In a surprising twist, global music superstar Taylor Swift has been pulled into the escalating legal battle surrounding the film adaptation of It Ends With Us, a drama that has spiraled into a public feud between its key players. Swift, who licensed her song My Tears Ricochet for the movie’s trailer and a scene, now finds herself subpoenaed by actor and director Justin Baldoni’s legal team in a Blake Lively faces $400M defamation lawsuit over film’s controversy.
The subpoena, issued this week, ties Swift to a 2023 meeting in Lively’s New York penthouse, where Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and Swift allegedly discussed a rewritten rooftop scene pivotal to the film. According to court documents, Baldoni claims the trio’s approval of Lively’s script changes pressured him to agree, citing the influence of their combined star power. A text message from Baldoni to Lively, referenced in the lawsuit, reads, “It’s way more engaging now. (And I’d have thought so even without Ryan and Taylor’s input).” Baldoni’s lawyers argue this moment reflects a broader pattern of Lively and Reynolds seizing creative control of the project.
Baldoni’s legal filing paints a picture of a power struggle, alleging that Lively wielded her celebrity status to dominate the film’s direction. The lawsuit points to a message from Lively likening herself to a powerful fantasy queen, stating, “My allies guard those I stand for. You’ll see their strength, I assure you.” Baldoni’s team interprets this as an implied threat, amplified by her high-profile connections.
Swift’s representatives have strongly refuted any significant involvement. “Taylor had no role in the film’s production, from casting to script or direction,” a spokesperson said in a statement. “Her only contribution was allowing her song to be used. She saw the movie only after its theatrical release.” The spokesperson called the subpoena a “transparent attempt to leverage Taylor’s fame for media attention and divert focus from the case’s core issues.”
The legal drama began when Lively filed a harassment complaint against Baldoni in December, prompting Baldoni to respond with defamation lawsuits against Lively, Reynolds, and a major news outlet. The inclusion of Swift, while peripheral, adds another layer of intrigue to a case already steeped in Hollywood glamour and tension.
Swift’s legal team is preparing to challenge the subpoena, with a motion to dismiss expected soon. As the court weighs her involvement, the It Ends With Us saga continues to captivate, blending celebrity influence, creative disputes, and high-stakes litigation in a way that feels ripped from a blockbuster script.
