Taylor Swift has been formally summoned by Justin Baldoni's legal team in the intricate and sprawling litigation surrounding the film adaptation of "It Ends With Us." Swift's entanglement in this legal tug-of-war stems from allegations raised by Blake Lively, who contends that Baldoni modified a pivotal rooftop scene at the movie's opening.
Lively extended an invitation to Baldoni to her New York City abode in 2023, hoping to delve into the script alterations. To Baldoni's surprise, upon arriving, he found himself in the company of Lively's husband, Ryan Reynolds, and her close confidante, Swift, as detailed in his lawsuit which references communications explicitly naming "Taylor." The superstars showered praise on Lively's vision of the scene, purportedly exerting pressure on Baldoni to embrace the adjustments, he alleges.
In a playful text, Lively likened Reynolds and Swift to her "dragons," writing, "If you ever catch up on 'Game of Thrones,' you'll appreciate that I'm Khaleesi, and, akin to her, I happen to possess a few dragons. For better or worse, but most often better. My dragons, too, safeguard those I champion."
Baldoni expressed his support for the modifications. "I absolutely adore what you've done. It truly enhances the narrative, adding a layer of fun and intrigue. (And I would have felt the same without Ryan and Taylor's influence)," he messaged, accompanied by a winking emoji. "You're undeniably talented in every aspect. I'm incredibly excited and grateful to embark on this journey together."
The tensions surrounding the rewritten scene culminated in Baldoni sending Lively an extended, over six-minute voice note at 2 a.m., apologizing for any actions that might have upset her, according to the complaint. The recording concludes with Baldoni acknowledging that she might be busy with her children, quipping, "You probably have kids crawling all over you and a baby nursing, while you're listening to me ramble at 2 a.m."
A spokesperson for Swift dismissed the subpoena as an attempt to "garner public attention through sensationalist tabloid tactics, rather than concentrating on the merits of the case." The representative clarified that Swift's sole connection to the film was granting permission for the use of her song "My Tears Ricochet," adding, "Taylor Swift never ventured onto the movie set, was uninvolved in casting or creative decisions, did not compose the score, did not review edits or offer notes on the film, hadn't even watched 'It Ends With Us' until weeks after its public debut, and was embarked on the biggest tour in history, traveling the globe extensively throughout 2023 and 2024."
Lively and Baldoni did not promptly respond to requests for comment.
