by Taylor Swift can finally exhale. After weeks of legal tension, the subpoena issued to her in the high-profile lawsuit between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni has been officially withdrawn. The move, announced by Baldoni’s legal team, marks a significant shift in a case that has entangled some of Hollywood’s most prominent figures.
The legal battle began when Blake Lively accused her It Ends With Us co-star and director, Justin Baldoni, of sexual harassment and creating a toxic work environment during the film’s production. Baldoni filed a $400 million countersuit in response, alleging defamation and claiming that Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and their inner circle orchestrated a smear campaign against him.
Amid these allegations, Baldoni’s team issued a subpoena to Taylor Swift, a close friend of Lively’s, suggesting she had been involved in script discussions and could provide pertinent information.
Swift’s representatives swiftly refuted these claims, stating she had no involvement in the film beyond licensing her song “My Tears Ricochet” for its use. They emphasized that she never visited the set, participated in casting or creative decisions, or viewed any edits before the film’s release.
At the time of production, Swift was engaged in her global Eras Tour, making her physical involvement implausible. Her spokesperson criticized the subpoena as a tactic to exploit her celebrity status for public interest rather than focusing on the case’s facts.
Blake Lively’s legal team supported Swift’s motion to quash the subpoena, labeling it as “harassing” and an attempt to distract from the core issues of the lawsuit. They accused Baldoni’s team of trying to “exploit Taylor Swift’s celebrity” to shift attention away from the allegations of sexual harassment and retaliation.
The court appeared to agree with this perspective. Judge Lewis J. Liman dismissed a letter from Baldoni’s attorney that accused Lively’s lawyer of attempting to manipulate Swift’s support, calling the filing “improper” and “irrelevant.” Following this, Baldoni’s team withdrew the subpoena, effectively removing Swift from the legal proceedings.
This development not only spares Swift from being entangled in a lawsuit unrelated to her but also refocuses attention on the central dispute between Lively and Baldoni. The trial, which will address both lawsuits, is scheduled to commence in March 2026.
As the legal proceedings continue, the entertainment industry watches closely, aware that the outcomes could have significant implications for workplace conduct and accountability in Hollywood. For now, Taylor Swift can return her focus to her music and fans, relieved to be out of the legal spotlight.
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