Movies

Taylor Swift subpoenaed in blockbuster legal battle

BBG News

In the ongoing legal tussle with his “It Ends With Us” co-star and director, Justin Baldoni, Blake Lively has put forth a striking new request.

Back in December, I was utterly shaken when I learned that my beloved idol, Baldoni, had been accused of sexual misconduct towards Lively. Not only did he allegedly cross the line with his actions, but it seemed like he launched a public relations offensive aimed at sullying her name.

In response, he filed a $400 million lawsuit for defamation, targeting Emily Lively, her spouse Ryan Reynolds, and The New York Times, as they had initially published the allegations against him.

Currently, Lively’s legal team has sent a letter to the judge, requesting that Baldoni present his financial records to substantiate his assertion that Lively’s alleged actions led to the loss of the $400 million in potential earnings he seeks, as reported by TMZ.

Their legal team asserts that they requested the required financial details from Baldoni’s legal representatives. However, they were told they wouldn’t receive the desired information, but instead could obtain ‘documents not protected by privilege that pertain to the damages they seek.’

In their correspondence, Lively’s group assert that Baldoni and his fellow defendants should disclose the methodology they used to determine the $400 million figure, which they claim they are owed.

Additionally, her advisor pointed out that despite Baldoni’s assertion of financial loss, The It Ends With Us movie turned out to be a massive success financially.

The very same day that Lively made a harsh statement, a letter arrived, as the lawyers for Baldoni had summoned Taylor Swift in connection with their on-going legal dispute.

Baldoni’s advice included an idea that Lively might consider streaming her deposition at Madison Square Garden, selling tickets for it, and donating all the earnings to aid victims of domestic violence.

In response to Baldoni and his production partner Steve Sarowitz at Wayfarer Studios, Lively’s representative stated that their team is persistently transforming an issue concerning sexual harassment and retaliation into sensationalized material for the gossip magazines, as reported by People.

Additionally, they criticized them for issuing subpoenas to Taylor Swift, a woman whose voice resonates with millions across the globe.

‘This is a very serious legal matter, not Barnum & Bailey’s Circus,’ the statement continued.

As a lifestyle enthusiast, I can share that Taylor Swift, the renowned Shake it Off singer, enjoys a close friendship with Blake Lively. Contrary to some speculations, Taylor was not directly involved in the creation of “It Ends With Us,” but rather granted permission for her hit song “My Tears Ricochet” to be featured in the movie. Her representative confirmed this fact.

Swift’s representative clarified: ‘Taylor Swift didn’t step onto this film’s set. She had no role in casting or creative choices, didn’t compose the soundtrack, never previewed or commented on any edits of the film, and only watched It Ends with Us after its public premiere, which happened during 2023 and 2024, while she was touring globally as the headliner for the largest concert tour ever.’

Swift’s representative stated that their popular music star client was utilized more for generating public curiosity through sensationalized tabloid headlines rather than concentrating on the actual facts of the case.

‘Given that her involvement was licensing a song for the film, which 19 other artists also 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.’ 

Furthermore, the representative also emphasized that the defendants have persistently threatened, harassed, disparaged, and belittled women’s rights and standing. Most recently, they attempted to overturn a robust California law advocating for victims’ rights, labeling it as “unconstitutional” within the past month.

The questionable behaviors of a billionaire, along with men who built their careers as advocates for women, and their associates, are increasingly revealing their underlying attitudes.

Today’s news follows a disclosure by attorney Mike Gottlieb, discussing potential witnesses for his client’s forthcoming trial concerning her costar Justin, from the film “It Ends with Us.

Attorney Bryan Freedman for Baldoni playfully proposed: “As Ms. Lively has shown willingness to testify, let’s turn this into something meaningful. Let’s host the deposition at Madison Square Garden, sell tickets or stream it, and donate all earnings to organizations assisting victims of domestic abuse.

On Thursday, I was overjoyed to learn that my beloved actress, now 37, has pledged to take the stand and swear under oath in a court of law! The anticipation is killing me!

Regarding the question about Lively’s testimony, Gottlieb affirmed that she is indeed anticipated to serve as a witness during the trial.

In this situation, it’s when Lively’s account will unfold most comprehensively – during the trial. I assume that will happen in this instance as well, and indeed, she is expected to take the stand.

