Taylor Swift’s name dropped from Blake Lively legal feud as subpoena withdrawn

In a surprising turn of events, Justin Baldoni has dropped the subpoena against Taylor Swift in his ongoing legal battle with Blake Lively. Once caught in the crossfire, the pop superstar—longtime friend of Lively—has been cleared from the controversy as tensions escalate in the high-profile dispute involving allegations of harassment and retaliation on the set of It Ends With Us.

The subpoena withdrawn: Taylor Swift steps away from the legal crossfire

Earlier this month, Taylor Swift found herself unexpectedly drawn into a heated legal dispute between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni when Baldoni’s legal team issued a subpoena demanding documents related to the singer. The subpoena quickly made headlines, raising questions about Swift’s involvement in the lawsuit and sparking widespread speculation.

However, on May 22, a spokesperson for Blake Lively confirmed to PEOPLE that Justin Baldoni’s legal team had withdrawn their subpoena against Swift and her law firm, describing the move as a welcome relief. “We are pleased that the harassing subpoenas directed to Taylor Swift and her counsel have been withdrawn,” the spokesperson said, adding that they supported Swift’s legal team’s efforts to quash what they called inappropriate subpoenas.

Lively’s representative accused Baldoni and his team of trying to exploit Swift’s celebrity status to shift focus from the core allegations of sexual harassment and retaliation that form the foundation of the case. “The Baldoni and Wayfarer team have tried to put Taylor Swift, a woman who has been an inspiration for tens of millions across the globe, at the center of this case since day one,” the spokesperson said. “Exploiting Taylor Swift’s celebrity was the original plan … and faced with having to justify themselves in federal court, they folded.” Representatives for both Justin Baldoni and Taylor Swift declined to comment further to PEOPLE.

Taylor Swift’s actual connection to the case

Taylor Swift’s involvement with the film It Ends With Us—which is at the center of the legal dispute—has always been limited, as clarified by Swift’s own representatives. After the subpoena was announced, Swift’s spokesperson released a detailed statement emphasizing her lack of direct connection to the movie’s production or creative decisions.

“Taylor Swift never set foot on the set of this movie, she was not involved in any casting or creative decisions, she did not score the film, she never saw an edit or made any notes on the film,” the spokesperson said. “She did not even see It Ends With Us until weeks after its public release, and was traveling around the globe during 2023 and 2024 headlining the biggest tour in history.”

The spokesperson explained that Swift’s sole link to the movie was licensing one song, “My Tears Ricochet,” among 19 other artists whose music was featured. They suggested the subpoena was a strategic attempt to use Swift’s high-profile name to generate public interest and “tabloid clickbait,” rather than focusing on the actual facts of the legal battle.

The ongoing legal drama between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni

The lawsuit itself began last December when Blake Lively filed a sexual harassment claim against Justin Baldoni, her director and costar on the film It Ends With Us. Lively accused Baldoni of “disturbing” and “unprofessional” conduct on set and alleged he engaged in a retaliatory smear campaign against her after she reported the behavior.

Baldoni has denied all allegations and countersued in January, accusing Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and their publicity team of defamation and extortion. His countersuit further claimed that both Reynolds and Swift pressured him into accepting script rewrites pushed by Lively, alleging that a meeting took place at Lively and Reynolds’ penthouse during which Swift praised Lively’s script—signaling to Baldoni that he had to comply with Lively’s direction.

Adding further drama, Baldoni’s legal filings included a text exchange in which Lively reportedly compared herself to Daenerys Targaryen (Khaleesi) from Game of Thrones, referring to her husband Reynolds and Swift as her “dragons.”

The legal battle has become increasingly complex, with Baldwin’s attorneys previously making explosive allegations that Lively threatened to release private text messages between her and Swift if the singer did not publicly support her—a claim her lawyer has called “categorically false.” The presiding judge, Lewis J. Liman, struck the letter containing these allegations from the court record, labeling it “improper” and irrelevant.The trial for Lively v. Wayfarer Studios et al., which encompasses both Lively’s original lawsuit and Baldoni’s countersuit, is scheduled to take place in March 2026.

Celebrity, litigation, and media spotlight

Taylor Swift’s unexpected subpoena in this case was a reminder of how celebrities can sometimes become unintended players in legal disputes involving their friends or associates. Swift’s team’s quick response and the subsequent withdrawal of the subpoena have seemingly removed her from the fray, allowing her to focus on her music and career without additional legal distractions.

Meanwhile, the battle between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni is far from over, with the upcoming trial promising further revelations in what has become a highly publicized and emotionally charged dispute.

As this saga continues to unfold, it serves as a stark example of how high-profile legal battles intertwine personal relationships, professional boundaries, and media spectacle—all under the unrelenting glare of public attention.