Blake Lively Threatened to Leak Taylor Swift Texts If Singer Didn't Publicly Support Her, Claim
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"We unequivocally deny all of these so-called allegations," Lively's attorney tells PEOPLE in a statement
By Benjamin VanHoose
Blake Lively; Taylor Swift; Justin Baldoni.
Credit : Jeff Spicer/Getty; Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty; John Nacion/Variety via Getty
NEED TO KNOW
Justin Baldoni's lawyers claim their subpoena seeks to show Blake Lively's "threats" made to best friend Taylor Swift
Baldoni's legal team says they got the information from an anonymous "source who is highly likely to have reliable information"
Swift's rep recently distanced the pop star from the legal matter, issuing a statement slamming the subpoena
Justin Baldoni's attorneys brought forth a bombshell claim in a new court filing, alleging that Blake Lively threatened best friend Taylor Swift to publicly support her in her It Ends With Us legal battle. A lawyer for Lively calls the allegation "categorically false."
After pushback from Lively and Ryan Reynolds on a subpoena issued to Venable, the law firm that represents Swift, Baldoni's lawyers responded in a letter to the judge on Wednesday, May 14, arguing why they believe the subpoena is necessary in this case.
"The Lively Defendants' insistence that the Subpoena seeks irrelevant information is wrong," writes Bryan Freedman in the letter.
Freedman claims to have received a tip from a "source who is highly likely to have reliable information," according to the letter. That anonymous source alleged that Lively asked Swift to delete text messages.
Another allegation included in the letter suggests Lively's attorney contacted Swift's attorney "and demanded that Ms. Swift release a statement of support for Ms. Lively" — as well as "intimating that if Ms. Swift refused to do so, private text messages of a personal nature in Ms. Lively's possession would be released."
Freedman alleges that they were also informed that Swift's lawyer responded to Lively's attorney and "addressed these inappropriate and apparently extortionate threats...." He adds, "It is those communications that the Wayfarer Parties seek to obtain" as potential evidence of "an attempt to intimidate and coerce a percipient witness in this litigation."
In a statement to PEOPLE, Lively's attorney Mike Gottlieb says, "This is categorically false. We unequivocally deny all of these so-called allegations, which are cowardly sourced to supposed anonymous sources, and completely untethered from reality. This is what we have come to expect from the Wayfarer parties’ lawyers, who appear to love nothing more than shooting first, without any evidence, and with no care for the people they are harming in the process. We will imminently file motions with the court to hold these attorneys accountable for their misconduct here.”
Taylor Swift and Blake Lively
Blake Lively and Taylor Swift on Dec. 13, 2023.
Gotham/GC Images
It came to light on May 9 that Swift, 35, was issued a subpoena in the ongoing legal battle, which began when Lively, 37, sued her It Ends With Us costar and director Baldoni, 41, alleging sexual harassment and retaliation. He denied the claims, filing a $400 million countersuit of his own, accusing Lively and others of defamation and extortion.
In a fiery statement after the subpoena news, Swift's spokesperson distanced the pop star from It Ends With Us and the surrounding legal drama.
"Taylor Swift never set foot on the set of this movie, she was not involved in any casting or creative decisions, she did not score the film, she never saw an edit or made any notes on the film, she did not even see It Ends With Us until weeks after its public release, and was traveling around the globe during 2023 and 2024 headlining the biggest tour in history," said her rep.
"The connection Taylor had to this film was permitting the use of one song, 'My Tears Ricochet,' " her rep continued in the statement. "Given that her involvement was licensing a song for the film, which 19 other artists also did, this document subpoena is designed to use Taylor Swift’s name to draw public interest by creating tabloid clickbait instead of focusing on the facts of the case."
Lively's spokesperson also spoke out about the subpoena in a statement on May 9, claiming Baldoni's legal team was turning the case into "entertainment for the tabloids."
"This is a very serious legal matter, not Barnum & Bailey’s Circus. The defendants continue to publicly intimidate, bully, shame and attack women's rights and reputations," said the actress' rep.
Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively are seen on the set of 'It Ends with Us' on January 12, 2024 in Jersey City, New Jersey
Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively filming a scene on the set of "It Ends With Us" on Jan. 12, 2024.
Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images
A source previously told PEOPLE that along with Swift, Hugh Jackman could also be issued a subpoena. "Anyone that had any knowledge of this situation will be subpoenaed, no matter of their celebrity status," said the source.
Another insider, however, said Swift and Jackman, 56, are "not privy to anything going on," adding that claims they will be subpoenaed are "smoke and mirrors and trying to distract from the allegations against Baldoni."
Lively, Reynolds, Jackman (who starred alongside Reynolds in Deadpool & Wolverine) and Swift have been spotted together on numerous occasions, including at NFL games. Swift is also godmother to Lively's four kids.
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Taylor Swift and Blake Lively's Friendship Timeline
BLAKE LIVELY (AND RYAN REYNOLDS!)
Lively was asked about Swift's involvement in the project during an August 2024 interview with Gayle King on CBS Mornings. "She was with me throughout this whole process. So I think that, for better or worse, she, you know, experienced the whole thing with me," Lively said at the time.
Some of Lively's alleged texts to Baldoni have already been released as exhibits in their separate complaints, including one in which Lively seemed to refer to Swift and Reynolds, 48, as her "dragons" who stand up for her.
Freedman said in a previous statement that Lively "was the one who brought her high-profile friends into this situation without concern for their own personal or public backlash. As the truth shows, she used her 'dragons' to manipulate Justin at every turn."
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