Taylor Swift has unexpectedly entered the spotlight of the legal dispute between Blake Lively and her ‘It Ends with Us’ director and co-star Justin Baldoni, after newly unsealed court documents revealed private messages between the two close friends.
Filings released this week in a US District Court in Manhattan show that Lively confided in Swift about her alleged experiences on the 2024 film set well before the dispute became public. The messages form part of a broader case in which Lively accuses Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios, of sexual harassment and of attempting to damage her reputation.
According to the documents, Lively described Baldoni as her “doofus director” in one exchange with Swift. In later messages sent ahead of a New York Times investigation that exposed the conflict, Swift reportedly commented on Baldoni’s public remarks and likened the situation to “a horror film no one knows is taking place”.
Lively’s legal team argues that the messages support her claim that she raised concerns early and discussed them openly with trusted friends. In a statement, her lawyer Sigrid McCawley said the unsealed material shows that people documented the alleged complaints in real time and that Wayfarer failed to investigate them properly.
Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, rejected the allegations and said the evidence does not support Lively’s claims. He added that the newly released messages present a very different picture and said Baldoni remains confident of clearing his name.
The dispute has already sparked multiple lawsuits. Baldoni previously sued the New York Times, Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds, accusing them of defamation and career sabotage. A judge dismissed those cases last year. Lively’s lawsuit against Baldoni is now set to go to trial in May 2026 following a delay.
Swift’s connection to the case has drawn particular attention due to her global profile. Lawyers previously subpoenaed her, but a judge later ruled that she would not face a deposition. Swift has long maintained a close friendship with Lively and Reynolds, serves as godmother to their daughters and has collaborated professionally with Lively in the past.
The newly released documents also suggest that Lively did not raise concerns alone. Messages attributed to actress Jenny Slate describe the shoot as “gross and disturbing”.
Swift has not commented publicly. Representatives for Swift and Slate have been contacted.
