Taylor Swift’s still knee-deep in her ongoing Shake It Off copyright infringement lawsuit. She’s been subpoenaed to testify in the ongoing legal battle between actress Blake Lively and filmmaker Justin Baldoni. This surprise cameo has plenty of fans and media on the lookout, especially since Swift and Lively have been friends for a long time. The legal back-and-forth is focused on competing lawsuits exchanged by each side, including claims of sexual harassment and retaliation on both sides.
Swift’s involvement in this case arises from her licensing of a song, “My Tears Ricochet,” for Baldoni’s film, “It Ends With Us.” Her spokesperson quickly squashed any excitement, explaining that the singer has no direct connections to the film’s production. “Taylor Swift never set foot on the set of this movie, she was not involved in any casting or creative decisions,” the spokesperson stated. They went on to emphasize that Swift had been traveling extensively during 2023 and 2024, headlining her record-breaking Eras Tour.
Things began to heat up legally when Baldoni’s legal counsel, Bryan Freedman, announced the own escalation of The Hunger Games. He’s at least just thinking about deposing Swift. He mentioned, “Anyone that reasonably has information that can provide evidence in this case is gonna be deposed.” This statement implies that the plaintiff’s legal team is not holding back in looking for any and all possible routes to obtaining testimony relevant to the ongoing court battles.
In a statement regarding Swift’s subpoena, her spokesperson expressed disdain for the approach taken by Baldoni’s legal team. “Given that her involvement was licensing a song for the film, which 19 other artists did, this document subpoena is designed to use Taylor Swift’s name to draw public interest by creating tabloid clickbait instead of focusing on the facts of the case,” they said. This remark highlights the contention surrounding the intent behind involving a high-profile figure like Swift in a complex legal matter.
In the background, Lively and Baldoni, through their respective counsel, have publicly traded barbs and accusations. Lively’s attorney, Michael Gottlieb, criticized Baldoni’s team for their tactics, asserting that they are turning a serious legal issue into entertainment fodder. “This is a very serious legal matter, not Barnum & Bailey’s Circus,” stated Lively’s spokesperson. In the statement, they criticized Baldoni’s team for trying to threaten and harass the women party to the case and for trampling on women’s rights.
Baldoni’s legal team has countered these claims, with Freedman dismissing Lively’s arguments as “another desperate attempt to ‘fix’ her negative reputation which was garnered from her own remarks and actions during the campaign for the film.” This very public back and forth highlights the acrimonious tone of their feud.
Along with Lively and Baldoni, Ryan Reynolds, the husband of Lively, is caught up in this legal drama. To make matters murkier, Reynolds himself has filed a motion to dismiss Baldoni’s complaint against him.
With these new developments still unfolding, it is hard to tell what effect such testimony from Swift might have on the case. The singer attended the Grammy Awards on February 2, 2025, in Los Angeles but has not publicly commented on her subpoena or its implications for her friendship with Lively.
Recent reports indicate that Baldoni attended the world premiere of his film “It Ends With Us” on August 6, 2024, in New York City. The film has caused quite a bit of controversy because of current and pending lawsuits. You’re not just seeing people gravitate towards its incredible story but really diving into the controversy.
