Taylor Swift Deposition Drama Looms Over Justin Baldoni Lawsuit

Justin Baldoni‘s legal representative is exploring a fresh angle in the litigation he has initiated against Blake Lively.

In the ongoing court case between the actors of “It Ends With Us,” Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, discussed the possibility of calling Lively’s longtime friend, Taylor Swift, for a deposition. This is because Swift was hinted at in their initial legal filings.

Freedman speculated on the Two Angry Men podcast, February 5th, that it’s uncertain whether we will remove Taylor Swift or not. He believes it might come down to a decision made in the heat of the moment.

Absolutely, the lawyer pointed out that if Swift was able to offer valuable information to strengthen Baldoni’s case, he would not think twice about questioning the “Karma” singer under oath.

He said, “Anyone who might have relevant information to support this case will be questioned under oath (deposed). To put it simply, yes, that’s correct.

topmob news has contacted representatives from Taylor Swift about Freedman’s remarks, however, we have not received a response as of now.

Despite not being directly involved in the “It Ends With Us” film, Swift’s song “My Tears Ricochet” was featured in a single scene and trailer. However, she was indirectly mentioned in some evidence presented by Baldoni in his lawsuit against Blake Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and their publicist, filed on January 16th, for a claimed $400 million.

In the filing, Baldoni claimed that Lively tried to increase her creative control with his help, and this was supposedly backed by Reynolds and another well-known celebrity friend (whose name was mostly blacked out from the evidence). However, in one instance, the name “Taylor” appeared unredacted in a text exchange, where Baldoni complimented a scene that Lively had rewritten.

In his message to Lively, he expressed, “I truly appreciate what you’ve accomplished. It adds so much enjoyment and intrigue. (Even without Ryan and Taylor, I would have still felt this way).

On January 31, additional evidence was presented stating that the 41-year-old accused the former Gossip Girl star of making a “subtle warning” to take Taylor Swift’s song out of the film if the 37-year-old’s requirements were not met.

Regardless of the ongoing legal disputes between Baldoni and Lively, which led to Baldoni filing a lawsuit against Lively’s claim of sexual harassment and retaliation, their friendship appears to be unaffected.

Contrary to speculations swirling around about their 10-year bond being at risk because of some drama, a reliable source has confirmed to TopMob News that these rumors are actually false.

Going further, the lawsuits filed between Baldoni and Lively, with Swift also involved, create a complex and intricate situation. Continue reading for additional details…

Four months post the cinema release of Colleen Hoover’s book “It Ends With Us” adaptation, Blake Lively submitted a complaint to the California Civil Rights Department (CRD) against her costar Justin Baldoni and his associates on December 20th, as reported by The New York Times.

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

Lively claimed in her complaint that Baldoni and his Wayfarer associates initiated a complex press and digital plan as retaliation for her expressing concerns about alleged misconduct on set—with her stating she and other cast and crew members “encountered intrusive, unwelcome, unprofessional, and sexually inappropriate behavior” by Baldoni and Heath.

She further asserted that the alleged campaign against her resulted in significant damage to both her personal and professional life.

The accusations detailed in the complaint involve sexual harassment; retaliation; failing to investigate, prevent, or correct harassment; aiding and abetting harassment and retaliation; breach of contract; intentional infliction of emotional distress; negligence; false light invasion of privacy; and interference with prospective economic advantage.

The following day, an article appeared in The New York Times concerning a supposed counterattack smear operation that Baldoni and his allies were said to have orchestrated against Lively – referencing her CRD complaint. In their piece, the publication shared messages sent by Baldoni, Abel (his publicist), and Nathan (crisis communications specialist) – all mentioned in her complaint. The newspaper’s website also provided access to relevant court documents for readers to review. Lively expressed hope that her legal action would expose these underhanded retaliatory tactics used to harm individuals who voice misconduct claims, and serve as a safeguard for those potentially targeted in the future.

Following Lively’s allegations, Bryan Freedman – lawyer for Baldoni, Wayfarer, and their representatives – strongly denounced the accusations as baseless. He stated in a New York Times statement that it was unfortunate for Lively and her team to make serious, factually incorrect claims against Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios, and their associates. This, he suggested, was yet another attempt to improve her tarnished reputation from the negative publicity she generated during the film campaign; public interviews and activities that were observed live and unedited, allowing for public opinion to form freely online. Freedman labeled these claims as completely false, excessive, intentionally sensational, and designed to harm publicly and perpetuate a media narrative.

