Judge grants Justin Baldoni access to Blake Lively's texts with Taylor Swift

In a recent legal dispute in the United States, a New York judge ruled that messages exchanged between Blake Lively and Taylor Swift could be obtained by Justin Baldoni's legal team. This decision emerged as part of a discovery process in Lively's ongoing legal battle against Baldoni, who she accuses of harassment while working on the 2024 film 'It Ends With Us'. Lively claimed that Baldoni and his colleagues harassed her during the production phase of the movie, prompting her legal action. In a motion, she sought to prevent Baldoni from accessing her private communications with Swift, arguing that his focus on Swift was primarily a media strategy intended to generate attention rather than aid in litigation. The judge, however, emphasized that Lively had herself identified Swift as a potential source of relevant information regarding her complaints about working conditions on the film set. As a result, the judge concluded that any communication between Lively and Swift was pertinent to the case and necessary to substantiate Lively's claims of harassment and retaliation against Baldoni and others involved in the production. To prevent potential leaks of these messages to the public, the judge also imposed a protective order over their disclosure. This ruling adds complexity to the ongoing legal proceedings that have drawn considerable public interest, involving accusations that could tarnish reputations and raise questions about workplace behavior in the entertainment industry. Additional context reveals that Lively previously accused Baldoni's team of damaging her image online after she raised concerns about harassment, while Baldoni countered with his own allegations against Lively. This back-and-forth has fueled speculation surrounding their professional relationship and the dynamics at play during the filming of 'It Ends With Us'. The timeline of events includes a subpoena for Swift that Baldoni's team eventually withdrew, indicating a strategic shift in their legal approach. The trial is scheduled to take place in March 2026, heightening the stakes for all parties involved.