Newly unsealed court documents have exposed intimate text exchanges between Taylor Swift and Blake Lively, shedding light on a significant strain in their high-profile friendship. The messages, submitted as evidence in Lively's ongoing sexual harassment lawsuit against her It Ends With Us co-star and director Justin Baldoni, reveal candid discussions about a growing distance between the two stars.
Text Messages Unveil Personal Tensions
According to reports from E! News, the unsealed texts from December 2024 show Lively, aged 38, initiating a conversation with Swift, aged 36, to address concerns about their relationship. Lively expressed feeling like a "bad friend" due to her preoccupation with her legal troubles, writing, "I felt like a sad sack who only talked about my own s*** for months." She acknowledged Swift's support during this challenging period but sensed a shift in their dynamic.
Swift's Candid Response
In her reply, Swift admitted to feeling exhausted, particularly as she was days away from concluding her monumental Eras Tour in Vancouver. She confirmed Lively's suspicions about a change in their friendship, stating, "I think I'm just exhausted in every avenue of my life and in recent months had been feeling a little bit of a shift in the way you talk to me." Swift elaborated that Lively's messages had begun to feel impersonal, comparing them to "a mass corporate email sent to 200 employees."
The pop icon expressed a longing for their previous connection, saying, "I just kinda miss my funny, dark, normal-speaking friend who talks to me as herself." Despite this, Swift reassured Lively, understanding the pressure she faced from the legal battle, and pleaded, "Just come back, please."
Legal Context and Friendship Dynamics
The rift emerged amid Lively's bruising legal dispute with Baldoni, who has denied all allegations of sexual harassment and retaliation. Baldoni's $400 million defamation countersuit was dismissed, but the case has drawn significant public attention, with many private communications becoming part of the court record.
Lively attributed the change in her communication style to becoming "digitally paranoid" due to the lawsuit, admitting, "I've been texting like I'm writing. Not like me talking." She apologized to Swift for the distance, acknowledging her own fault in the situation.
Humour Amidst Tension
In a lighter moment, Lively responded to Swift's corporate email analogy with wit, writing, "Thank you for your feedback. We at headquarters are reviewing your concerns and will get back to you in a timely manner." This playful exchange highlighted their attempt to navigate the tension with humour, though Lively quickly affirmed, "For real, though. You're right."
Broader Legal Implications
The text messages were released alongside other court documents, including a deposition where Lively disputed claims that Swift and Hugh Jackman were present during a confrontation between her husband Ryan Reynolds and Baldoni. Lively testified that only Reynolds was in the room when she addressed Baldoni's alleged "fat-shaming" inquiries about her weight.
This contradicts earlier exhibits that suggested Swift and Jackman witnessed the incident. The legal filings also reveal that Swift's name has been frequently referenced in the case, with her representative emphasizing she had no involvement with the film It Ends With Us beyond permitting the use of her song "My Tears Ricochet."
Celebrity Involvement and Public Scrutiny
The case has drawn in several A-list figures, with Lively allegedly bad-mouthing Baldoni to friends like Matt Damon, Lucy Damon, and Ben Affleck. Previous unsealed texts showed Swift referring to Baldoni as a "b***h" and offering support to Lively, though these messages are now part of a complex legal narrative.
With the trial set for March 2026, the public disclosure of these personal exchanges underscores the intense scrutiny facing celebrities in legal disputes. The friendship between Swift and Lively, once a staple of Hollywood gossip columns, now serves as a poignant subplot in a broader story about privacy, loyalty, and the pressures of fame.
As the legal proceedings continue, the unsealed texts offer a rare glimpse into the vulnerabilities of two global icons, reminding fans that even the most glamorous friendships can be tested by external crises.
