Taylor Swift & Blake Lively Address Friendship Rift in Unsealed Texts

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There’s no bad blood between Taylor Swift and Blake Lively.

Taylor Swift and Blake Lively had a falling out while Lively was involved in a legal dispute with her It Ends With Us co-star, Justin Baldoni. However, newly released court documents from January 20th, obtained by TopMob News, show how the two friends eventually repaired their friendship.

According to court documents, Lively texted the Grammy winner on December 4, 2024, saying, ‘I don’t really have a reason to ask, but I’ve been feeling like I should check in… are you doing okay?’ She went on to explain that she’d felt like a poor friend recently, focusing only on her own problems for months. She appreciated the artist’s support during a difficult time and that they hadn’t called her out for being self-absorbed.

Although the texts don’t reveal the singer’s last name, court records made public in the case do include her full name.

Lively, who is currently suing Baldoni and accusing him of sexual harassment and retaliation – claims he refutes – mentioned that her husband, Ryan Reynolds, suggested she speak to Taylor Swift about her concerns directly.

She explained she felt foolish and worried her questions came across as clingy and uncomfortable, mainly because she couldn’t quite put her feelings into words. She just wanted to be sure everything was okay and wanted the chance to apologize if she’d done anything wrong. Knowing how stressed and overwhelmed the other person was, she emphasized she didn’t want or expect anything more in return.

Taylor Swift, nearing the end of her Eras Tour, acknowledged Blake Lively’s point, saying she was right, but added that it wasn’t something to worry about.

I’m just completely drained, in all areas of my life. And lately, I’ve noticed a change in how you’ve been speaking to me. Yes, there’s been a lot going on with Justin, but I’ve dealt with situations like this before, and I know how overwhelming they can be.

Okay, this is a little tough to say, because I really appreciate how thoughtful your texts have been. But honestly, lately they’ve felt a bit… impersonal, almost like a form letter. I’m hesitant to bring it up, especially knowing everything you’re going through, but I really miss our old connection – the funny, honest, and genuine conversations we used to have. I just miss you talking to me.

The 36-year-old expressed her sympathy for Lively as she navigated legal and public hurdles.

Look, I get it – it feels like you’re constantly having to defend yourself, and over-explaining things is a natural reaction when you feel misunderstood. But honestly, it’s created a little space between us. Please don’t apologize for being you, just… come back to me. I miss you.

After Taylor Swift shared her thoughts, Lively, 38, jokingly wrote her reply as if it were a formal email to address her friend’s worries.

She started by thanking me for my feedback. She said the team at headquarters is looking into my concerns and will respond soon. She also added, genuinely, that I was right.

You know, I’ve realized I’ve been getting a little too careful with how I communicate online. I caught myself actually writing texts, crafting perfect sentences, instead of just, you know, talking like I normally do. It wasn’t until someone pointed it out that I realized how much I was overthinking it! And honestly, it’s connected to something deeper. I’ve felt so misunderstood lately that I’ve even started second-guessing my own instincts, even when it comes to simple things. I’m over-explaining everything, almost like I’m over-packaging my thoughts, because I’m not even sure I trust my own judgment anymore.

After offering her perspective, the former Gossip Girl star apologized for the way she had handled their friendship.

She admitted she was overreacting and had sensed something was wrong, but couldn’t pinpoint what or when. She was grateful for being reassured and for not having the situation blown out of proportion, but still wanted to apologize to the person she was speaking to.

Taylor Swift playfully responded to Blake Lively’s use of business-like language, joking that the first part of her message was hilarious.

TopMob News has reached out to reps for Lively and Swift for comment.

Taylor Swift was previously involved in a legal dispute between director Lively and actor Baldoni. Lively claimed that Baldoni used his friendship with Swift to try and gain more creative control over the movie based on Colleen Hoover’s book. This claim was made in a countersuit that has since been dropped.

A spokesperson for Taylor Swift stated she wasn’t involved with the film beyond her song “My Tears Ricochet” appearing on its soundtrack.

A spokesperson for Taylor Swift confirmed to TopMob in May that she had no involvement with the movie. They stated she wasn’t part of the casting process, didn’t contribute to the music, and never even viewed a draft of the film or offered any feedback.

For the complete timeline of Lively and Baldoni’s legal battle, keep reading.

Four months after the movie version of Colleen Hoover’s book It Ends With Us came out, Blake Lively filed a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department (CRD) on December 20th against her co-star Justin Baldoni and several people connected to him, according to The New York Times.

The complaint, which TopMob News obtained, 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 associated with Wayfarer launched a deliberate public relations and online campaign to retaliate after she raised concerns about inappropriate behavior on set. She alleges that she and other cast and crew experienced behavior from Baldoni and Heath that was invasive, unwelcome, unprofessional, and sexually inappropriate.

