Taylor Swift And Blake Lively: Where Their Friendship Stands Amid Legal Drama
By Kelly Coffey-Behrens on January 29, 2025 at 4:45 PM EST
As "It Ends With Us" continues to stir controversy, Justin Baldoni has made explosive claims about Taylor Swift’s alleged influence behind the scenes.
In his $400 million defamation and extortion lawsuit, the "Jane the Virgin" star alleges that Blake Lively used both Swift and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, to pressure him into accepting her revisions to the film’s script.
After these accusations were made, many believed that Taylor Swift and Blake Lively's friendship was affected, though that does not seem to be the case.
Where Do Taylor Swift And Blake Lively Stand?
A source told Page Six that reports claiming Swift is distancing herself from Lively due to the public relations fallout are “not true.” The insider emphasized that their friendship is not strained, despite the intense scrutiny surrounding Lively and Baldoni’s $400 million legal dispute.
Although Swift has remained silent about Lively’s legal troubles, she has yet to make any public statements distancing herself from her close friend.
Taylor Swift's 2020 Track Was Used In The Movie
While Swift has not openly promoted "It Ends With Us," she did contribute in a meaningful way. Unlike her vocal support for Zoë Kravitz’s "Blink Twice," Swift did not publicly encourage her fans to see Lively’s film in theaters. However, she allowed one of her songs to be featured on the movie’s soundtrack.
The 2020 track “My Tears Ricochet” played during a key scene and was also used in the trailer for "It Ends With Us." Lively previously acknowledged Swift’s involvement, telling "CBS Mornings," “She was with me throughout this whole process, so I think that, for better or worse, she experienced the whole thing with me.”
Lively also admitted that securing a Swift song for the film’s modest budget was something they had never expected.
Justin Baldoni Names Taylor Swift In The Lawsuit
Baldoni’s lawsuit references a meeting between the trio at Lively’s New York City penthouse, where they discussed a crucial rooftop scene in the movie. Following their discussion, Baldoni texted Lively, writing, “I really love what you did. It really does help a lot. Makes it so much more fun and interesting. (And I would have felt that way without Ryan or Taylor).”
However, Baldoni’s legal team argues that he only sent the message out of obligation, suggesting he felt pressured by Lively’s Hollywood connections.
Lively responded with a lengthy text, stating, “They [Reynolds and Swift] also know I’m not always good at making sure I’m seen and utilized for fear of threatening egos, or fear of affecting the ease of the process. They don’t give a sh-t about that. And because of that, everyone listens to them with immense respect and enthusiasm. So I guess I have to stop worrying about people liking me.”
Justin Baldoni's Lengthy Voicemail Gets Leaked
Adding more intrigue to the case, Baldoni’s lawsuit cites text messages in which Lively allegedly compared herself to Khaleesi from "Game of Thrones" and referred to Swift and Reynolds as her “dragons."
“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," she said.
In reply, Baldoni recorded a six-and-a-half-minute voicemail, now publicly released for the first time, offering an apology to Lively while directly acknowledging her "dragon" comment.
“Damn right, you got great friends,” Baldoni said in the voicemail. "If that's how you felt and they knew that. F-ck. We should all have friends like that, aside from the fact they're two of the most creative people on the planet… The three of you guys together is unbelievable. Talk about energy. Force. All three of you."
Justin Baldoni Praises Blake Lively In Six-And-A-Half Voice Memo
Baldoni went on to commend Lively’s dedication and creativity, stressing that he had recognized the merit of her changes independently, without needing Reynolds and Swift’s input. "I just wanted you to know, I didn't need that. It's really good and it's going to make the movie sing like you said and I'm excited to go through the whole movie with you," he said.
While Swift has yet to address these allegations, her friendship with Lively appears to remain intact, despite being inadvertently pulled into one of Hollywood’s biggest legal battles.