In January 2026, hundreds of pages of court documents were unsealed in the high-profile legal battle between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, shedding light on private communications involving pop superstar Taylor Swift.
The texts, from December 2024, show Swift expressing support for her longtime friend Lively amid tensions surrounding the film It Ends With Us.
In one message, Swift reportedly referred to Baldoni as “this bitch” who had “gotten out his tiny violin,” in apparent reference to his public positioning ahead of a New York Times article.
Lively, who starred in and produced the adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s novel, had accused Baldoni—her co-star and the film’s director—of creating a hostile work environment through alleged sexual harassment and boundary violations during production.
Baldoni has denied the claims, asserting that Lively and her team sought greater creative control.
The unsealed exhibits, filed as part of pretrial proceedings, included portions of the text exchange where Lively and Swift discussed the unfolding situation.
These messages were made public by Baldoni’s legal team as they prepared for trial.
No evidence in the reports indicates that Swift or Lively made such comments publicly “in front of the press.”
The communications were private text messages exchanged between friends.
Lively’s formal accusations against Baldoni were detailed in legal complaints and amplified through media coverage, not joint public statements.
The lawsuit, filed by Lively in late 2024, alleged a coordinated smear campaign against her following complaints about on-set behavior.
Baldoni countersued, claiming defamation and extortion.
A federal judge later dismissed most of Lively’s harassment claims but allowed some retaliation allegations to proceed.
By early May 2026, the parties reached a settlement just weeks before a scheduled trial.
Both sides issued joint statements, though Lively’s attorneys later described the outcome as a victory, while details of any financial terms remain confidential.
The settlement resolved remaining claims without admission of liability.
The release of the texts drew significant media attention, highlighting the intersection of celebrity friendships, Hollywood productions, and legal transparency.
Swift reportedly felt the exposure of private messages was invasive.
Legal experts noted that while the texts provided context to the personal dynamics, their admissibility and interpretation would have been hotly contested at trial.
The case underscored ongoing debates about power dynamics, workplace conduct, and reputation management in the entertainment industry.
The resolution brings an end to nearly 18 months of public acrimony, allowing both Lively and Baldoni to move forward from the It Ends With Us controversy that overshadowed the film’s commercial success.
As of May 2026, no further litigation between the principals is active.