The actress states that this alleged 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.

Oh my gosh, it was everywhere the next day! The New York Times actually published a story – a full story – about how Baldoni and his people supposedly tried to destroy Blake after she filed her complaint. They even printed some of the awful messages his team – including his publicist and some crisis guy – sent, right there in the article! It was all part of her court filing, and The Times even let you look at the actual documents on their website. Blake said she really hoped her lawsuit would expose these horrible tactics they use to silence people who speak up, and that it would help protect others from being targeted like she was. I’m just so proud of her for fighting back!

Following Blake Lively’s public complaint, Bryan Freedman, the lawyer representing Antonio Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios, strongly refuted her claims. In a statement to The New York Times, Freedman called Lively’s accusations “shameful” and “categorically false,” arguing they were a desperate attempt to repair her reputation after her own statements and actions during the film’s promotion sparked negative online reactions. He described the claims as intentionally sensational and designed to harm Baldoni and Wayfarer.

Freedman also defended Wayfarer’s decision to hire a crisis manager, explaining it happened before the movie’s marketing campaign began. He added that Wayfarer’s team didn’t take any aggressive actions, only responding to media inquiries and monitoring social media to ensure accurate reporting. He emphasized that the released correspondence only showed internal planning and strategy—standard practice for public relations—and didn’t prove any proactive attempts to manage the narrative.

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

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

WME released a statement to The Hollywood Reporter on January 1st, stating that Baldoni’s claim of Reynolds pressuring his agent at the Deadpool & Wolverine premiere is false. WME, which represents both Reynolds and Lively, confirmed that Baldoni’s former agent wasn’t even at the premiere and that neither Reynolds nor Lively ever pressured them to drop Baldoni as a client.

Following Blake Lively’s legal complaint and a New York Times article detailing her allegations, several public figures publicly expressed their support. Colleen Hoover, author of It Ends With Us, shared a message on Instagram thanking Lively for her honesty, kindness, and patience, and encouraging others to read the article. Jenny Slate, who played Blake’s on-screen sister, released a statement to Today saying she stood with Lively and praised her bravery in addressing what she described as a disturbing attack on her reputation. Brandon Sklenar, who played a love interest in the film, shared a link to the complaint on The New York Times’ website, urging people to read it. Lively also received a statement of solidarity from her Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants co-stars America Ferrera, Alexis Bledel, and Amber Tamblyn.

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, she thanked listeners for their trust and support, saying she would miss the community they built together. While Plank didn’t explain her reasons for leaving, her announcement came shortly after Blake Lively publicly accused Baldoni and others at Wayfarer of inappropriate behavior. Plank expressed her continued commitment to the values the podcast represented and stated that ‘we all deserve better.’ She also said she would share more information later and would continue to support those who speak out against injustice and hold others accountable.

Stephanie Jones, a former publicist for actor Baldoni, and her firm Jonesworks LLC, have filed a lawsuit against Baldoni, his company Wayfarer, and current publicists Abel and Nathan. The suit, filed in New York on December 24th, claims Abel and Nathan secretly worked together for months to damage Jones and Jonesworks’ reputation, break contracts, and steal clients. According to the lawsuit, 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 suit also 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 reputation within the industry. Regarding Baldoni and Wayfarer, who are no longer Jonesworks clients, the lawsuit claims they broke their contractual agreements and refused to resolve the dispute through private arbitration. TopMob News has reached out to those named in the suit for a response.

According to a December 23rd report in Variety, Lively’s lawyers obtained the text messages published in The New York Times through a legal request to Jonesworks. Freedman, the attorney for Nathan, Abel, Baldoni, and those connected to Wayfarer, stated that none of his clients were asked to provide information and that he plans to sue Jones for sharing messages from Abel’s phone with Lively’s legal team.

On December 31st, Baldoni, Wayfarer, Heath, Sarowitz, Nathan, TAG, Abel, RWA Communications, and Street Relations filed a $250 million lawsuit against The New York Times. The suit claims the newspaper falsely reported on their actions, alleging libel, invasion of privacy, fraud, and breach of contract.

The lawsuit stems from an article about accusations that the plaintiffs ran a smear campaign against someone after she raised concerns about potential misconduct. The plaintiffs deny these claims, stating the Times‘ report was based on inaccurate information and selectively presented evidence, specifically relying on the accuser’s unverified statements. They argue the Times ignored evidence that contradicted her claims and revealed her true intentions, claiming she was the one who engaged in a smear campaign.

The New York Times stated they will strongly defend the lawsuit, asserting their reporting was thorough, responsible, and based on a review of thousands of documents, including accurately quoted text messages and emails.

