Taylor Swift, the famous singer, might have to answer questions in a court case. This case involves actors Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni. They worked together on the movie “It Ends With Us.” Swift’s lawyer says she has little to do with the fight. But if the court orders it, she can give answers in October. This story looks at the lawsuit and why Swift is involved. It explains the main points in simple words.
1. The Lawsuit Between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni
Blake Lively started the lawsuit in December. She says Justin Baldoni sexually harassed her on the set of their movie. Lively also says Baldoni and his company, Wayfarer Studios, tried to hurt her good name. This came after a meeting where Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, talked about bad behavior by Baldoni.
Baldoni fought back with his own lawsuit. He said Lively and Reynolds lied about him and tried to scare him. But a judge threw out Baldoni’s claims in June. Now, the case is about Lively’s side. Lawyers are taking statements from people involved. This is called a deposition. It means answering questions under oath.
The movie “It Ends With Us” came out in August 2024. It is based on a book by Colleen Hoover. The story starts as a love tale but turns dark with home violence. The film made $50 million in its first days. This was more than expected. But people talked a lot about problems between Lively and Baldoni during filming.
2. Why Is Taylor Swift Involved?
Taylor Swift is a friend of Blake Lively. Lively’s lawyers want to ask Swift some questions. They think she might know something about the case. But Swift’s lawyer, J. Douglas Baldridge, wrote a letter to the judge. He said Swift has “no material role” in the lawsuit. This means she is not a main part of the story.
Baldridge said Swift did not agree to the deposition. But if forced, she can do it during the week of October 20. Her lawyer only learned about it three days ago. Swift has a busy schedule with her work. Baldoni’s lawyers said they want to talk to her only from October 20 to 25. They do not want to change the whole court timeline.
Lively’s lawyer, Matthew Bruno, is upset. He said it is wrong to wait until the last minute for such an important witness. Depositions must end soon. If Swift’s talk happens in late October, it could delay the trial set for March. Bruno does not want any more talks after the discovery time ends. He calls Swift’s role “tangential,” which means not very important.
3. What Do the Lawyers Say?
In his letter, Baldridge made it clear that Swift is not okay with being questioned. But she will try to fit it in if needed. Baldoni’s team wrote on Thursday that they just want this one deposition. They say Swift agreed but only after October 20 because of her job.
When the judge dismissed Baldoni’s countersuit, his lawyer Bryan Freedman spoke out. He said Lively’s claims about harassment and a secret plan to hurt her name are still not true. The fight between the two actors has been in the news a lot. It started rumors before the movie even came out.
4. Who Are Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni?
Blake Lively is a well-known actress. She was in the 2005 movie “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.” She also starred in the TV show “Gossip Girl” from 2007 to 2012. Later, she was in films like “The Town” and “The Shallows.” Lively is married to Ryan Reynolds, who is famous for “Deadpool.”
Justin Baldoni is an actor and director. He was in the TV comedy “Jane the Virgin.” He directed the 2019 movie “Five Feet Apart.” Baldoni also wrote a book called “Man Enough.” It talks about new ideas for what it means to be a man.
Both actors played big roles in “It Ends With Us.” Lively played the main character, Lily. Baldoni played Ryle, her love interest. The movie deals with tough topics like abuse. This makes the real-life fight between them even more sad for fans.
5. What Happens Next in the Case?
The judge in New York is looking at the letters from the lawyers. They need to decide if Swift must give a deposition. The trial is in March, so time is short. Lively’s team wants to finish all questions soon. Baldoni’s side says they are not asking for big changes, just this one talk.
If Swift does answer questions, it will be quick. Her lawyer says she does not have much to say. The case is about what happened on the movie set. Swift was not there, but as a friend, she might know about Lively’s side of the story.
Fans are watching closely. Taylor Swift is one of the biggest stars in music. She is on her Eras Tour. Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni are popular in Hollywood. The lawsuit shows how hard it can be to work in movies. It also brings up important talks about harassment at work.
6. The Bigger Picture of the Movie and Drama
“It Ends With Us” did well at the box office. But the behind-the-scenes problems hurt its image. People wondered if Lively and Baldoni could not get along. The book by Colleen Hoover is very popular. It sold millions. The movie tried to show the book’s message about leaving bad relationships.
This lawsuit could change how people see the film. It might also lead to more rules on movie sets to stop harassment. For now, both sides are fighting in court. The judge will decide the next steps.
Taylor Swift staying out of it as much as possible. Her team wants to protect her time. But if the court says yes, she will help in October. This story shows how famous people get pulled into each other’s problems.
In the end, the case is about truth and fairness. Lively wants justice for what she says happened. Baldoni says it is not true. Swift is just a side witness. The world waits to see what the judge does.
