Blake Lively has firmly come to the defense of her close friend Taylor Swift amid ongoing legal controversy surrounding It Ends With Us co-star Justin Baldoni.
The Gossip Girl alum, who has shared a strong friendship with the Grammy-winning artist for over a decade, spoke out after Swift was unexpectedly dragged into the legal drama via a subpoena.
Blake Lively issued a strongly worded statement, criticizing both Baldoni and producer Steve Sarowitz. “Mr. Baldoni, Mr. Sarowitz, and their team have reduced a serious case of sexual harassment and retaliation into fodder for public spectacle,” Lively stated. “They’ve gone so far as to suggest selling tickets to a venue like Madison Square Garden to watch my deposition and have even subpoenaed Taylor Swift — a woman who has given voice and strength to millions.”
The controversy stems from Baldoni’s allegation that Blake Lively and her husband, actor Ryan Reynolds, hosted script discussions at their New York apartment — a gathering Swift allegedly attended. According to Baldoni, Swift praised Lively’s rewrites during the meeting. However, he insisted that her praise had no bearing on his professional opinion of the script.
In her defense, Blake Lively dismissed the claims as a distortion of events, aimed more at spectacle than justice. She also underscored Swift’s total lack of involvement in the film’s production.
A spokesperson for Swift issued a clarification, emphasizing that Taylor Swift had no connection to It Ends With Us. “Taylor Swift never visited the set, was not involved in casting, had no role in the creative process, and did not see the film prior to its release,” the representative stated. “Any claims otherwise are entirely false.”
This legal entanglement has placed both Lively and Swift under media scrutiny, though Lively has made it clear she intends to protect her friend. Blake Lively’s response not only seeks to distance Swift from the case but also highlights the broader implications of using celebrity associations as courtroom leverage.
With this latest statement, Blake Lively has reaffirmed her loyalty to Swift and taken a firm stand against what she views as an exploitation of justice for media attention.