Pop superstar Taylor Swift called “It Ends With Us” actor Justin Baldoni an expletive in a text message with Blake Lively, according to messages unsealed Tuesday as part of an ongoing legal battle.
At a Glance
- Swift texted Lively, “I think this bitch knows something is coming because he’s gotten out his tiny violin.”
- The exchange occurred Dec. 4-5, 2024, days before a New York Times article alleged Baldoni led a “retaliatory ‘smear campaign'” against Lively.
- Lively’s suit claims sexual harassment and a coordinated effort to damage her reputation.
- Why it matters: The unsealed messages could sway public opinion and courtroom strategy in the high-stakes Hollywood dispute.
The messages were unsealed as part of Lively’s lawsuit against Baldoni, her co-star in the 2024 film “It Ends With Us,” Wayfarer Studios and others, litigation that has been going on for over a year.
According to the court document, which Lively’s lawyers filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Manhattan, Swift wrote the quoted line. Lively’s attorneys confirmed the language but disputed the defense’s timeline, arguing the texts were not about the forthcoming Times article.
Representatives for Swift did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday night.
Swift licensed a song for “It Ends With Us” but was not otherwise involved in the film, Swift’s spokesperson said last year, when there was an attempt to subpoena her as a possible witness in the trial.
Sigrid McCawley, a member of Lively’s legal team, said Tuesday that the new filing includes “damning” statements about Baldoni from other people.
“The newly unsealed, damning documents show the consistent reaction numerous women, cast, crew, executives, partners, co-host and even his own PR team had working with Justin Baldoni,” McCawley said.
A publicist for Baldoni did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday night. An attorney listed as representing him in the federal lawsuit also did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.
A spokesperson for Wayfarer declined to comment.
Tuesday’s motion deals with the re-filing of public versions of exhibits that were part of an earlier motion by Lively’s attorneys opposing a summary judgment in the case.
An attorney for Baldoni previously called the allegations in the lawsuit “completely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious.”
Timeline of the Legal Fight
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Dec. 20, 2024 | Lively files complaint with California Civil Rights Department alleging sexual harassment |
| Dec. 31, 2024 | Federal civil lawsuit filed against Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios |
| Feb. 2025 | Amended complaint adds CEO and others as defendants |
| June 2025 | Judge dismisses Baldoni’s $400 million countersuit |
| Nov. 2025 | Countersuit formally ended after missed deadline |
| Dec. 3, 2025 | Unsealed texts reveal Swift’s message to Lively |
Lively first filed a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department on Dec. 20, 2024, that accused Baldoni of sexual harassment during filming of “It Ends With Us,” as well as retaliation against Lively after she raised issues about his on-set behavior.
She filed a federal civil lawsuit against Baldoni, who is also a co-founder and co-owner of Wayfarer Studios and who directed “It Ends With Us,” on Dec. 31, 2024. In February, she filed an amended complaint against Baldoni, the company, the company’s CEO and others.
Baldoni filed a countersuit against Lively seeking $400 million, but a federal judge dismissed it in June and formally ended it in November after an amended complaint was not filed by a court-set deadline.
Lively’s amended complaint, which does not name a dollar amount, seeks compensatory and punitive damages. It alleges that there was a “multi-tiered plan” by Baldoni and his team to destroy her reputation.
In “It Ends With Us,” Lively plays Lily Bloom, a woman who moves to Boston with a dream of opening a flower shop and marries neurosurgeon Ryle Kincaid, played by Baldoni. The film explores Bloom’s decision to break a cycle of domestic abuse and divorce him.
Key Takeaways
- The unsealed texts place Swift-an uninvolved third party-at the center of a legal storm.
- Lively’s team frames the messages as evidence of widespread distrust of Baldoni.
- With no dollar figure attached, Lively’s lawsuit still carries high reputational stakes for both sides.
Emmy Beck-Aden contributed.
