Blake Lively Reveals Justin Baldoni’s “Bonkers” Diss to Taylor Swift

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Blake Lively knows exactly who her friends are.

Recent messages revealed between actress Lily James and Taylor Swift show a conversation they had with director Justin Baldoni. During that conversation, Baldoni apparently admitted he wasn’t familiar with Swift’s music.

According to court documents obtained by TopMob News on January 20th, Lively texted Swift, “What really bothered me was him telling you he wasn’t familiar with pop culture – that upset me more than anything else he’s done.”

The 38-year-old, who is currently suing actor Benjamin Baldoni for alleged sexual harassment and retaliation during filming of the movie based on Colleen Hoover’s book, wrote that it’s hypocritical of Baldoni to make certain comments. She pointed out that his public image is built around challenging harmful ideas about masculinity – something he even profits from through speaking engagements like TED Talks – yet he allegedly said something offensive to her. She described his behavior as both rude and false.

Lively described Swift as not only today’s most popular musician, but also one of the greatest and most celebrated artists of all time.

She went on to say that being popular doesn’t usually mean someone is highly acclaimed. It’s rare for both to happen at the same time. Steven Spielberg is a prime example of someone who achieved both, she noted.

Lively then wondered if Baldoni—who insists he didn’t do what he’s accused of—would have been okay with telling a director like Spielberg that he wasn’t familiar with his films.

She pointed out that you wouldn’t tell someone like Steven Spielberg you’re unfamiliar with his films simply because you’re not up-to-date on pop culture.

The Gossip Girl actress also mentioned Taylor Swift’s honorary doctorate from New York University in 2022, saying she should have celebrated it with her sooner. She praised Swift as someone worthy of academic study, calling her a true expert in her field and acknowledging that others clearly recognize her talent.

Lively explained she would stop bringing up past issues, then shared her affection for Swift, saying she often feels more concerned about Swift’s fans’ feelings than her own.

She explained that she gets much more upset when someone hurts the people she cares about than when they hurt her. She finished by saying she loved them, was thrilled for them, and appreciated the fun they had that day, calling it ‘stupid fun’.

Taylor Swift responded to Blake Lively’s message, where Lively had expressed how lucky she felt to have Swift as a friend, calling her “the Fate of Ophelia” singer.

According to court documents, Swift exclaimed, “I won the lottery!” and added, “You’re the coolest person in the world, and you like me!”

Lively also expressed her gratitude to Taylor for assisting during the discussion with Baldoni, and mentioned she had discussed the whole thing with her husband, Ryan Reynolds.

Lively texted, ‘You were amazing today.’ She told Ryan all about it, recalling how he playfully made up stories about her and her camera equipment, even calling himself ‘her doll.’ She described being both amused and slightly bothered by his behavior, noting how he seemed to both play along with and push back against it.

She added, “You are the worlds absolute greatest friend ever.”

In a July deposition, Lively said she texted Swift that she didn’t need to read the script. However, in a court filing on January 20th, Lively explained the text was meant to reassure her friend and prevent her from feeling obligated.

During a deposition, Lively explained that she sent the script to Taylor while Taylor was traveling to her place, as Justin was still inside. She asked Taylor to read it, but emphasized it wasn’t an obligation and she didn’t want to pressure her, though she was hoping Taylor would.

According to his lawyer, Bryan Freedman, the evidence doesn’t back up the claims against Baldoni, as previously stated in legal filings and in Sony’s own discussions about Blake Lively’s conduct, according to a statement released to TopMob News on January 21st.

After reviewing the recently published messages, the facts are obvious,” Freedman stated. “We are still hopeful the legal system will prove everyone associated with Justin Baldoni is innocent.

For a deep dive into the ongoing legal battle between Lively and Baldoni, keep reading.

Four months after the movie version of Colleen Hoover’s novel It Ends With Us came out, Blake Lively filed a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department (CRD) on December 20th, as reported by The New York Times. The complaint alleges misconduct by her co-star Justin Baldoni and several associates.

The complaint, obtained by TopMob News, names Baldoni, his production company Wayfarer Studios, its CEO Jamey Heath, cofounder Steve Sarowitz, Baldoni’s publicist Jennifer Abel, her company RWA Communications, crisis communications specialist Melissa Nathan, her company The Agency Group PR LLC (TAG), contractor Jed Wallace, and his company Street Relations Inc. as defendants.

Lively claims that Baldoni and those connected to Wayfarer launched a deliberate campaign to discredit her after she raised concerns about inappropriate behavior on set. She states that she and other members of the cast and crew experienced behavior from Baldoni and Heath that was invasive, unwelcome, unprofessional, and sexually inappropriate.

