Blake Lively is embroiled in a complex legal battle with her “It Ends with Us” co-star Justin Baldoni, which has also brought her friendship with Taylor Swift to the forefront. Recent allegations claim that Lively pressured Swift to become involved in the legal proceedings, particularly concerning a subpoena request for Swift’s communications related to the case.
Baldoni’s legal team submitted a letter to Judge Lewis Liman, reiterating their intent to subpoena the law firm Venable LLP, which has previously represented Swift. This request comes on the heels of Baldoni’s lawsuit claiming sexual misconduct against Lively in conjunction with his own suit against the New York Times regarding its coverage of the accusations.
Court documents reveal that Baldoni’s attorneys are focused on allegations of witness tampering, suggesting that Lively may have pressured Swift to delete text messages between them. Furthermore, they claim that Lively’s attorney contacted a Venable attorney, demanding that Swift issue a statement in support of Lively or face potential release of their private messages.
However, Lively’s attorney, Michael Gottlieb, has strongly denied these accusations, calling them “categorically false” and attributed to anonymous sources. He criticized Baldoni’s legal team for what he described as baseless claims designed to sensationalize the case.
Additionally, a spokesperson for Swift pointed out her limited involvement in the film, emphasizing that her connection comes solely from licensing a song for the project, a role shared by numerous other artists. This spokesperson suggested that the subpoena appears to be an attempt to attract media attention rather than address the substance of the legal issues at hand.
Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds have also filed motions to counter Baldoni’s subpoena request, underscoring their commitment to challenging the claims made against them.
This ongoing legal dispute highlights not only the complexities of the entertainment industry but also the ways in which personal relationships can become entangled in legal matters. Despite the turmoil, it is hopeful that the resolution of this case will clarify the facts and allow the involved parties to move forward with their careers and personal lives.