Justin Baldoni is challenging Blake Lively’s effort to conceal the identities of high-profile figures like Taylor Swift and Ryan Reynolds in their ongoing legal battle. According to court documents obtained by TMZ, Baldoni filed an objection to Lively’s request to redact the names of celebrity associates involved in the dispute.
Lively had referred to her husband, Reynolds, as an “innocent third party” in the case. However, Baldoni’s legal team countered that Reynolds actively participated in the film adaptation of “It Ends With Us,” including rewriting a scene and confronting Baldoni over a body-shaming remark. They argued that Lively’s attempts to seal records are aimed at protecting the reputations of her famous friends, whom she allegedly enlisted to influence the project.
The objection emphasized that the identities of potential witnesses—including Swift, Hugh Jackman, Emily Blunt, and America Ferrera—are already public knowledge and should not be shielded. Representatives for Baldoni, Lively, Reynolds, and Swift did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Swift was initially mentioned in Baldoni’s January 2025 countersuit, which referenced text messages where Lively invoked her as one of her protective “dragons” during discussions about script revisions. That countersuit, accusing Lively of defamation and extortion, was dismissed in June 2025. However, Lively’s separate lawsuit—which alleges sexual harassment, breach of contract, emotional distress, and other claims—remains active, with a trial scheduled for May 2026.
Notably, Swift’s role persisted in recent filings; Baldoni’s December 2025 deposition referenced her as part of Lively’s strategy, comparing it to a “Taylor Swift playbook” of “playing the victim.” Though subpoenaed in May 2025, Swift’s summons was later dropped, and she has not agreed to a deposition.
Separately, sources claimed Lively and Swift’s friendship has since dissolved, with “no contact” between them as of October 2025.