Despite rumors suggesting that friends of Lively, such as Taylor Swift and Hugh Jackman, could potentially be summoned, Gottlieb stated that it remains uncertain if any allegations or arguments in the case pertain to these celebrities in any way.

He clarified that the matter at hand is not concerning the incident involving Blake Lively and her allegations of sexual harassment on set, nor does it involve decisions regarding song selection for the film, or the fictional Marvel characters featured in the Deadpool films.

Later, Gottlieb queried, “So, the question arises, what is the reason behind summoning these individuals? Are they in any way connected or relevant to the ongoing case?

As a die-hard enthusiast, let me say this: It’s not right to summon individuals simply because they’re well-known and believe it’ll stir up sensational news. Such tactics are unwelcome in the federal court system. They won’t stand for such behavior.

Currently, there’s some doubt about whether Ryan Reynolds, Lively’s husband, will take the stand, as he is at present listed as a defendant in Baldoni’s counterclaim.

Despite appearing awkward for those involved, Freedman stressed that the truth isn’t a diversion. The truth, as demonstrated by uncensored receipts, papers, and authentic videos, has already been revealed. Further evidence will be presented soon.

Freedman went on to say, “It was Blake who introduced her influential companions to this predicament, disregarding potential harm to them personally or publicly. The evidence clearly indicates that she controlled Justin’s actions through her dragons.

Freedman’s last comment was a subtle reference to the supposed texts from Lively, where she referred to Swift and Reynolds as “dragon-like figures.

According to the supposed writings, she drew a parallel with Daenerys Targaryen (Khaleesi) from Game of Thrones, stating that, regardless of whether it’s beneficial or detrimental, her ‘dragons’ symbolize the forces she safeguards in her battles.

Regarding the alleged wrongdoings by Ryan, as stated by Freedman: “Ryan’s actions in this matter are extensively documented, and we’re still uncovering additional instances of deliberate misconduct. One might wonder if Disney knowingly allowed Ryan to use shareholder funds to fuel a personal vendetta. I find it hard to believe that such corporate waste wouldn’t result in further scrutiny for those who have played a role in impacting shareholder earnings.

In December, Lively submitted an 80-page civil rights grievance to the California Civil Rights Authority, preceding the formal filing of a federal court case approximately four weeks thereafter.

During that same month, Baldoni was taken to court by Lively due to allegations of sexual harassment on the film set. In her legal action, the actress formerly known for Gossip Girl charged Baldoni with various forms of sexual harassment – such as body shaming – and orchestrating a defamation campaign against her, aiming to tarnish her public image.

In response to the lawsuit, Baldoni and his representatives claim that Lively distorted the true meaning of text messages exchanged between them and deceived the public regarding the nature of their conversations during the production of the film.

As a devoted supporter, I’m sharing that in my legal action, I called out several individuals who worked closely with Baldoni, among them being his production company Wayfarer Studios, the CEO and principal financier of this studio, and public relations professionals Melissa Nathan and Jennifer Abel.

In simple terms, she expressed her hope that the lawsuit she initiated would expose the underhanded strategies used to punish individuals speaking out against wrongdoing, thus safeguarding those potentially facing similar situations in the future. She shared this sentiment with The New York Times on the day following her complaint filing.

Later, Baldoni filed a lawsuit against the publication for an alleged defamation case worth $250 million, stemming from a news article published on December 21 titled ‘”The Ability to Bury Anyone”: Unveiling a Hollywood Slander Apparatus.’ However, the newspaper has refuted these accusations.

On January 16, Baldoni initiated a $400 million lawsuit against Lively, Reynolds, and their publicist Sloane, claiming defamation and extortion. He stated in court that the trio had devised ‘unfounded allegations of sexual harassment’ against him.

After Lively’s grievance was lodged, Baldoni has experienced several career repercussions such as a legal action initiated by a previous publicist, and termination of representation from the agency WME that also handles Lively and Reynolds.

According to Variety, WME disputes the allegations that Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively applied pressure on them to remove Baldoni from their list of clients.

Both legal teams agreed on a strategy to consolidate the two federal cases they are handling, aiming to progress with a single combined case instead.

Read More

2025-05-11 05:34

Previous post This One Thing at the Fed Still Holds Bitcoin Hostage (And No, It’s Not Coffee)
Next post George Lopez’s Heartbreaking Farewell After NBC Cancels Sitcom Mid-Run