Celebrity Legal Drama Escalates as Swift Dragged Into Harassment Case
Blake Lively is firing back at Justin Baldoni after his legal team subpoenaed her close friend Taylor Swift in their ongoing sexual harassment lawsuit. The Gossip Girl star’s representatives have accused Baldoni of turning the serious legal matter into a “tabloid circus” with unnecessary celebrity subpoenas.
Key Developments in the Case:
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Baldoni’s lawyers subpoenaed Swift despite her minimal involvement (only licensing one song for Lively’s film It Ends With Us)
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Lively’s team calls the move a “misogynistic publicity stunt” designed to create clickbait
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Baldoni’s attorney suggested holding Lively’s deposition at Madison Square Garden and selling tickets
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Swift’s camp confirms she had zero creative involvement in the film beyond song licensing
“This Isn’t Barnum & Bailey’s Circus” – Lively’s Scathing Response
A spokesperson for Lively issued a blistering statement obtained by People:
“They continue to turn a case about sexual harassment and retaliation into entertainment for the tabloids… This is a very serious legal matter, not Barnum & Bailey’s Circus.”
The statement specifically called out Baldoni and his business partner Steve Sarowitz for:
✔ Subpoenaing Swift to generate media attention
✔ Publicly intimidating and shaming women
✔ Attempting to strike down California victims’ rights laws
Swift’s Team Fires Back
The Anti-Hero singer’s representatives emphasized that Swift:
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Never visited the film set
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Wasn’t involved in casting/creative decisions
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Didn’t see the movie until weeks after release
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Was touring globally during production
“This subpoena is designed to use Taylor Swift’s name to create tabloid clickbait rather than focus on the case facts.”
— Swift’s representative
What’s Next in the Legal Battle?
Lively’s attorney Mike Gottlieb confirmed:
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The actress will testify at trial
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Subpoenas for celebrities like Swift and Hugh Jackman appear irrelevant to the harassment claims
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The court may reject what they call “frivolous celebrity subpoenas”
Gottlieb argued:
“You can’t just subpoena people because they’re famous. Federal courts don’t tolerate that behavior.”
Why This Matters:
This high-profile case highlights:
🔹 The challenges women face when reporting harassment
🔹 How powerful men may use legal tactics to intimidate
🔹 The weaponization of celebrity in legal proceedings
The trial is expected to begin later this year, with Lively prepared to take the stand against her It Ends With Us co-star.
