The long-awaited and highly publicised legal showdown between actress Blake Lively and her co-star Justin Baldoni is finally scheduled to begin on May 18, 2026. The case, which has captivated Hollywood and the public since it erupted in December last year, will see Lively seeking a staggering $161 million in damages for alleged sexual harassment and a defamatory PR campaign.
The Core of the $161 Million Dispute
In the lawsuit, Blake Lively accuses Justin Baldoni of behaviour during the filming of It Ends With Us that caused her 'severe emotional distress' and amounted to sexual harassment. Beyond the on-set allegations, Lively's legal team claims Baldoni and his associates orchestrated a public relations offensive designed to tarnish her reputation.
Baldoni's defence team has dismissed the case as nothing more than an expensive 'ego fit', vehemently denying any claims of sexual harassment. The legal wrangling has seen multiple suits and countersuits, but Judge Lewis Liman has consolidated the complex dispute into a single lawsuit set for trial next year.
Taylor Swift's Pivotal Role as a Witness
In a dramatic twist, global pop icon Taylor Swift is predicted to become an absolutely pivotal figure in the proceedings, despite having publicly stated she wants no part in the drama. The nature of private text messages exchanged between Swift and Lively—who were once best friends—has been ruled as crucial evidence.
Judge Liman ruled in June that Baldoni's legal team could access messages between Lively and Swift concerning the film, overriding objections from Lively's lawyers who argued it was a PR tactic. The judge implemented a protective order to keep the messages confidential until trial, stating they could prove or disprove Lively's claims of harassment and retaliation.
Swift's involvement extends beyond texts. She licensed her song My Tears Ricochet for the film and was present at a now-infamous meeting at Lively and Ryan Reynolds' home where, according to a since-dismissed suit from Baldoni, pressure was applied for him to accept Lively's script rewrites. The texts are expected to provide a contemporaneous account of Lively's feelings about Baldoni during production.
A Fractured Friendship and a Subpoena
The legal battle has seemingly severed the once-close bond between Swift and the Lively-Reynolds family. Swift is godmother to three of the couple's four children, and the friends were once a constant presence together in New York. That friendship appears to have completely fractured since the lawsuit was filed.
In May, Baldoni's team formally subpoenaed Swift and her attorneys. The singer's spokesperson responded firmly, stating Swift had no involvement in the film beyond licensing her song and had not seen it until weeks after its release. The prospect of Swift being called to the witness stand to discuss her private communications will be one of the trial's most anticipated moments.
As Hollywood prepares for one of its most significant legal events in years, all eyes will be on the courtroom in May 2026. The outcome hinges not only on the allegations between the two stars but on the intimate digital correspondence of one of the world's biggest music stars.