The actress alleges this campaign caused significant personal and professional damage. The complaint details accusations including sexual harassment, retaliation, failure to address harassment, aiding and abetting harassment, breach of contract, intentional emotional distress, negligence, invasion of privacy, and interference with her career opportunities.

The following day, The New York Times published a story detailing what Lively claimed was a deliberate effort by Baldoni and his team to discredit her – a claim supported by her formal complaint. The article included messages from Baldoni, his publicist Abel, and crisis communications specialist Nathan, all of which were part of the complaint. Readers could access the full court documents directly on The New York Times’ website. Lively told the newspaper, “I hope my lawsuit exposes these harmful tactics used against those who report wrongdoing, and helps protect others who might be targeted.”

As a longtime supporter of Antonio Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios, I was deeply disappointed to see Blake Lively make these accusations. Immediately after the news broke, our attorney, Bryan Freedman, released a strong statement defending Antonio and the studio. He rightly called Lively’s claims ‘shameful’ and ‘categorically false,’ pointing out they were a clear attempt to repair the damage to her own reputation caused by her statements and actions during the film’s promotion. It’s frustrating to see her try to rewrite history when everything – the interviews, the press events – was all public and unedited for everyone to see.

Bryan also clarified that Wayfarer hiring a crisis manager was a standard precaution before the movie’s marketing even began. They didn’t retaliate at all, only responded to media requests to ensure accurate reporting and kept an eye on what was being said online. What Lively conveniently left out of the information she shared is that Wayfarer didn’t do anything proactive – they were simply planning for different scenarios, which is exactly what any responsible PR team would do. It’s just standard operating procedure, and it’s disheartening to see it twisted like this.

Following the publication of a New York Times article on December 21st, talent agency William Morris Endeavor (WME) ended its relationship with Baldoni, as confirmed by Ari Emanuel, CEO of Endeavor.

WME refuted claims that Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively’s husband, was the reason for the split. Baldoni had alleged in a lawsuit against The New York Times that Reynolds had pressured his agent.

WME stated to The Hollywood Reporter on January 1st that Baldoni’s claim—that Reynolds pressured his agent at the Deadpool & Wolverine premiere—was false. They confirmed that Baldoni’s former representative wasn’t even at the premiere and that neither Reynolds nor Lively ever pressured them to drop Baldoni as a client.

As a huge fan, I’ve been following the situation with Blake Lively and it’s been so moving to see the support she’s receiving. After she filed and The New York Times published its article, so many people came forward. Colleen Hoover, the author of It Ends With Us, shared a heartfelt message on Instagram, thanking Blake for being a consistently kind and supportive friend. Jenny Slate, who played Ryle’s sister, publicly voiced her support, saying she stands with Blake as she addresses the attacks on her reputation. She described Blake as a leader and a trusted friend. Even Brandon Sklenar, who played a love interest in the film, shared the complaint and urged everyone to read it. And of course, her Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants family – America Ferrera, Alexis Bledel, and Amber Tamblyn – all shared a message of solidarity. It’s just incredible to see so many people rallying around her.

On December 23rd, Liz Plank announced she was leaving The Man Enough Podcast, which she co-hosted with Justin Baldoni and Heath. In an Instagram post, Plank expressed her gratitude to listeners for sharing their stories and creating a special community. She said she would miss them and felt proud of what they had built together.

While Plank didn’t explain her reasons for leaving, her departure followed allegations made against Baldoni and others at Wayfarer.

Plank stated she remained committed to the values the podcast had fostered and thanked her followers for their support over the past four years. She emphasized the importance of accountability and justice, and said she would share more information in the future. She also affirmed her continued support for those who speak out against wrongdoing.

Stephanie Jones, a former publicist for actor Baldoni, and her agency, Jonesworks LLC, are suing Baldoni, his company Wayfarer, and current publicists Abel and Nathan. The lawsuit, filed in New York on December 24th, claims Abel and Nathan secretly worked together to damage Jones and Jonesworks’ reputation, break contracts, and steal clients. According to the suit, they coordinated with Baldoni and Wayfarer to launch a negative media campaign against Baldoni’s co-star, then falsely blamed Jones for the campaign when she wasn’t involved. Abel previously worked at Jonesworks until last summer. The lawsuit further alleges that Abel and Nathan are now trying to deflect blame onto Jones as their own actions come to light, and are continuing to harm her professional reputation. The suit also claims Baldoni and Wayfarer violated their contract with Jonesworks and refused to resolve the dispute through private arbitration. TopMob News has reached out to those named in the suit for comment.