Freedman also defended Wayfarer’s decision to hire a crisis manager prior to the film’s marketing campaign. He later clarified that Wayfarer’s representatives only responded to incoming media inquiries to ensure balanced and accurate reporting, and monitored social activity. However, what is significant by omission from the selectively presented correspondence is the lack of evidence showing that proactive measures were not taken with the media or otherwise; just internal strategic planning and private communication, which is standard practice for public relations professionals.

After an article published by The New York Times on December 21, William Morris Endeavor (WME) ended their relationship with Baldoni. Ari Emanuel, CEO of Endeavor, the parent company of WME, confirmed this to the outlet. However, it’s important to note that WME denies that Ryan Reynolds, Lively’s husband and a client represented by WME, played any role in their decision to part ways with Baldoni. This allegation was made by Baldoni in his subsequent lawsuit against The New York Times (more on that below). In response to this claim, WME stated to The Hollywood Reporter on January 1 that “In Baldoni’s filing there is a claim that Reynolds pressured Baldoni’s agent at the Deadpool & Wolverine premiere. This is not true.” They further clarified that Baldoni’s former representative was not present at the Deadpool & Wolverine premiere, and neither Reynolds nor Lively ever applied any pressure to drop Baldoni as a client.

After Lively’s CRD filing and the New York Times article, several renowned figures expressed their support for her allegations against Baldoni. Here’s how I might rephrase that as a dedicated follower speaking in first person:

Following the recent CRD filing by Blake Lively and the New York Times article, many prominent figures have publicly shared their reactions to her claims against Baldoni. One of these figures is the author of “It Ends With Us,” Colleen Hoover.

On Instagram Stories, December 21st, she wrote: “@blakelively, you’ve always been honest, kind, supportive, and patient since we first met. Thank you for remaining exactly the person you are—never changing, never wilting.” She also linked out to the New York Times article in her post.

Similarly, Jenny Slate, who played Ryle’s sister on screen, voiced her support for Lively. In a statement to Today on December 23rd, she said: “As Blake Lively’s castmate and friend, I stand with her as she takes action against those reported to have planned and carried out an attack on her reputation.” She went on to describe Lively as a leader, loyal friend, and emotional support for many, including herself.

Slate continued by expressing her concerns over the alleged attack on Lively: “What has been revealed about the attack on Blake is terribly dark, disturbing, and wholly threatening. I commend my friend, admire her bravery, and stand by her side.”

Additionally, Brandon Sklenar—a love interest for Lively’s character Lily Bloom—shared a screenshot of the complaint published on The New York Times’ website and linked out to the outlet, writing: “For the love of God, read this.”

Lastly, Lively’s Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants costars America Ferrera, Alexis Bledel, and Amber Tamblyn have all publicly stated they stand with her in solidarity.

Liz Plank recently shared on social media that she will no longer be co-hosting “The Man Enough Podcast”. She expressed gratitude for her listeners, stating that they created something special together over the past four years. Although she didn’t specify a reason for leaving, it followed closely after Blake Lively’s complaint against Baldoni and his associates at Wayfarer. Plank emphasized her commitment to the values they built together and her support for those who speak out against injustice. She also mentioned that she will share more about this change soon as she continues to process everything that has occurred.

In a lawsuit filed against him on December 24th in New York, Baldoni’s former publicist, Stephanie Jones, and her agency Jonesworks LLC accused him, his company Wayfarer, Abel (his current publicist) and Nathan (crisis communications specialist) of conspiring to harm Jones and Jonesworks for months. The lawsuit claims they breached contracts, induced further contractual breaches, stole clients, and orchestrated a smear campaign against Baldoni’s co-star, using the ensuing crisis to drive a wedge between Jones and Baldoni and wrongfully blaming Jones for the campaign when she had no involvement.

Abel, who worked at Jonesworks until last summer according to her LinkedIn profile, is accused of falsely implicating Jones now that their misconduct is being exposed, and defaming and attacking her in the industry. The suit alleges Baldoni and Wayfarer, who are no longer Jonesworks clients, have violated their contractual obligations with Jonesworks and refused to settle the dispute privately through arbitration.

When contacted for comment, the defendants did not respond.

