Judge Allows Justin Baldoni to Access Blake Lively–Taylor Swift Messages in Film Dispute

On June 18, 2025, a federal judge ruled that actor and filmmaker Justin Baldoni may obtain private messages between actress Blake Lively and singer Taylor Swift, specifically regarding the film ‘It Ends With Us’ and associated legal issues. Blake Lively had previously requested the court to block this request, claiming that Baldoni was involving Swift as a public relations strategy rather than for legal relevance. However, Judge Lewis Liman rejected Lively’s argument, stating that Swift’s communications could contain relevant information—especially since Lively herself suggested that Swift had awareness of complaints about the film’s working environment.

The case stems from a lawsuit filed by Lively in December 2024, alleging that Baldoni and his publicists attempted to discredit her in retaliation for her complaints of sexual harassment on the film set. Baldoni countersued for defamation, but his countersuit was dismissed the week before this ruling.

Though Swift’s spokesperson stated earlier that Swift was minimally involved—limited to licensing a song and watching the film post-release—Lively’s legal claims opened the door for examination of messages. The judge emphasized that a protective order exists to safeguard the privacy of any obtained messages, preventing media leaks.

This decision may influence the direction of Lively’s lawsuit as it proceeds toward further litigation.