Justin Baldoni Can Seek Messages Between Taylor Swift and Blake Lively, Judge Rules

Judge Rules Justin Baldoni Can Access Blake Lively–Taylor Swift Messages Amid Legal Battle Over It Ends With Us

June 14, 2025 — New York, NY

In a dramatic development in the ongoing legal showdown between It Ends With Us co-stars Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, a federal judge has ruled that Baldoni’s legal team can obtain private messages exchanged between Lively and her longtime friend, global pop icon Taylor Swift.

The ruling, handed down Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman, allows Baldoni’s lawyers to access communications that allegedly pertain to both the filming of It Ends With Us and the contentious legal fallout that has since unfolded between the film’s leads. While a protective order remains in place to shield the messages from public release, the judge’s decision marks a major turning point in a case that has already captivated Hollywood.

Lively’s Motion Denied

Blake Lively had filed a motion earlier this month seeking to block Baldoni’s access to her conversations with Swift, arguing that her friend was being unfairly pulled into the legal drama as a public relations pawn.

“Mr. Baldoni is attempting to weaponize Ms. Swift’s fame to distract from the allegations against him,” Lively’s filing read, insisting that the pop star “had nothing material to contribute” to the matter. Lively’s legal team argued that involving Swift served no legal purpose and amounted to little more than an effort to win the battle in the court of public opinion.

But Judge Liman disagreed. In his ruling, he wrote, “A motion or request may be, and in this case often has been, both a legitimate litigation tactic and an attempt to maneuver in the broader court of public opinion.” He concluded that, under the law, the messages may be relevant and discoverable.

Why Swift’s Messages Matter

According to court documents, Lively had previously suggested that Swift was made aware of tensions and complaints regarding the work environment on the set of It Ends With Us, including alleged incidents of harassment and retaliation. Judge Liman found that, given these claims, Swift’s conversations with Lively could contain valuable information that supports — or undermines — Lively’s case.

“Given that Lively has represented that Swift had knowledge of complaints or discussions about the working environment on the film, among other issues, the requests for messages with Swift regarding the film and this action are reasonably tailored to discover information that would prove or disprove Lively’s harassment and retaliation claims,” the ruling stated.

In short, the court believes Swift may not be just a bystander to the dispute — she could be a key witness.

A Complicated Legal History

The legal feud between Lively and Baldoni began in December 2024 when Lively filed a lawsuit accusing Baldoni and his publicity team of orchestrating a covert smear campaign against her. The actress claimed that after she raised concerns about sexual harassment on set, she became the target of anonymous leaks, online whisper campaigns, and subtle industry blacklisting — all allegedly linked to Baldoni’s camp.

Baldoni vehemently denied the allegations and filed a countersuit in February 2025, accusing Lively of defamation and character assassination. That countersuit was dismissed just last week by the same judge, though the reasons for the dismissal remain sealed under court confidentiality orders.

Now, Baldoni’s team appears to be refocusing their energy on undermining Lively’s credibility by examining her private communications — specifically with one of the world’s most influential celebrities.

Taylor Swift’s Position

Swift has largely remained silent on the legal firestorm, aside from a brief statement issued by her publicist in March, after Baldoni’s team subpoenaed her and her legal counsel.

“Ms. Swift had no involvement in the production of It Ends With Us beyond the licensing of one song for the soundtrack,” the statement read. “She had not seen the film until after its release and has no personal knowledge of events on set.”

Following the backlash, Baldoni’s legal team withdrew the subpoena. However, Lively’s legal team then tried to shut the door completely on the subject — only for Judge Liman to swing it wide open once more.

Privacy vs. Accountability

The ruling has reignited fierce public debate about the limits of privacy in high-profile legal disputes — particularly when the private communications of uninvolved celebrities are drawn into the fray.

Legal experts argue that while celebrities have the same rights as anyone else to keep their private conversations confidential, those rights are not absolute in a legal proceeding.

“If Blake Lively made Taylor Swift a confidante for critical information that relates to her claims in court, those communications may fall within the scope of discovery,” said Professor Nora Jeffries, a legal analyst at NYU School of Law. “The protective order prevents publication or media leaks, but not scrutiny by opposing counsel.”

Still, fans of both women have expressed outrage online, calling the order an invasion of privacy and accusing Baldoni of using Swift’s name to manipulate headlines.

What Happens Next?

Baldoni’s team now has the legal green light to request and review relevant messages between Lively and Swift. Any texts, emails, or voice messages deemed pertinent to the legal issues — particularly those discussing on-set behavior or reputational damage — may now be entered into the record.

Sources close to the production of It Ends With Us say more subpoenas and depositions are expected in the coming weeks, as the case accelerates toward trial.

Neither Lively nor Baldoni has commented publicly on the judge’s latest decision. Swift, for her part, was photographed leaving her Manhattan apartment Thursday morning wearing headphones and avoiding questions from reporters.

As the legal storm deepens, one thing is clear: the once feel-good romance adaptation has turned into one of the most talked-about Hollywood courtroom dramas of the decade — with Taylor Swift now officially drawn into the script.