A private exchange of messages between Taylor Swift and Blake Lively was exposed to the public through court documents, revealing the strain their friendship endured during the multimillion-dollar litigation over the film 'It Ends with Us'. The texts, presented by the defense of director and co-star Justin Baldoni, show controversial and sarcastic language used by celebrities. According to the excerpts presented in court, in December 2024 Taylor Swift wrote to Blake Lively referring to Baldoni with a derogatory term (“bitch”), adding: “she knows something’s coming because she already pulled out her tiny violin.” Lively’s lawyers did not deny the authenticity of the phrase, but argued that it did not prove a conspiracy. In another part of the exchange, Lively asked Swift to endorse a modified version of the script without having read it, to which the singer reportedly replied that she would do “anything” for her friend, something Lively's team clarified, denying that it was unconditional support. Lively, for her part, referred to Baldoni in the texts as “this asshole director of my movie,” “clown,” and “someone who now thinks he’s a writer.” In a more affectionate tone, the actress called Swift and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, her “dragons”—in a clear allusion to Game of Thrones—suggesting that her protection extended to those she defended. What is the origin of the conflict? The legal dispute began in December 2024, when Blake Lively sued Justin Baldoni for sexual harassment and retaliation. Baldoni vehemently denied the allegations and filed a $400 million countersuit, which was dismissed by a federal judge in June 2025. Despite this partial resolution, the case continued to move forward, attracting massive attention due to the figures involved. In May 2025, Baldoni's lawyers attempted to subpoena Taylor Swift as a witness, given the recurring mention of her name in the messages. A spokesperson for the singer rejected the appropriateness of this measure.clarifying that her only connection to the film was authorizing the use of one of her songs, as did 19 other artists.

Swift's team accused Baldoni's defense of trying to "attract media attention" by using her name.

Sources close to the couple, cited by People magazine, indicated that the relationship between Lively and Swift "was strained by the litigation." The leaked messages appear to corroborate the pressure and stress the legal process placed on their relationship, revealing a less polished side of their publicly admired friendship. Justin Baldoni's lawyer, Bryan Freedman, told TMZ that his client is simply seeking to "clear his name" and tell his side of the story "properly" in court. The trial, scheduled for May 18, promises to continue generating headlines and could reveal more details about the internal dynamics of the production and the evolution of this complex celebrity dispute.