Taylor Swift named in 'It Ends With Us' lawsuit

Singer's team denies involvement in film

Taylor Swift has been subpoenaed by Justin Baldoni's legal team in the ongoing legal fray surrounding the film adaptation of It Ends With Us, dragging the global pop icon into an increasingly messy Hollywood dispute.

As reported by Variety, the subpoena, issued earlier this week, stems from a series of text messages and meetings referenced in Baldoni's USD400 million defamation lawsuit against actor and producer Blake Lively. While Swift has not been named as a defendant, Baldoni's complaint references her presence at a 2023 meeting in Lively's New York penthouse, where she and Lively's husband Ryan Reynolds allegedly praised Lively's rewritten version of a key rooftop scene, implicitly pressuring Baldoni to approve it.

In one cited message, Baldoni later texted Lively, "Makes it so much more fun and interesting. (And I would have felt that way without Ryan and Taylor)," suggesting he felt coerced during the encounter. His attorneys allege the moment exemplifies the power dynamics at play and supports the broader claim that Lively and Reynolds hijacked creative control of the film, later launching what he calls a "smear campaign" rooted in false accusations of misconduct.

According to the suit, Lively compared herself to Khaleesi, the dragon queen from Game of Thrones, writing, "My dragons also protect those I fight for. You will, too, I can promise you," in what Baldoni's lawyers describe as veiled threats backed by celebrity influence.

Swift's spokesperson firmly denied the singer had any meaningful involvement in the film. "Taylor Swift never consulted on casting, script changes, or direction," the spokesperson told Variety. "Her only contribution was licencing My Tears Ricochet for use in the film's trailer and one scene. She never saw an early cut and only watched the movie after its public release."

The spokesperson dismissed the subpoena as a publicity stunt: "This is clearly an effort to use Taylor Swift's name to generate headlines and distract from the actual facts of the case."

Still, the inclusion of Swift, whether incidental or strategic, adds a new layer of star power to an already high-profile legal drama that has spiralled since Lively filed a harassment complaint against Baldoni in December. Baldoni has since launched countersuits against Lively, Reynolds, and The New York Times, alleging defamation.

The court has not yet ruled on Swift's subpoena, and her legal team is expected to file a motion to quash it in the coming days.