Court Denies Lively’s Bid to Keep Taylor Swift Chats Private in “It Ends With Us” Harassment Case
June 19 (California): In a major legal development, a U.S. federal judge has ruled that Taylor Swift’s private messages with actress Blake Lively must be disclosed in court proceedings surrounding the troubled production of It Ends With Us. Despite the legal team’s attempt to shield Swift’s communications, Judge Lewis J. Liman ruled that these messages are relevant to the ongoing sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit filed by Lively against co-star Justin Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios.
Judge Rules Swift-Lively Messages Are “Relevant Evidence”
In a sharp ruling issued less than a year ahead of the March 9, 2026 trial, Judge Liman denied Lively’s motion for a protective order to keep digital chats with Swift confidential. He cited that Lively herself “identified Swift as someone likely to have knowledge” about the hostile work environment on set.
“The requests for messages with Swift are reasonably tailored to discover information that would prove or disprove Lively’s harassment and retaliation claims,” wrote Judge Liman.
Big Win for Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios
The decision marks a notable win for Justin Baldoni, whose attorneys now have access to conversations between Lively and Swift, including discussions surrounding the Sony-backed film’s rocky production and alleged PR manipulation.
Judge Liman dismissed Lively’s argument that the request was merely a media stunt, stating the “Lively Parties have not shown the information is irrelevant or its production would be unduly burdensome.”
Swift’s Involvement: From Soundtrack Contributor to Legal Flashpoint
Taylor Swift, who contributed the track “My Tears Ricochet” for the movie’s soundtrack, is also a long-time friend of Lively and godmother to one of her children. Despite being subpoenaed in May, Swift’s team initially provided no documents, calling the legal request “clickbait.”
However, reports later indicated that Baldoni’s team received information voluntarily from Swift’s lawyers—although her spokesperson criticized the move as an attempt to “exploit Swift’s fame.”
Lively’s Legal Team Responds, Blames Media Strategy
In a rebuttal following the judge’s ruling, Blake Lively’s attorneys painted the decision as a partial win, emphasizing that the court had denied Wayfarer’s motion to compel broader documents.
“Baldoni’s desire to drag Taylor Swift into this has been constant,” said Lively’s lead lawyer Esra A. Hudson, referring to Wayfarer’s earlier internal memos that labeled Swift a “bully” and planned to target the “TS fanbase.”
Hudson added that Swift is “not central” to the harassment claims and that the communications are being exploited to generate headlines, not serve justice.
June 9 Court Victory for Lively Adds to Tension
Earlier this month, Lively scored a major legal victory when Baldoni’s massive $400 million countersuit was dismissed by the court. In the wake of that win, her legal team argued that disclosing private messages with Swift was unnecessary and a tactic to deflect attention from the serious allegations of sexual harassment and retaliation.
Judge Limits Use and Warns Against Media Leaks
While Judge Liman allowed Baldoni’s team to review the communications, he made it clear that any leaks to the media of the requested content will not be tolerated. However, he stood firm in rejecting Lively’s request for total suppression, signaling that the Swift-Lively correspondence will now officially become part of the case record.
What’s Next: Shake It Off or Show Up?
With the ruling now official, Taylor Swift may face the prospect of deposition in the highly publicized legal drama. While nothing is confirmed, the possibility of Swift being drawn deeper into this court battle looms large—making this case as much about celebrity culture and power dynamics as about workplace justice.