In a recent turn of events, I’ve learned that the texts mentioned in the New York Times article about our case were obtained through a subpoena directed at Jonesworks, not any of us directly. My legal representation, Freedman, clarified this point to Variety on December 23rd. He also mentioned that neither Nathan, Abel, nor any of my associates were subpoenaed in relation to this matter. However, he has expressed his intention to take legal action against Jones for disclosing messages from Abel’s phone to my legal team without proper authorization.

On December 31st, Baldoni, Wayfarer, Heath, Sarowitz, Nathan, TAG, Abel, RWA Communications, Wallace, and Street Relations filed a lawsuit against The New York Times. In this lawsuit, obtained by TopMob News, The New York Times is accused of libel, false light invasion of privacy, promissory fraud, and breach of implied-in-fact contract regarding an article about a supposed retaliatory smear campaign the plaintiffs allegedly conducted against Lively after she expressed concerns about purported misconduct on set.

The plaintiffs claim that the report was false and based solely on Lively’s CRD complaint, denying the accusations made in the article and asserting that messages cited in the article and complaint were taken out of context.

“Despite its claim to have ‘reviewed these along with other documents[,]’ the Times relied almost entirely on Lively’s unverified and self-serving narrative,” the lawsuit states, “lifting it nearly verbatim while disregarding an abundance of evidence that contradicted her claims and exposed her true motives.”

They also allege that it was Lively, not the plaintiffs, who engaged in a calculated smear campaign. However, she has denied this.

In response, The New York Times stated that it plans to “vigorously defend against the lawsuit.” According to TopMob, the Times said, “The role of an independent news organization is to follow the facts where they lead. Our story was meticulously and responsibly reported. It was based on a review of thousands of pages of original documents, including the text messages and emails that we quote accurately and at length in the article.

On that very day, I took the decisive step of filing a lawsuit in New York against Baldoni, Wayfarer, Heath, Sarowitz, It Ends With Us Movie LLC, Nathan, his company TAG, and Abel. According to court documents exclusively obtained by TopMob News, I’m taking legal action against these parties for various offenses including sexual harassment, retaliation, breach of contract, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligent infliction of emotional distress, false light invasion of privacy, and aiding and abetting these actions.

The grievances I’ve outlined in this lawsuit echo the claims made in the CRD complaint I submitted earlier in the month. In response to my lawsuit, Baldoni and his associates have filed a counter action against The New York Times—who are not listed as defendants in my case—my legal team has issued a statement to TopMob clarifying that this lawsuit doesn’t alter the validity of the claims detailed in my CRD and federal complaints.

“The premise that my administrative complaint against Wayfarer and others was a strategic ploy designed to avoid suing Baldoni, Wayfarer, and that litigation was never my ultimate goal,” my attorneys stated, “is patently false as demonstrated by the federal complaint filed by me today.

In their lawsuit against The New York Times, Baldoni and his team have made it clear that they are far from finished. As the court documents indicate, there are more bad actors involved, and this will not be the only legal action they take. In a recent interview with NBC News, Baldoni’s attorney Freedman confirmed that they indeed intend to sue Lively as well.

The discussions about Baldoni and Lively haven’t ended yet. For example, social media users have suggested that Reynolds may have teased Baldoni in his film “Deadpool & Wolverine” through the character Nicepool.

Reynolds hasn’t spoken up on these rumors publicly; however, Baldoni’s attorney Freedman has shared his thoughts.

“In my opinion,” Freedman stated during an interview on The Megyn Kelly Show (posted to YouTube Jan 7), “if your wife is sexually harassed, you don’t make fun of Justin Baldoni. You don’t make light of the situation. You treat it seriously. You file complaints and follow legal procedures. What you shouldn’t do is laugh at it and turn it into a joke.

In their recent statement, Lively’s legal team has emphasized that the ongoing lawsuit against a company named Wayfarer is based on substantial allegations of sexual harassment and retaliation, supported by solid evidence. They clarify that this is not a dispute arising from creative differences or a he-said-she-said situation. Instead, they allege that Wayfarer and its associates have engaged in unlawful, retaliatory astroturfing against Lively for standing up for herself and others on set. Furthermore, the lawyers stated that since Lively filed her lawsuit, there have been more attacks against her.

They also urged everyone to remember that sexual harassment and retaliation are illegal in all workplaces and industries. They warned against common tactics used to divert attention from such misconduct, such as blaming the victim or reversing the roles of offender and victim. The lawyers added that these strategies serve to normalize and trivialize serious allegations of misconduct. Lastly, they emphasized that media statements are not a defense for Lively’s claims, and they will vigorously pursue her case in court.

