Justin Baldoni’s lawyers have claimed that Taylor Swift is set to testify in Blake Lively’s ongoing lawsuit against the US director – something Lively’s side has now questioned.
The revelation came in a filing from Baldoni’s attorney, Brian Freedman, who told District Judge Lewis J. Lyman that the singer “has agreed to appear for a deposition” but was unable to do so until Oct. 20 due to “prolonged professional commitments,” as People reports in the area .
But now Deadline has reported that Lively’s lawyers filed a filing today claiming that the singer has not “agreed” to sit next month and Baldoni’s side has not presented “evidence” to justify it.
Lively’s lawyer claimed that another move by Baldoni’s team “furthers their relentless media strategy.”
“Even if one were to take the Wayfarer defendants’ representation at face value, they do not come close to establishing good cause for the relief they seek,” Lively’s attorney wrote.
Swift’s 12th album, “The Life of a Showgirl,” is due out on October 3, which coincides with her tour schedule — one reason her testimony would fall outside the court’s original September 30 deadline.
To make this possible, Baldoni’s legal team is asking for a short extension to accommodate him.
The case, Blake Lively v. Wayfarer Studios LLC, et al., relates to a lawsuit filed last December that accused Baldoni—her co-star and director—as well as his company and representatives of sexual harassment and retaliation.
After denying the devastating allegations, Baldoni’s camp filed a multi-million dollar lawsuit, suing both Lively and her husband, Deadpool icon Ryan Reynolds, as well as publicist Leslie Sloane and her PR firm Vision PR Inc.
Claiming he caused the living “severe emotional distress”, Baldoni began seeking $400 million (£323 million) in damages in his lawsuit after she attempted to “destroy” his reputation and career.
Lively and Reynolds’ attorneys then filed a statement saying they wanted to try to dismiss Baldoni’s claim, and their legal team filed the lawsuit as “meritorious.”
All defendants deny the allegations, and a trial date has been set for March 2026.
Swift’s involvement is tangential but very public.
Justin’s lawyer (Bryan Freedman) claimed in a now-dismissed lawsuit that Blake’s lawyer threatened to leak private messages between the actress and Taylor if the singer didn’t sign a statement supporting him.
In his complaint, Baldoni also alleged that Taylor and Lively’s husband, Ryan Reynolds, 48, forced him to accept one of Lively’s rewrites for the film after he was called to Lively and Reynolds’ New York City apartment.
Mike Gotley, Blake’s attorney, denied the claim, and the case judge, Lewis J. Lyman, granted his motion to strike the letter from the documents in May.
The court filings even included text messages in which Baldoni said her edits improved the scene, while she denied that Reynolds and Swift were her “dragons” who likened themselves to Khaleesi from Game of Thrones.
Although Baldoni’s team cast Swift in May, her representatives hit back, emphasizing that she had no role in casting, producing, or editing, and he didn’t even watch the film until its release.
The subpoena was dropped, but a source close to Taylor has claimed that her friendship with Blake has “stalled,” adding that the singer “wants no part in this drama,” People reports.
Speculation has swirled among fans that a song on Swift’s upcoming album, “Danger The Friendship,” could reference the Rift, although Swift herself has said the recording was completed during her European tour before the legal drama escalated.
For now, whether Swift’s testimony happens depends on whether Judge Liman allows the schedule to change.
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