What started as a film collaboration between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni took an unexpected turn — and somehow Taylor Swift found herself in the middle of it all.
In December 2024, Lively filed a lawsuit against Baldoni, her co-star and the director of It Ends With Us, accusing him of sexual harassment and an alleged effort to damage her reputation. In her filing, Lively claimed Baldoni mentioned Swift in a conversation about a supposed plan to tarnish her image.
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In response, Baldoni denied the accusations and filed a $400 million countersuit against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds. He accused the couple of civil extortion, defamation, and invasion of privacy. Within his legal documents, he referenced Swift, alleging she was brought up during discussions with Lively about changes to the film’s script.
Taylor Swift’s Official Response
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Despite repeated mentions in the filings, Swift and her team stayed silent—until she was subpoenaed in May 2025. Her spokesperson issued a strong statement:
“Taylor Swift never set foot on the set of this movie, she was not involved in any casting or creative decisions, she did not score the film, and she never viewed or gave notes on any edit,” the rep said. “She didn’t even watch It Ends With Us until weeks after its public release.”
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The statement also noted that Swift was on a global tour during the film’s production years (2023 and 2024), and that her only connection to the project was licensing her song “My Tears Ricochet” for the trailer—just one of 20 artists to do so.
Why Was Swift’s Song in the Trailer?
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When the trailer debuted in May 2024, fans heard “My Tears Ricochet” playing in the background. Lively later revealed she had personally selected the song.
“Them together made a lot of sense,” she said at a fan festival that June, referring to the emotional connection between the film and the song.
During a panel discussion in August 2024, Lively expanded on Swift’s involvement:
“She really lived this with me,” Lively said. “She’s someone who shows up for you, and I’m grateful to have that love and support.”
Casting Influence and Behind-the-Scenes Decisions
Isabela Ferrer, who played the younger version of Lively’s character, told reporters that Swift played a role in helping her land the part.
“She was a helpful part of the audition, which I found out later,” Ferrer said.
Baldoni also said both Lively and Swift had approved Ferrer’s casting after viewing her audition tape.
Mentions of Swift in Legal Filings
According to Lively’s original complaint, a member of Baldoni’s crisis PR team mentioned Swift while evaluating the potential public fallout, noting that Lively and Swift shared a large portion of the same fanbase.
Another planning document reportedly discussed the idea of “weaponizing feminism,” using Swift as an example of how powerful figures are sometimes portrayed in such narratives.
Baldoni’s texts to Lively also included casual references to Swift. In one message, he praised changes Lively had made to a rooftop scene, writing:
“Makes it so much more fun and interesting. (And I would have felt that way without Ryan and Taylor 😉).”
Lively was also said to have jokingly called Swift one of her “dragons” while referencing Game of Thrones, likening herself to Khaleesi.
Debate Over Song Usage
Internal messages from Sony executives revealed Lively had called Swift to secure permission for her song’s use in the trailer. One executive stated:
“Blake is calling Taylor to approve the song… we’re waiting for her editor’s green light.”
Subpoena Controversy
After being subpoenaed in May 2025, Swift’s team pushed to have the request dismissed. They argued that her involvement was limited to a single licensed song and that her name was being exploited to generate media attention.
“This subpoena is meant to stir headlines,” the spokesperson said, “rather than focus on the real facts of the case.”
More Legal Tensions Involving Swift
After the subpoena became public, Baldoni’s attorney claimed he spoke with someone close to Swift who alleged that Lively’s legal team pressured Swift’s lawyers to issue a supportive statement.
Lively’s camp denied this, and the judge later struck the attorney’s letter from the record, siding with the actress.
Despite all the claims, text messages, and legal filings, Swift’s team maintains she had no creative or behind-the-scenes involvement in the film — beyond a single song that appeared in the trailer. As the legal case between Lively and Baldoni continues, Swift remains adamant that she was simply caught in the crossfire.