Blake Lively rejects Justin Baldoni’s account, denies Taylor Swift’s involvement in dispute

Blake Lively has forcefully rejected claims by her former co-star Justin Baldoni that pop superstar Taylor Swift was present during an alleged confrontation involving Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds and Baldoni, escalating a closely watched legal battle tied to the 2024 film It Ends with Us.

Blake Lively has denied Justin Baldoni’s claims that Taylor Swift was present during a key dispute tied to It Ends with Us, reiterating allegations of sexual harassment and rejecting accusations that she used celebrity influence to intimidate him.

In a court filing dated January 20, Lively reaffirmed allegations of sexual harassment and retaliation against Baldoni, who also directed the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel. The filing directly contradicts Baldoni’s earlier assertions that Lively used her high-profile circle of celebrity friends to intimidate him during a tense exchange on set.

Lively stated under oath that Swift was not present during the interaction in question. She described a discussion over script revisions in which Reynolds briefly joined the conversation before returning to his own work. According to Lively, the encounter was neither hostile nor confrontational, disputing Baldoni’s account that Reynolds aggressively berated him in front of other celebrities.

The actress also denied claims that Hugh Jackman played any role in escalating tensions. While she acknowledged that Jackman arrived to pick up Reynolds for lunch, Lively said the actor merely exchanged pleasantries with Baldoni before leaving. She has since named Jackman as a potential witness in the case.

At the center of Lively’s filing are renewed allegations of inappropriate conduct by Baldoni. She accused him of bringing in a “trusted health adviser” under the pretense of helping her recover from strep throat, only to later learn the individual specialized in weight loss. Lively said she was “disturbed and unsettled” to discover Baldoni had sought information about her weight, including contacting her personal trainer without her consent while she was postpartum and breastfeeding.

“I felt it was invasive and inappropriate,” Lively wrote, adding that she confronted Baldoni after learning of the communication.

Baldoni and his producing partner, Jamey Heath, have previously argued that Lively leveraged her celebrity status and relationships — including with Swift — to assert influence in the workplace. That narrative has gained renewed attention following the unsealing of court documents that include text messages between Lively and Swift, though the contents of those messages have not been publicly detailed.

Lively’s legal team said the newly unsealed filings strengthen her case, citing testimony and contemporaneous messages from multiple women who allegedly had similar experiences while working with Baldoni. In a statement, attorney Sigrid McCawley said the evidence shows that concerns were documented internally as early as spring 2023 and were understood as sexual harassment complaints, but were never formally investigated.

“As we head to trial, only Ms. Lively’s claims remain,” McCawley said, noting that the court dismissed Wayfarer Studios’ retaliatory countersuit last year.

Lively first filed a civil rights complaint against Baldoni in December 2024, alleging sexual misconduct followed by a coordinated smear campaign after she spoke up. That complaint was later expanded into a formal lawsuit. The trial, which has faced delays, is currently scheduled to begin on May 18.

Baldoni’s representatives have been contacted for comment.