According to a December 23rd report in Variety, Lively’s lawyers received the text messages published in The New York Times through a legal request to Jonesworks. Freedman, the attorney for Nathan and Abel, as well as Baldoni and his colleagues, stated that none of his clients were asked to provide information related to this matter. He also plans to sue Jones for sharing messages from Abel’s phone with Lively’s legal team.

Okay, so I’ve been following this whole thing with Baldoni, Wayfarer, Heath, Sarowitz, Nathan, TAG, Abel, RWA Communications, and Wallace and Street Relations, and it’s INSANE! They just filed a $250 MILLION lawsuit against The New York Times on December 31st! Apparently, the Times published an article claiming they ran a smear campaign against Lively after she spoke up about some issues on set, and they’re saying it’s all a complete lie. They’re accusing the Times of libel, invasion of privacy, and even breaking a promise! They’re saying the article was based entirely on Lively’s side of the story – her complaint – and that the Times just took everything she said as gospel. They claim the messages cited were twisted and taken out of context. Honestly, they’re saying Lively was the one spreading lies, not them! The Times is fighting back, of course, saying they did their homework and the story was thoroughly reported based on tons of documents. But I’m telling you, this is a mess, and I’m completely Team Baldoni and the others! I’ve read some of the documents and I believe they are being targeted unfairly!

That day, Lively filed a lawsuit against Justin Baldoni, Wayfarer Entertainment, Heath Meldrum, Jonathan Sarowitz, the production company It Ends With Us Movie LLC, Nathan and his company TAG, and Abel in New York.

The lawsuit, details of which were obtained by TopMob News, alleges sexual harassment, retaliation, and a failure to address harassment. It also includes claims of breach of contract, intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress, and invasion of privacy.

These allegations were initially outlined in a complaint Lively filed with the California Civil Rights Department (CRD) earlier in the month.

Regarding a lawsuit Baldoni and others filed against The New York Times (which did not name Lively as a defendant), Lively’s attorneys stated to TopMob that her claims remain unchanged. They argued that Baldoni’s lawsuit falsely suggests Lively’s CRD complaint was a tactic to avoid suing him, and that she never intended to pursue legal action. Her attorneys pointed to the federal complaint she filed that same day as proof that this claim is false.

The plaintiffs in the lawsuit against The New York Times, led by Baldoni, have indicated they intend to pursue further legal action. Court documents reveal they believe others were also involved and that this won’t be their only lawsuit. In a January 2nd interview with NBC News, Baldoni and his attorney, Freedman, confirmed they definitely plan to sue Lively.

The controversy surrounding Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni continued to gain attention online. Some social media users suggested that Lively’s husband, Ryan Reynolds, subtly referenced the situation in his upcoming film, Deadpool & Wolverine, through the character Nicepool. While Reynolds hasn’t addressed these rumors publicly, Baldoni’s lawyer, Freedman, did speak out. In an interview on The Megyn Kelly Show posted on YouTube on January 7th, Freedman stated, “If your wife is sexually harassed, you don’t make fun of Justin Baldoni, or the situation. You take it seriously, file complaints with HR, and follow legal procedures. You don’t mock the person and turn it into a joke.”

Lively’s legal team says she’s faced increased criticism since filing her lawsuit. In a statement released January 7th, they emphasized the seriousness of her claims of sexual harassment and retaliation, stating it’s not a simple disagreement or a matter of differing opinions. They allege that Wayfarer and those connected to the company deliberately spread false information to discredit Lively after she attempted to ensure a safe work environment on a film set. They claim this negative campaign has intensified since the lawsuit was filed.

The lawyers also cautioned against common tactics used to dismiss harassment claims, such as blaming the victim or portraying the offender as the one who was wronged. They stated that these approaches minimize the severity of serious misconduct and won’t hold up in court. They intend to prove their case through legal proceedings, emphasizing that public statements are not a defense against the allegations.

In a statement to TopMob, Justin Baldoni’s lawyer, Freedman, pointed out the irony of Blake Lively accusing Baldoni of using the media to his advantage, considering her own team allegedly sent heavily edited documents to The New York Times before even filing the complaint. He also stated they are releasing evidence showing a pattern of bullying and threats aimed at taking control of the film. According to Freedman, this behavior is consistent with Lively’s past actions, where she allegedly used others to deliver threats and get her way, and they have proof to support these claims.

