Blake Lively Accuses Justin Baldoni of PR Stunt to Drag Taylor Swift Into Legal Battle
Blake Lively responded sharply to Justin Baldoni after he announced that Taylor Swift had consented to be deposed in their continuing legal dispute, according to an exclusive report from Us Weekly.
In her latest legal submission on Friday, September 12, the 38-year-old Lively asserted that Baldoni, 41, and his legal representatives have “consistently attempted to involve [Swift] in this lawsuit to further their aggressive public relations tactics.” Furthermore, she objected to Baldoni receiving an extension for discovery and contended that he delayed too long before seeking Swift, 35, for a deposition. (Us had previously reported on Friday that Baldoni's team coordinated schedules with Swift's representatives, noting her unavailability until the end of October.)
Lively's legal counsel contended, “In their most recent attempt, the [Baldoni and his team] claim — remarkably, without proof — that [Swift] has supposedly ‘consented’ to participate in a deposition sometime between October 20-25 (approximately three weeks after the deadline for factual discovery in this case).”
The actress' representatives alleged that Baldoni's team only reached out to Swift's team regarding the deposition earlier this week. Lively's counsel stated that even if that assertion were accepted, Swift's suggested deposition date would fall weeks beyond the discovery deadline for the lawsuit.
“In this regard, [Baldoni and his team's] disregard for diligence, and their disrespect for [Swift's] personal space and commitments, is astonishing,” Lively's attorney asserted. ”Discovery has been underway for over half a year, and [Swift] is an individual whose schedule is predictably filled with professional engagements many months in advance. At any point within the last six months, [Baldoni’s team] had the opportunity to issue a deposition notice, serve a subpoena, and arrange a mutually convenient time and location for this deposition. Yet, they failed to do so.”
Lively highlighted that Baldoni's legal representatives had withdrawn a subpoena previously served to Swift in May.
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“Presently, without providing a reason, well past the agreed-upon dates and venues for all other involved parties and third-party witnesses, and without ever issuing a fresh subpoena notice, the Wayfarer Defendants approach this Court seeking the right to conduct this specific deposition — and only this one — over three weeks subsequent to the conclusion of factual discovery and ten days after the deadline for parties to exchange expert testimonies.”
Lively's representatives stated that Baldoni's team offered no justification for their demand to depose Swift. Her legal counsel remarked, “Such a justification would be anticipated for any deposition taking place beyond the discovery phase, particularly for a third party, but it carries even greater weight for this specific third party, whom [Baldoni’s team] has persistently aimed to exploit to create a media sensation in this legal proceeding.”
Lively insisted that the petition be rejected.
As Us had earlier disclosed, Swift's spokesperson commented on May 9 regarding the pop star receiving a subpoena.
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“Taylor Swift never visited the movie set, she had no part in any casting or artistic choices, she did not compose the film's score, she never viewed a cut or provided feedback on the film, she didn't even watch It Ends With Us until weeks following its theatrical debut, and was touring internationally throughout 2023 and 2024, leading the largest tour ever,” Swift's representative stated.
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“Taylor's involvement with this movie was limited to allowing the use of a single track, ‘My Tears Ricochet.’ Considering her role was simply licensing a song for the film, a contribution also made by 19 other artists, this document subpoena appears intended to leverage Taylor Swift's name to generate public attention through sensationalist headlines, rather than concentrating on the specifics of the lawsuit,” the spokesperson further explained.
The trial for the case is slated for May 2026.
