A significant volume of emails and text messages exchanged by actress Blake Lively, notably with longtime confidante Taylor Swift, has been unveiled by the legal representatives of actor-director Justin Baldoni amid preparations for an impending trial. Ms. Lively filed a lawsuit accusing Baldoni and his crisis communications expert of harassment and a concerted effort to damage her reputation after she raised complaints regarding his behavior during the production of the 2024 romantic film "It Ends With Us."
These documents were made public in advance of Thursday’s scheduled hearing before a federal judge in New York City. The hearing will address whether to terminate the prolonged and bitter litigation that has persisted for over a year. This legal conflict has drawn intense public interest due to the potential involvement of other notable figures from the entertainment industry, including actors, musicians, and other celebrities. The case spotlights entrenched issues related to the mechanisms of power, influence, and gender relationships within Hollywood.
Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios, filed a countersuit against Ms. Lively and her husband, prominent actor Ryan Reynolds, alleging defamation and extortion. However, Judge Lewis J. Liman dismissed this countersuit in June of the prior year. During Thursday’s proceedings, Judge Liman did not provide an indication as to when a decision regarding Ms. Lively’s primary claims would be rendered.
Despite ongoing legal proceedings, the trial date remains set for May 18, with anticipation of a trial featuring a high-profile witness list. Documentation submitted by Ms. Lively’s legal team suggests that aside from Taylor Swift, other prominent individuals expected to provide testimony or possess relevant information include model Gigi Hadid, actors Emily Blunt, Alexis Bledel, America Ferrera, and Hugh Jackman, influencer Candace Owens, media personality Perez Hilton, and designer Ashley Avignone.
A substantial portion of the recently disclosed messages originated from filings by Baldoni’s attorneys, who contend that the communications demonstrate Ms. Lively’s deliberate efforts to influence public perception of Baldoni by utilizing her connections to prominent figures within the entertainment industry. Specifically, Taylor Swift's texts appear to offer strategic advice to Ms. Lively on navigating Hollywood’s power structures in her favor, both prior to and following the public emergence of their dispute.
One highlighted exchange took place in April 2024, when Ms. Lively shared a prospective link to the trailer of "It Ends With Us" with Ms. Swift. The trailer was set for public release weeks later and featured Swift’s song "My Tears Ricochet." In response, Swift praised the inclusion of her music and commented, "Welcome to Hollywood Justin." The two went on to discuss potential public interpretations of the song's use in the film, with Swift advising that Baldoni would have exercised better strategic sense by excluding her from the trailer to diminish Ms. Lively’s influence.
Ms. Lively concurred, acknowledging the advice as astute and recognizing that Baldoni’s involvement of Swift's music diminished his leverage in the conflict. Following the hearing, Ms. Lively’s legal counsel, Sigrid McCawley, stated to the press that these texts were irrelevant to the case and emphasized that Ms. Lively has made efforts to shield her associates from becoming entangled in the dispute. McCawley emphasized, "What’s relevant is her claims that she was sexually harassed in the workplace and the witnesses that were there to see that." Requests for comment directed to Baldoni’s and Swift’s legal representatives were not returned by the scheduled time.
Further correspondence revealed the emotional toll of public scrutiny on Ms. Lively. On December 4, 2024, she reached out to Swift expressing a sentiment of being "a bad friend lately" due to her preoccupation with personal hardships. She acknowledged gratitude for Swift’s continued support and expressed apprehension that something remained unresolved. Swift responded empathetically, noting a perceptible change in Ms. Lively’s communication style, likening recent messages to impersonal corporate emails sent to many recipients rather than intimate personal dialogue.
The subsequent day, Swift shared a People magazine article detailing Baldoni’s revelation of prior sexual trauma and subtly criticized him, implying anticipation of forthcoming repercussions. Weeks later, Swift congratulated Ms. Lively on a perceived victory, referencing Baldoni being dropped by his talent agency, and acknowledged the broader positive impact of her actions for others facing similar issues. Ms. Lively replied warmly, expressing that Swift’s support was indispensable throughout the ordeal.
At the court session on Thursday, attorney Jonathan Bach, representing Baldoni, argued that Ms. Lively’s complaint was populated with "trivial and petty grievances" insufficient to meet the legal threshold for hostile work environment claims. Judge Liman remarked that numerous minor incidents can cumulatively constitute a significant issue. Ms. Lively’s counsel, Esra Hudson, responded by detailing accusations of persistent unwanted physical contact and humiliating occurrences during filming, including an unanticipated instance when Baldoni leaned in and kissed Ms. Lively without prior discussion.
Ms. Hudson underscored that this unwanted physical contact violated clear personal boundaries. When the judge expressed difficulty in contextualizing the issue of consent within a movie set environment, Ms. Hudson urged consideration of the "totality of circumstances," citing additional moments such as when Ms. Lively was directed unexpectedly to "crawl on all fours" and enact a simulated sex act as examples contributing to the workplace environment context.