On January 16th, Heath Baldoni, Wayfarer, publicist Abel, crisis communication specialist Nathan, and the production company It Ends With Us Movie LLC filed a lawsuit against Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, Lively’s publicist Leslie Sloane, and Sloane’s firm, Vision PR.

The lawsuit, obtained by TopMob News, claims the defendants engaged in civil extortion, defamation, and invasion of privacy. Lively is specifically accused of violating an implied agreement to act in good faith, while both Lively and Reynolds are accused of intentionally and negligently interfering with business relationships and financial opportunities.

The plaintiffs deny Lively’s claims of sexual harassment and a retaliatory smear campaign, alleging instead that Lively took control of the It Ends With Us movie promotion and, with the help of Reynolds, Sloane, and others, attempted to damage their reputations in the press after receiving criticism for her marketing efforts. Lively maintains she followed Sony’s marketing plan.

The lawsuit further claims the defendants collaborated with The New York Times to publish a damaging and false news report, though the outlet stands by its reporting.

In a statement to TopMob, Freedman said Blake Lively was either misinformed by her team or deliberately misrepresented the truth.

Lively’s lawyers have responded to a lawsuit filed against her, calling it a common tactic used by abusers. They argue that Baldoni is attempting to portray Lively as the aggressor after she came forward with evidence of sexual harassment and retaliation – a strategy experts call DARVO, which stands for Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim Offender.

Lively’s team claims Baldoni is trying to falsely suggest she took over the project and caused issues with the cast. They state evidence will prove that others also had negative experiences with Baldoni and the production company, and that Sony specifically asked Lively to oversee the final cut of the film, which ultimately proved successful.

The lawyers strongly criticized Baldoni’s reaction, accusing him of blaming Lively for the alleged harassment and focusing on her actions instead of addressing the abuse itself. They assert that this strategy is a desperate attempt to discredit Lively’s claims and will ultimately fail.

Lawyers for actor Justin Baldoni have released footage from the set of It Ends With Us, arguing it disproves claims made by his co-star, Blake Lively. They state the scene was intended to portray a loving connection between the characters, and both actors behaved professionally and respectfully.

However, Lively’s lawyers disagree, claiming the video actually supports her allegations. They assert that Baldoni improvised all of his actions without prior discussion or consent. They point out Lively repeatedly tried to redirect the scene to a verbal exchange and that her visible discomfort will resonate with anyone who has experienced inappropriate touching at work.

The couple asked the judge handling their case to prevent Freedman, the lead lawyer for the opposing side, from making public statements, hoping to ensure a fair legal process.

A seven-minute voice memo reportedly sent by director Baldoni to actress Lively during the making of It Ends With Us surfaced online. In the memo, Baldoni seemed to discuss a rooftop scene Lively had revised and how she presented the changes to him, allegedly with her husband, Ryan Reynolds, and Taylor Swift present. He praised their collaborative creativity, saying, “The three of you together, it’s unbelievable.”

Baldoni also appeared to apologize for his initial reaction to the revised script, admitting, “I messed up. I will admit and apologize when I fail.”

A court date of March 9, 2026, was scheduled one month after Lively officially sued Baldoni.

According to documents obtained by TopMob News, Chaz Baldoni has updated his lawsuit against Blake Lively, her representatives Reynolds and Sloane, and Sloane’s PR firm, Vision PR, Inc. The updated filing now also names The New York Times as a defendant.

Baldoni claims Lively and her team spent months secretly working together and providing false information to The New York Times.

The lawsuit alleges that the newspaper selectively used and changed communications, removing important context and intentionally editing them to be misleading.

Baldoni published a website detailing his legal case against Lively, including the latest version of his complaint and a breakdown of key events. This site featured what Baldoni claimed were screenshots of text conversations between Lively, Reynolds, and himself.

The website went live about a month after Baldoni’s legal team announced they intended to publicly share all text messages between the parties involved.

In an interview with NBC News on January 2nd, Baldoni’s lawyer stated they wanted to make all the evidence available so the public could draw their own conclusions.

Lively’s lawyers have updated her lawsuit, stating that two other women who worked on the film It Ends With Us also felt uneasy about Baldoni’s behavior on set.

The updated complaint, obtained by TopMob News, asserts that Lively wasn’t the only one to raise concerns. It claims that these experiences, along with Lively’s, were recorded starting in May 2023, and that Baldoni acknowledged the complaints in writing at the time. He was aware that other women besides Lively were uncomfortable with his behavior.

