Previously private text messages and emails sent by Blake Lively, including exchanges with longtime friend Taylor Swift, have been made public as part of Lively’s ongoing legal battle with actor-director Justin Baldoni.
The documents were unsealed ahead of a hearing on Thursday (Jan 22), where a federal judge in New York considered whether to dismiss the year-long lawsuit stemming from the 2024 film It Ends With Us.
Lively sued Baldoni and a crisis communications expert he hired, alleging sexual harassment and a coordinated effort to damage her reputation after she raised concerns about his behaviour on set. Baldoni has denied the allegations.
Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios, had countersued Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds for defamation and extortion, but that lawsuit was dismissed last June by Judge Lewis J Liman. The judge has yet to rule on Lively’s case, which is currently scheduled for trial on May 18.
Court filings indicate that several high-profile figures may have relevant information about the case, including Taylor Swift, Gigi Hadid, Emily Blunt, Alexis Bledel, America Ferrera, Hugh Jackman, Candace Owens, Perez Hilton and fashion designer Ashley Avignone.
Among the unsealed documents are text exchanges in which Swift appeared to criticise Baldoni and advise Lively on navigating Hollywood power dynamics.
In April 2024, after Lively shared a trailer for It Ends With Us featuring Swift’s song My Tears Ricochet, Swift remarked on the strategic implications of using her music, suggesting it gave Lively an advantage. Lively agreed, calling Baldoni’s decision “stupid” and saying it undermined his position.
In other messages, Swift expressed concern about Lively’s emotional state amid intense public scrutiny. In one December 2024 exchange, Swift told Lively she felt her messages had become impersonal and overly formal, saying she missed her “dark, normal-speaking friend.”
After Baldoni was later dropped by his talent agency, Swift told Lively, “You won” and “You did it,” adding that the outcome could help protect others in the industry.
Lively’s attorney said the text messages were not relevant to the core issue of the case, which centres on allegations of sexual harassment and boundary violations on set.
During Thursday’s hearing, Baldoni’s lawyer argued that Lively’s claims amounted to minor grievances that did not meet the legal standard for a hostile workplace. Lively’s legal team countered that the allegations, including unwanted physical contact and humiliating scenes added without consent, must be viewed in their entirety.
The judge has not indicated when a decision will be made on whether the case will proceed to trial.
