Private Texts Between Celebrities Exposed in Legal Battle
Newly unsealed court documents have pulled back the curtain on what was once considered a golden Hollywood friendship, revealing private text exchanges between actress Blake Lively and pop superstar Taylor Swift that allegedly contain harsh criticism of director Justin Baldoni. The legal filings, obtained by Page Six, provide unprecedented insight into behind-the-scenes tensions during the production of the film It Ends With Us, in which Lively stars and Baldoni both directs and co-stars.
Alleged Mockery and Strategic Maneuvering
According to the court documents, Lively allegedly referred to Baldoni as "the doofus director of my movie" in private messages to Swift. The texts reportedly show the two celebrities plotting to outmaneuver Baldoni both creatively and strategically during the film's production. In one particularly revealing exchange from April 2023, Lively allegedly asked Swift to endorse her revised script without even reading it first, to which Swift reportedly responded with enthusiastic support.
"I'll do anything for you!!" Swift allegedly texted, according to the court filing cited by Page Six. After Swift backed Lively's version of the script during a meeting at the actress's apartment, Lively reportedly gushed in a follow-up message: "You were so epically heroic today ... This clown falling for all of it ... You are the world's absolute greatest friend ever."
Escalating Tensions and Professional Conflicts
The documents reveal that tensions continued to escalate throughout 2024. In April of that year, texts about using Swift's song My Tears Ricochet in the film's trailer allegedly showed Swift questioning Baldoni's professional competence. "If Justin was strategic he would be like no Taylor Swift in the trailer," she wrote, noting that it gave Lively additional leverage in negotiations.
Lively's alleged response was equally critical: "He should've run from your music ... How stupid." The situation reached another peak in December 2024, right before a New York Times article accused Baldoni of running a smear campaign. Swift allegedly texted Lively at that time: "I think this b— knows something is coming because he's gotten out his tiny violin."
Friendship Fractures and Production Turmoil
The court documents also exposed significant cracks in the relationship between Lively and Swift themselves. In a tense December 4, 2024 exchange reported by Page Six, Lively expressed concern that she had become "needy," while Swift fired back that Lively's texts sounded like "a mass corporate email sent to 200 employees." Swift reportedly told her friend that she missed her "funny, dark, normal-speaking friend" rather than someone constantly using collective language.
Additional unsealed testimony cited by People magazine reveals that production tensions extended beyond the director. A Sony Pictures executive allegedly called Lively a "f—ing terrorist" after she threatened to quit the movie unless her extensive list of demands was accepted. The studio had already invested approximately $28 million into the film at that point, making the threat particularly significant.
Ongoing Legal Fallout and Relationship Status
The legal battle between Lively and Baldoni continues to unfold. Lively initially sued Baldoni in December 2024 for sexual harassment, retaliation, breach of contract, infliction of emotional distress, invasion of privacy, and lost wages. Baldoni denied all allegations and responded with a $400 million countersuit, plus a separate libel suit against the New York Times.
While Baldoni's countersuit was dismissed in June 2025, Lively's original case remains ongoing. As for the friendship between Lively and Swift, sources told Page Six that the relationship is now "beyond repair," with Swift reportedly feeling "used" for clout and professional leverage. By October 2025, insiders indicated that the two celebrities had "no contact" with each other, marking a dramatic shift from their previously public displays of friendship and support.