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

The lawsuit, details of which were obtained by TopMob News, alleges sexual harassment, retaliation, and a failure to address harassment. She also claims 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 that month.

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

The lawsuit brought by Baldoni and his colleagues against The New York Times isn’t their only legal action planned. Court documents indicate they believe others were involved and that further lawsuits are coming. In a January 2nd interview with NBC News, Baldoni and Wayfarer’s lawyer, Freedman, confirmed they intend to sue Lively as well.

The story surrounding Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni continued to gain attention online. Some social media users believed Lively’s husband, Ryan Reynolds, subtly referenced Baldoni in his upcoming movie, Deadpool & Wolverine, through the character Nicepool. While Reynolds hasn’t addressed these rumors, Baldoni’s lawyer, Freedman, did speak out. During an interview on YouTube’s The Megyn Kelly Show 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.”

Since Lively filed her lawsuit, her lawyers say there’s been an increase in negative attacks against her. They emphasize the case isn’t a simple disagreement or a matter of differing opinions, but a serious claim of sexual harassment and retaliation supported by evidence. They accuse Wayfarer and its associates of illegally trying to discredit Lively after she attempted to ensure safety on a film set.

The lawyers also warned against common tactics used to deflect blame in such cases, like accusing the victim or portraying them as the aggressor. They stated that minimizing or dismissing allegations of misconduct is harmful and that statements made to the media won’t protect those accused. They plan to fully present their case in court, reminding everyone that sexual harassment and retaliation are illegal in all workplaces.

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, given that Lively’s team had previously sent heavily edited documents to The New York Times before even filing their complaint.

Freedman added that they are releasing evidence showing a pattern of bullying and threats aimed at taking control of the film, and that this behavior is consistent with Lively’s past actions, where she allegedly used others to deliver threats and get her way. He stated they have ample proof to support their 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 claims Lively, Reynolds, Sloane, and the others engaged in civil extortion, defamation, and violated the plaintiffs’ privacy. Specifically, Lively is accused of breaking an implied agreement to act in good faith, and both she and Reynolds are accused of interfering with business contracts and harming the plaintiffs’ economic opportunities.

The plaintiffs deny Lively’s claims of sexual harassment and a retaliatory smear campaign, and allege she took control of the film It Ends With Us and, with the help of Reynolds, Sloane, and others, attempted to damage their reputations in the press following criticism of the film’s marketing. Lively maintains she followed Sony’s marketing plan.

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

In a statement, the plaintiffs’ attorney, Freedman, said Blake Lively was either misinformed by her team or intentionally misrepresented the truth.

Lively’s lawyers have responded to a lawsuit filed against her, calling it a common tactic used by abusers. They argue Baldoni is attempting to portray her 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 film creatively and caused issues with the cast. They state evidence will demonstrate that others also had negative experiences with Baldoni and the production company, Wayfarer. They also point out that Sony requested Lively oversee the final cut of the film, which ultimately proved successful.

The lawyers strongly condemned Baldoni’s reaction to the harassment allegations, accusing him of blaming Lively and focusing on her actions instead of addressing the abuse. They assert his defense amounts to victim-blaming and won’t disprove the evidence presented in Lively’s complaint, ultimately calling the strategy desperate and destined to fail.

Lawyers for actor Justin Baldoni have released footage from the set of It Ends With Us, arguing it proves he did not act inappropriately towards co-star Blake Lively, as she alleges. They state the scene was intended to depict a developing romance and that both actors behaved professionally and respectfully.

Lively’s lawyers, however, disagree. They claim the video actually supports her claims, showing Baldoni improvising physical interactions without her consent or prior discussion. They point out Lively repeatedly asked to simply have the characters talk and that her discomfort in the video would be recognizable to anyone who has experienced inappropriate touching at work.

I was really surprised to hear that the couple in the case asked the judge to restrict what Freedman – Baldoni’s lawyer – can say publicly. They’re worried he might try something unfair during the legal battle, and they want to prevent that from happening, which I totally understand. They’re hoping a gag order will keep things on the up-and-up.

A seven-minute voice memo reportedly sent by director Baldoni to actress Lively during the filming of It Ends With Us surfaced online. The memo appears to discuss a rooftop scene Lively had revised for the movie, and how those changes were brought to him in a meeting with Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and singer Taylor Swift.

Baldoni told Lively, “We should all have friends like that, especially considering how incredibly creative you two are.” He continued, praising the dynamic between the three of them as “unbelievable.”

In the recording, Baldoni also seems to apologize for his initial reaction to the revised script, admitting, “I messed up. I’ll always own up to and apologize for my mistakes.”

