A federal judge in New York stopped Justin Baldoni’s attempt to involve Taylor Swift in his legal dispute with Blake Lively. U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman denied Baldoni’s request to depose the pop star. This ruling keeps Swift out of a heated Hollywood lawsuit tied to the film It Ends With Us.
Blake Lively accuses Justin Baldoni, her co-star and director in It Ends With Us, of sexual harassment on set. She also claims he started a smear campaign against her after she spoke out. Baldoni denies these accusations. He filed a defamation and extortion lawsuit against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, but the court dismissed it.
Swift’s connection to the case is limited. She licensed her song My Tears Ricochet for the film’s soundtrack and was once close friends with Lively. Baldoni’s lawyers argued that Swift might know about private talks with Lively during the film’s disputes. They claimed Swift agreed to a deposition between October 20 and 25, after the September 30 discovery deadline. Swift’s lawyer, Douglas Baldridge, said she never agreed and has no relevant information.
Taylor Swift’s name just popped up in a surprising courtroom twist 👀 watch the full breakdown ⬇️
🖊️ TMZ’s Aiden Marks @aidenjmarks pic.twitter.com/C6OBAo813A
— TMZ (@TMZ) September 12, 2025Judge Liman ruled against Baldoni’s team, saying they waited too long to request Swift’s deposition. He noted they had months to act, but didn’t show enough effort. The judge also gave Lively’s team a short extension to prepare, due to delays in document sharing by Baldoni’s side. This decision keeps the focus on the main parties in the lawsuit.
Read: Taylor Swift to Testify in Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni Legal Dispute
Lively’s lawyers say Baldoni’s team keeps bringing up Swift to create media buzz. They point to a past subpoena for Swift that was later dropped. Lively claims Baldoni added uncomfortable scenes, like kissing her neck on camera, and asked personal questions about her life with Reynolds. Baldoni calls these claims false. The case continues to draw attention for its Hollywood drama.
In a letter obtained by TMZ and addressed to the judge overseeing the case … attorneys for the Grammy winner clarify that Swift has NOT agreed to give a deposition in the "It Ends With Us" lawsuit saga. pic.twitter.com/e2Kmq9T5rB
— TMZ (@TMZ) September 12, 2025This lawsuit shows the challenges of power and behaviour in film productions. The high-profile names involved, including Swift, make it a big story. Keeping Swift out of the case helps focus on Lively and Baldoni’s claims. The trial’s outcome could affect their careers and spark talks about workplace conduct in Hollywood.