As an ardent fan, let me share the news: I, along with Baldoni, Heath, Wayfarer, publicist Abel, crisis communication specialist Nathan, and It Ends With Us Movie LLC, filed a lawsuit against Lively, Reynolds, Leslie Sloane, and her firm Vision PR in New York on January 16th. The lawsuit accuses all defendants of civil extortion, defamation, false light invasion of privacy, and other charges. Specifically, it alleges that Lively breached her implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, and both she and Reynolds interfered with our contracts and economic advantages.

The suit also refutes Lively’s claims of sexual harassment and a retaliatory smear campaign against us. Instead, we allege that she seized control of It Ends With Us, collaborated with Reynolds, Sloane, Jones, and others to tarnish our reputation in the press after facing criticism for her promotion tactics for the film (which she claimed were in line with Sony’s marketing plan).

In their lawsuit, the plaintiffs claim that the defendants collaborated with The New York Times to release a sensational news story that was both inaccurate and damaging. However, the outlet maintains its report’s credibility. Regarding this matter, Freedman stated to TopMob, “Either Blake Lively was deceived by her team or she deliberately misrepresented the truth.

In a statement given to TopMob News, Lively’s legal team characterized his lawsuit as “just another tactic in the playbook of an abuser.” They explained that this situation follows a familiar pattern: when a woman presents solid proof of sexual harassment and retaliation, the accused tries to shift blame onto the victim. This strategy is often referred to by experts as DARVO – Deny the accusations, Attack the accuser, Reverse the roles of Victim and Offender.

Additionally, she alleged that he responded by counterattacking after she levied charges against him, asserting that Baldoni aims to divert attention from the fact that Lively took control creatively and allegedly isolated the cast from Mr. Baldoni.

The statement proceeded to indicate that there were personal negative encounters among the cast and others with Mr. Baldoni and Wayfarer. Furthermore, it will be revealed that Sony tasked Ms. Lively to supervise their segment of the film, which they subsequently chose for distribution, resulting in a significant success.

Her team went on to slam Baldoni’s reaction to her allegations of harassment.

In a nutshell, the defendants’ argument regarding sexual harassment allegations: she invited it, it was her fault. They claim that this incident occurred due to her attire, according to their lawyers. To put it simply, while the victim concentrates on the abuse, the abuser targets the victim. This tactic of blaming the woman is a last-ditch effort, it does not disprove the evidence presented in Ms. Lively’s complaint, and it will ultimately fall flat.

In simpler terms, Baldoni’s attorney shared exclusive footage from the set of “It Ends With Us“, stating that the depicted actions by the actor contradict Ms. Lively’s portrayal of him.

According to Baldoni’s legal team, the particular scene was intended to depict the two characters developing affection for each other and yearning to be near one another. It is evident that both actors are acting appropriately within the context of the scene and maintaining a respectful and professional demeanor towards each other.

Nevertheless, Lively’s legal representatives assert that the video aligns precisely with what Ms. Lively stated in her lawsuit. They claim that each scene was spontaneously created by Mr. Baldoni without any prior discussions or approval.

The video depicts Ms. Lively leaning back and repeatedly urging the characters to simply converse, as reported to TopMob News in a statement. This situation resonates with any woman who has experienced unwanted touch at work, due to her visible discomfort.

In simpler terms, they wrote a message to the judge managing their case, asking for Freedman, who leads Baldoni’s legal team, to be restricted from speaking publicly about the case during the ongoing court proceedings to prevent any inappropriate behavior.

A seven-minute voice recording, which was claimed to be sent by Baldoni to Lively during the filming of “It Ends With Us“, was made public. In this recording, it seems that the director referred to a scene on the rooftop in the movie, which Lively had rewritten, and discussed how these alterations were presented at an alleged gathering with Reynolds and their friend Taylor Swift.

He shared with Lively that everyone ought to be fortunate enough to have friends as remarkable as theirs, who happen to be among the most inventive individuals globally. The trio of them, according to him, is simply astonishing.

In the recording, Baldoni appeared to express an apology towards the actress for not being enthusiastic about her script, stating, “I made a mistake. Something important to understand about me is that I will acknowledge my mistakes and offer an apology when necessary.

In the aftermath of my filing a legal suit against Baldoni a month prior, I found myself eagerly anticipating the scheduled court date set for March 9, 2026.

2025-02-06 18:55

Read More