Justin Baldoni's latest attempt to bring Taylor Swift into his defense against serious allegations of sexual harassment and retaliation from his co-star, Blake Lively, appears to be unraveling rapidly. This comes just as Swift's highly anticipated album, The Life of a Showgirl, is set to launch, potentially dominating the charts. The ongoing legal case, which is slated to go to trial in the spring of 2026, has seen Baldoni and his team at Wayfarer Studios pushing for Swift to be deposed between October 20-25, citing her preexisting professional commitments as the reason for the timing.
Despite the request, Swift has not consented to the deposition next month. This situation follows a period where discovery in the case was supposed to conclude weeks ago. According to a strongly worded filing by Lively's legal team, Baldoni's side has failed to provide any substantial evidence to warrant this deposition. Michael J. Gottlieb, Lively’s attorney, referred to the initial request from Baldoni, disclosed in a court letter dated September 11, as merely another tactic aimed at promoting their "relentless media strategy."
In the filing, Gottlieb urges federal Judge Lewis Liman to reject the request for Swift's deposition and any extension of discovery timelines. He emphasizes that the Wayfarer Defendants have not adequately demonstrated a valid reason for their request. “They have not made any effort to schedule this deposition during the active discovery period,” Gottlieb notes, indicating that Baldoni's team has not reached out to Swift’s counsel for a suitable date or location until recently, which he finds astonishing given the ongoing nature of the discovery process.
The trial is scheduled to commence on March 9, 2026, and Judge Liman's upcoming decision will be crucial in determining whether Swift will be included as a witness and if Baldoni's team will receive additional time for their depositions. The tensions have been escalating since Lively first made her allegations to the California Civil Rights Department back in December 2024, which detailed her experiences during the production of It Ends With Us and the subsequent online smear campaign.
Despite the ongoing legal battles, Swift's involvement in the situation has been a notable subplot. Reports suggest that her relationship with Lively has been strained due to the controversy surrounding this case. Additionally, Swift was mentioned in a scenario planning document created by Baldoni’s crisis PR chief, Melissa Nathan, which outlined strategies that included the "weaponization of feminism" in the context of the ongoing disputes.
Amidst these legal entanglements, Swift is preparing for the release of her new album, The Life of a Showgirl, set to drop on October 3. This timing coincides with the contentious deposition request from Baldoni’s team. While it remains unclear whether Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, will attend Swift's upcoming wedding to NFL star Travis Kelce, the situation continues to unfold with many unanswered questions regarding both personal and professional relationships among the involved parties.
As the legal proceedings move forward towards the scheduled trial date, the implications of Baldoni's attempts to involve Taylor Swift remain uncertain. The outcome of Judge Liman's ruling on this matter could significantly impact the trajectory of the case and the public image of those involved, including Swift and Lively, as they navigate the complexities of friendship and professional obligations amidst a backdrop of serious allegations.
