The ongoing legal battle between actress Blake Lively and director Justin Baldoni of “It Ends with Us” has unveiled a significant support network for Lively during and after the filming of the highly-anticipated movie. Recent unsealed court documents have highlighted her close friendship with pop superstar Taylor Swift, shedding light on the troubling circumstances Lively claims to have faced on set.
Lively has accused Baldoni of sexual harassment, alleging he orchestrated a plan aimed at damaging her reputation. The legal filing, made in U.S. District Court in Manhattan, reveals that Lively confided in Swift, whom she referred to as a longtime friend, calling Baldoni her “doofus director.” In a later exchange, as media attention on the set’s drama intensified, Swift suggested that Baldoni seemed to anticipate trouble, referencing a social media post where he discussed his past trauma.
Swift’s commentary drew a comparison between the situation involving Lively and Baldoni to a horror film that unfolds quietly. The court documents reveal that concerns about Baldoni’s conduct were recorded as early as Spring 2023, with Lively’s legal team asserting that Wayfarer Studios was aware of the allegations but chose to retaliate against those who spoke out instead of conducting an investigation.
Baldoni’s legal team countered these claims, stating that the evidence does not substantiate Lively’s accusations and remains confident that legal proceedings will vindicate their client. Following an article in the New York Times, which detailed the alleged misconduct, Baldoni filed a lawsuit against the publication for inaccuracies, claiming that Lively was spreading a “self-serving narrative.”
In response to these developments, Lively took further legal action against Baldoni, leading to him subsequently suing Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, for defamation, asserting that they conspired to undermine his career. However, a judge dismissed these suits in June 2025.
The legal drama further involved Swift, who was drawn into the conflict when her name surfaced in text exchanges. Although Baldoni requested to depose Swift, a judge ruled against him in September 2025. Lively and Swift’s friendship has been previously publicly acknowledged, with Swift being named the godmother to Lively and Reynolds’ daughters, reinforcing their close bond.
Furthermore, unsealed documents indicate that other cast members, including actress Jenny Slate, expressed similar frustrations about the filming conditions, describing the experience as “really gross and disturbing.”
As this complex legal situation continues to unfold, the camaraderie between Lively, Swift, and other involved parties highlights the challenges faced by actors navigating the pressures and dynamics of Hollywood. The eventual resolution remains to be seen, but the unfolding narrative sheds light on both the struggles within the industry and the strength of friendships that can offer support in turbulent times.