Blake Lively and Taylor Swift texted about how their friendship changed during her legal battle with Justin Baldoni.
The tense exchange, which took place on Dec. 4, 2024, is contained in newly released court documents, unsealed Tuesday before a summary judgment hearing in Lively’s lawsuit against Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios.
“Hey, I just checked in. There’s no reason to ask, but no, I feel like I should… are you okay? I’ve been feeling like a bad friend lately because I was fired so sad that I only talked about myself for months,” Lively wrote in a private message to the pop star.
The Gossip Girl alum went on to tell Swift that she was a “key player” in the controversy, but felt “something may have gone wrong.” She further explained that she didn’t want to seem “needy” but wanted to make sure “everything was fine.”
“If (I) do something unintentionally, I always want the opportunity to be a better friend,” she said. “I know how busy and taxed you are physically, mentally and practically, so I don’t expect anything less from you. I just want to make sure everything is okay.”
About an hour later, Swift responded to Lively, saying, “No, you’re not wrong, but it doesn’t really matter.”
The pop star went on to explain that she is “exhausted from all aspects of her life and has noticed a ‘slight shift’ in the way she speaks to Lively in recent months.”
“Yes, there was a lot about Justin, but I’ve been through something like this before and I know how draining it can be,” Swift said. “It’s more like…I’m really sorry to say anything about this because your intentions were very good, but the last few emails…I felt like I was reading a bunch of corporate emails sent to 200 employees.”
Swift claimed that Lively was acting different than her usual self.
“You said the words we love you 18 times, and I feel awful to be critical in any way about how you handle what you’ve been through, but I just kind of miss my funny, dark, normally speaking friends speaking to me as themselves instead of someone who looks like me. Multiple units,” she said. “When I’m listening to a group of people, it feels like they’re even further away than just geographically.”
Elsewhere in the conversation, Swift explained that she understands that Lively feels “attacked from all sides for outrageous reasons.”
“So you feel like you have to over-explain or be over-nice. That’s me! It’s just caused a little bit of distance!” Swift explained.
Swift assured her friend that she didn’t need to “apologize” and just “want him back.”
Lively fired back at Swift’s reaction with a lighthearted joke.
“Dear valued customer, thank you for your feedback. Our corporate office is reviewing your concerns and will contact you in a timely manner,” Lively wrote.
Lively then got serious and said Swift was “right.”
“I literally deleted this awful thing that I was going to end with because I became digitally paranoid,” Lively explained. “After what happened to me, I don’t know if I’ve ever experienced anything like that with a phone, but after reading thousands of text messages that were never directed at me, I realized in my heart that anything digital could be exposed.”
Lively acknowledged that while her anxiety may be “irrational,” her brain “can’t accept rationality in it.”
“Well, I emailed you to write. It’s not like I’m talking. I didn’t realize it until you pointed it out, but it makes sense,” Lively said.
Lively went on to tell the singer that she feels “deeply misunderstood” and doesn’t trust his judgment.
“I know it sounds like an exaggeration, but it’s true. I had an identity crisis because of this bastard and what he did to me, and rightfully so,” Lively said, referring to her Seraph of the End co-star.
Ms. Lively said she had “quietly laid low” during her legal battle with Mr. Baldoni, leaving her longtime friends and allies hurt and “terrified.”
“So I’m probably being over-the-top with my remaining friends because I’ve never felt so alone.
This track is very violin heavy. I don’t like that,” Lively said.
The “A Simple Favor” star thanked Swift for her honesty, pointing out that she is a “stupid paranoid weirdo.”
“But I’m sorry. I’m sorry to you guys, and I’m sorry to me and our kids,” Lively said of her and Reynold’s four children. “Fuck that guy and fuck his gang of supervillains.”
Lively told Swift she didn’t need to respond and expressed her excitement for Swift to be “free from suitcases, chronic sinus infections, and torn kneecaps” after finishing the Elas tour.
“Your submission will be processed shortly. Thank you again for your patronage,” Lively joked.
Swift told Lively that her joke “offended” her and assured her longtime friend that she loved her.
The “Cruel Summer” artist went on to call Baldoni a “bitch” with a “little violin”.
Rumors of a feud between Lively and the director began swirling after It Ends With Us premiered in New York City in August 2024.
In December 2024, three months later, Lively sued Baldoni for sexual harassment, retaliation, breach of contract, infliction of emotional distress, invasion of privacy, and lost wages.
Mr. Baldoni has denied any wrongdoing and responded with a $400 million countersuit accusing Mr. Lively and Mr. Reynolds of defamation, as well as a defamation lawsuit against the New York Times, the news outlet that first reported on Mr. Lively’s case.
The counterclaim was dismissed in June 2025, but Lively’s lawsuit continues.
