ego and preexisting decisions made it so difficult and that’s not even touching on any of the wild HR issues and beyond.”
Ryan Reynolds Contacts Matt Damon for Support Amidst Film Controversy
In May 2024, court filings reveal Ryan Reynolds reached out to actor Matt Damon and his wife, Luciana Barroso, requesting they watch Lively’s cut of the movie. Reynolds characterized the ask as “zero-pressure,” writing,
“No worries either way. We’d LOVE to get your well earned pov,”
and joking that one day there might be a movie about the making of this turbulent production.
Lively joined the conversation to candidly criticize Baldoni’s leadership, calling him
“the director/costar/producer/financier/head of the studio (yes all one person)”
and alleging he belonged to a cult and considered himself “our century’s prophet.”
She claimed to have taken over nearly every aspect of the production, saying,
“I rewrote the entire script. I directed every actor. The DP was comil (coming) to me when he couldn’t get anything from him. So, way too often.”
Reynolds followed up with harsh words, referring to Baldoni as
“a malignantly vein, sociopathic FAUXminist with almost no sense of boundaries or shame,”
and expressed disbelief that he had not faced legal consequences, adding,
“I cannot believe he hasn’t gone to jail or returned to the sun.”
Reynolds Pressures Agents to Shield Lively After Backlash Over Promotion
Following the film’s release, Ryan Reynolds sent several messages to his agents in August 2024, addressing backlash related to Lively’s role in promoting the movie. He urged them to protect Lively, emphasizing that Baldoni and his company
“should be protecting B. They can and should accept the consequences of their actions and lean into the countless and willfully gross behavior before it leans into them.”
In a message to agent Warren Zavala, Reynolds wrote:
“They made a big f—ing mess. Blake — under NO CIRCUMSTANCES — should be asked to clean up this sloppy, cliched fuckstorm.”
He also sent a message to Patrick Whitesell, chairman of Endeavor, declaring,
“I can’t and won’t sit by watching my wife — who’s been asked to shape shift around a problematic man since the very beginning of this movie — complete a grand slam home run … Only to be dragged through the mud while people ring the ‘shame bell’ behind her.”
Upcoming Trial Delayed as Dispute Continues to Unfold
The ongoing lawsuit between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni has seen several dramatic developments, with the court postponing the trial until May 2025. As tensions grow and new revelations emerge, the outcome of the Blake Lively legal fight remains uncertain, with industry observers closely watching the case’s impact on both the film’s reception and broader discussions around workplace conduct in Hollywood.
