Legal Dispute Between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni Sees No Taylor Swift Deposition

The ongoing legal confrontation involving actors Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni has taken a new turn regarding the participation of singer Taylor Swift. Lively has filed a lawsuit against Baldoni, alleging sexual harassment and retaliation, asserting that Baldoni and the team behind their film "It Ends With Us" initiated an online campaign to discredit her following her complaints.

Baldoni's legal representatives stated that Taylor Swift, a friend of Lively and contributor to the film's soundtrack, consented to give a deposition. This deposition is a sworn, out-of-court testimony to be considered during the trial or discovery phase. They indicated that Swift agreed to testify in the week of October 20 due to "preexisting professional obligations," presumably linked to the upcoming release of her twelfth album, "The Life of a Showgirl."

However, Swift's attorney, J. Douglas Baldridge, disputed claims that she had agreed to be deposed. In a letter to Judge Lewis Liman, Baldridge emphasized that from the beginning of the case, Swift has had "no material role in this action." While he acknowledged Swift would comply if compelled to testify, he suggested the week of October 20 as a potential timeframe only if the parties resolve their scheduling conflicts.

Lively's legal team challenged requests to extend deadlines to accommodate Swift's possible deposition, questioning the relevance of her testimony and accusing Baldoni's side of deliberate delays. Judge Liman ruled that Baldoni's team had not presented sufficient justification for postponing the September 30 deadline to schedule Swift's deposition.

Nevertheless, Liman approved a 10-day extension for depositions involving Baldoni and co-founders of Wayfarer Studios, Steve Sarowitz and Jamey Heath. The trial between Lively and Baldoni is slated to commence on March 9, 2026, in New York.

This development emerges amid public attention on Swift’s career milestones, including the anticipation surrounding her new album release and recent engagements in her personal life.