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

According to documents obtained by TopMob News, Chaz Baldoni has updated his lawsuit against Camille Lively, her colleagues 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 working together to spread false information to The New York Times. He alleges the newspaper selectively used and changed their communications, removing important context and deliberately editing them to be misleading.

Baldoni published a website detailing his lawsuit against Lively, including the official complaint and a chronological overview of key events. This website featured what Baldoni claimed were screenshots of text conversations between Lively, Reynolds, and himself.

This launch followed a statement from Baldoni’s legal team, made a month prior, indicating they intended to publicly release all text messages between the parties involved.

In an interview with NBC News on January 2nd, Baldoni’s attorney stated their goal was to present all the evidence so the public could draw their own conclusions.

Lively’s lawyers updated her lawsuit, stating that two other women who worked on the movie It Ends With Us also felt uncomfortable with Baldoni’s behavior on set.

The updated complaint, obtained by TopMob News, asserts that Lively wasn’t the only one to complain about Baldoni. It claims these experiences, including those of the other women, were recorded as they happened starting in May 2023. Importantly, the complaint states Baldoni admitted to receiving these complaints in writing at the time and was aware other women besides Lively were uncomfortable with his actions.

The lawsuit doesn’t name the two witnesses who will testify, citing a climate of threats and harassment created by the defendants’ response to Lively’s claims.

In a statement to TopMob, Baldoni’s attorney, Freedman, dismissed the complaint as containing unreliable hearsay and suggested the unnamed women are no longer willing to support Lively’s accusations.

Let’s break down this tricky situation. Recently, Baldoni publicly claimed that Sloane was spreading false and damaging rumors, painting him as someone with predatory behavior. He also alleged a coordinated effort to ruin his reputation, supposedly led by Lively. In response, Sloane has now filed a motion to have the lawsuit dismissed, meaning they’re asking the court to throw the case out. It’s a classic case of he-said-she-said, and now it’s up to the legal system to sort things out.

According to documents obtained by TopMob News, Sloane’s lawyer claims the accusations against her are completely unfounded and that she was brought into the lawsuit only to divert attention from the claims made by Lively.

I was so impressed when Lively brought Nick Shapiro, a former Deputy Chief of Staff at the CIA, onto her team! I learned from someone at her law firm, Willkie Farr & Gallagher, that he’s advising her on how to handle the legal communications surrounding the sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit happening in New York. They told Variety about it on February 28th, and it feels like a really smart move for her.

David Shapiro began his career with the CIA from 2013 to 2015 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 from TopMob News, The New York Times has asked a court to dismiss them from a $400 million lawsuit. The lawsuit also involves Lively, Baldoni, and the company Sloane and Sloane.

In a court filing, the newspaper claimed that Baldoni’s team was presenting a biased account that had attracted significant media attention, but insisted that The Times shouldn’t be involved in the conflict. According to court documents obtained by Deadline, The New York Times‘ lawyers also pointed out that Baldoni and his associates at Wayfarer initially sued the paper for $250 million, but that lawsuit was dropped after they expanded the claim to $400 million and included The New York Times as a defendant.

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. According to documents obtained by TopMob News, the judge agreed to halt the process while he reviews The New York Times’ motion to dismiss the case.

Judge Liman stated that the newspaper presented a strong argument that its motion to dismiss should be successful, and he doesn’t believe delaying the exchange of information will unfairly harm the opposing side.

A spokesperson for The New York Times told TopMob News that they are pleased with the court’s decision, which acknowledges the important First Amendment principles involved and prevents unnecessary burdens from the case, which they believe should not have been filed in the first place.

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

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

Okay, so here’s the thing – Taylor did allow them to use ‘My Tears Ricochet’ in the movie, which is amazing, honestly! But it’s just that – letting them use a song. Like, 19 other artists did the same thing! It feels so wrong that they’re trying to make it seem like she’s somehow central to this legal drama just to get attention and sell stories about her. It’s totally unfair and they’re just using her name for clicks – it should be about what actually happened, not just about Taylor!

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

The judge dismissed the lawsuit against Lively, Reynolds, their publicist Sloane, Sloane’s company Vision PR, and The New York Times. The judge determined 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 damaging these kinds of cases can be, saying she experienced the hurt and public embarrassment they often cause. She also pointed out that many people don’t have the money or support needed to defend themselves when unfairly sued.

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 them and continue to fight for their well-being.

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

The lawyer stated this case centers on 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 any evidence it ever occurred.

Blake Lively gave a deposition at her lawyers’ office in New York. Despite reports describing it as a tense confrontation with Jason Baldoni, her legal team quickly disputed claims that she required a large group of witnesses to support her testimony.

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

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2026-01-22 00:22