Taylor Swift has recently found herself embroiled in a legal dispute between actors Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, which she claims is an attempt to generate tabloid clickbait. According to Swift's representatives, the 35-year-old singer has been summoned to a U.S. court over allegations that she encouraged Baldoni to accept script rewrites proposed by Lively for the film It Ends With Us, a project that is currently at the center of a sexual harassment lawsuit.
Baldoni, 41, has alleged that he was invited to Lively's home in New York in 2023 to discuss changes to the script. He claims that both Lively’s husband, Ryan Reynolds, and Swift were present during this meeting, supposedly acting as Lively's "dragons." However, Swift's representatives have firmly stated that she was not involved in any casting or creative decisions related to the film, and emphasized that she never reviewed any edits or provided notes.
The legal battle began when Lively, 37, filed a lawsuit against Baldoni in December 2024, accusing him of sexual harassment and conducting a smear campaign against her. In response, Baldoni has counter-sued both Lively and Reynolds, citing claims of civil extortion, defamation, and invasion of privacy. The conflict between Lively and Baldoni has escalated since the film, adapted from a popular novel by Colleen Hoover, was released last summer.
According to Baldoni, tensions arose during the 2023 rewrite of a pivotal scene, where he was reportedly surprised to find both Reynolds and Swift present. He noted that Lively sent him a text referencing the character Khaleesi from Game of Thrones, stating, "If you ever get around to watching Game of Thrones, you'll appreciate that I'm Khaleesi, and like her, I happen to have a few dragons." Lively added that her "dragons" protect those she fights for, hinting at the stakes involved in the creative process.
Baldoni claims he responded positively to Lively’s changes, expressing his admiration for her talent and enthusiasm for their collaboration. He wrote, "I really love what you did. It really does help a lot. Makes it so much more fun and interesting." He emphasized that his appreciation for the changes would have been the same regardless of the presence of Reynolds and Swift.
Amidst the escalating drama, there have been claims that Swift played a role in casting Isabela Ferrer, who portrayed a younger version of Lively’s character, Lily Bloom. Ferrer remarked at the New York premiere of It Ends With Us that Swift had a significant impact on the audition process. However, Swift's representatives clarified that her only involvement was granting permission for the use of her song, My Tears Ricochet, as part of the film’s soundtrack. They reiterated that she did not visit the film set, was not involved in casting decisions, and did not see the film until weeks after its release while she was on tour.
Swift's spokespeople assert that the legal summons is an effort to exploit her name for public attention, rather than focusing on the legitimate facts of the case. As the legal battle continues between Lively and Baldoni, the involvement of Swift adds an unexpected layer to this complex narrative, raising questions about the intersection of celebrity and legal matters in the entertainment industry.