The lawsuit doesn’t identify the two women, who Lively says will testify, citing a climate of threats and harassment created by the defendants’ response to the initial claims.

Baldoni’s attorney, Freedman, responded to the updated complaint, calling it based on unreliable hearsay and claiming the unnamed women are now unwilling to support Lively’s allegations publicly.

Following accusations from Baldoni that Sloane spread false and damaging rumors painting him as a “sexual predator,” and that Sloane organized a smear campaign at Lively’s behest, Sloane requested the lawsuit be dismissed.

According to legal documents reviewed by TopMob News, Sloane’s lawyer claims the accusations against her are completely unfounded and that she was intentionally added to the lawsuit to divert attention from the claims made by Lively.

Lively has hired Nick Shapiro, a former Deputy Chief of Staff for the CIA, to help with the legal strategy for the sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit currently happening in New York. According to a member of her legal team at Willkie Farr & Gallagher, this announcement was made to Variety on February 28th.

David Shapiro started his career with the CIA from 2013 to 2015, serving during the Obama administration. He later held leadership positions at Visa, overseeing global security and communications, and at Airbnb, where he led crisis management. After three years with Airbnb, he established his own consulting firm, 10th Avenue Consulting LLC.

According to documents obtained by TopMob News, The New York Times has asked a court to dismiss them from the $400 million lawsuit, which also involves Lively, Baldoni, and the company Sloane and Sloane.

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve been following this case closely, and it’s become quite a public back-and-forth. Essentially, the newspaper is saying Baldoni’s team is presenting a very one-sided story that’s been getting a lot of attention, but they firmly believe The Times shouldn’t be involved in this dispute at all. What’s also interesting is that the original $250 million lawsuit filed by Baldoni and his associates was actually dropped once The Times was added to a larger $400 million claim, according to court documents obtained by Deadline. It’s a complex situation, and it’s clear both sides are digging in.

U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman has temporarily paused the exchange of information and documents in a case involving The New York Times, following the newspaper’s request. Court documents obtained by TopMob News show the judge agreed to halt the process while he considers The New York Times’ motion to dismiss the case.

Judge Liman stated that the newspaper demonstrated a strong likelihood of winning its motion, presenting “substantial grounds” for dismissal. He also determined that delaying the exchange of information wouldn’t unfairly harm the opposing side.

A spokesperson for The New York Times told TopMob News that they were pleased with the court’s decision, which acknowledges the important First Amendment rights at stake and prevents what they believe is an unnecessary and burdensome legal challenge.

Following accusations from Baldoni that Lively was using her friendship with Taylor Swift to gain more say in the film adaptation of It Ends With Us – and after his lawyers attempted to subpoena Swift – a spokesperson for the singer responded.

A spokesperson confirmed to TopMob News on May 9th that Taylor Swift had absolutely no involvement in the movie. They stated she wasn’t part of the casting process, didn’t contribute to the music, and never even reviewed a draft of the film.

Taylor Swift allowed the film to use her song, ‘My Tears Ricochet,’ according to her representative. They believe this legal request for documents is simply an attempt to generate publicity and sensationalize the case by using Swift’s name, as 19 other artists also licensed music for the film. The focus should be on the facts, not creating tabloid headlines.

Baldoni’s attorneys withdrew their request later that month, per Lively’s legal team.

The judge dismissed the lawsuit brought against Lively, Reynolds, their publicist Sloane, Sloane’s company Vision PR, and The New York Times. The judge ruled that Baldoni and his lawyers didn’t provide enough evidence to support claims of defamation or civil extortion.

After the lawsuit against her was dropped, Lively spoke on Instagram about how difficult it was to be targeted with a retaliatory suit, and the embarrassment it caused. She also pointed out that many people don’t have the means to defend themselves in similar situations.

She expressed her love and thanks to everyone who supported her, both those she knew and those she didn’t. She promised to always be grateful for and fight for them.

Baldoni’s lawyer told TopMob News that Lively’s claim of winning is untrue.

The lawyer stated this case centers around false claims of sexual harassment, subsequent retaliation, and a fabricated attempt to damage someone’s reputation. Ms. Lively’s legal team has called this alleged campaign ‘untraceable’ because they can’t provide evidence of something that didn’t occur.

Lively gave a deposition at her lawyers’ office in New York. Despite reports describing it as a tense confrontation between Lively and Baldoni, her legal team later protested claims that she required a large group of witnesses to support her testimony.

According to Lively’s lawyer, Baldoni was in the room with the other people she was suing, and their lawyers, too.

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2026-01-23 01:20