Taylor Swift to Be Deposed in Blake Lively–Justin Baldoni Legal Battle Amid “It Ends With Us” Set Allegations

The entertainment industry is once again under scrutiny as a federal lawsuit unfolds between actor Blake Lively and director Justin Baldoni, stemming from their collaboration on the 2024 film adaptation of “It Ends With Us.” Lively filed suit in December 2024, alleging sexual harassment and subsequent retaliation by Baldoni and production company Wayfarer Studios. According to court documents, Lively contends that not only was she subjected to repeated harassment, but that, upon reporting it, the studio and Baldoni embarked on a “multi-tiered plan” to harm her reputation in retaliation for her complaints .

Baldoni and his team responded with a countersuit against Lively and her husband, actor Ryan Reynolds, alleging defamation and extortion. However, a judge dismissed Baldoni’s countersuit in June 2025, allowing Lively’s original claims to proceed to trial, now scheduled for spring 2026 in New York federal court .

Taylor Swift, a long-time friend of Lively, has become entangled in the legal proceedings as a third-party witness. Baldoni’s legal team has sought to obtain any communications between Swift and Lively regarding the alleged incidents and the subsequent fallout. While Swift initially resisted being drawn into the dispute, her legal team has now stated that she will comply with a deposition if required, with her availability limited to the week of October 20, 2025, due to prior professional obligations .

Swift’s lawyer, J. Douglas Baldridge, emphasized to the presiding judge that “we have consistently maintained that my client has no material role in this action,” and clarified that her agreement to a deposition comes only under compulsion and with significant scheduling constraints .

The focus of the deposition is expected to be on the nature of Swift’s communications with Lively, particularly any discussions about working conditions on set and advice offered in the aftermath of the alleged incidents. Previous efforts to subpoena Swift for relevant messages were withdrawn, but Baldoni’s team succeeded in petitioning for her testimony as the discovery phase draws to a close .

The timeline for depositions has become a point of contention between the parties. Lively’s lawyer, Matthew Bruno, criticized Baldoni’s legal team for what he termed “grossly irresponsible” delays in scheduling Swift’s deposition, warning that such delays could jeopardize the scheduled March 2026 trial date . In response, Baldoni’s attorneys argued that the only requested extension was to accommodate Swift’s pre-existing commitments and that no broader delay of deadlines is being sought .

The court has already overseen depositions from Lively and other key figures associated with the production. Baldoni’s deposition is set for September 21-22, 2025, alongside other co-defendants .

The core of Lively’s lawsuit centers on her assertion that she faced not only harassment but also a subsequent smear campaign orchestrated by Baldoni and studio representatives to punish her for reporting the alleged misconduct. Baldoni and his attorney, Bryan Freedman, have vehemently denied these claims, with Freedman stating that Lively’s allegations are “no truer today than they were yesterday” .

The controversy has overshadowed the release of “It Ends With Us,” which debuted in August 2024 with a box office bonanza . The film, adapted from Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel, addresses themes of domestic violence and resilience—subjects that have taken on added resonance against the backdrop of these real-life allegations.