Yesterday, we reported that the pop star Taylor Swift feels “exploited” by her former best friend Blake Lively. This came after Swift was subpoenaed in Lively’s lawsuit against Justin Baldoni. He was her 41 year-old co-star and director in the movie It Ends With Us.
Now, it’s being alleged that Lively “threatened” to release private text between herself and Swift if the “Fortnight” singer didn’t publicly take her side against Baldoni.
Lively ‘Threatened’ To Release Swift’s Private Texts
This was claimed in a legal letter filed by Baldoni’s lawyers on Wednesday. In it, they alleged that Lively, 37, tried to pressure Swift, 35, into issuing a statement in support of her. Lively also allegedly pressured Swift to delete private text messages between the two of them.
Daily Mail has confirmed that Baldoni’s lawyers fired back at Lively’s “wrong” claims that the proposed subpoena to Swift “seeks irrelevant documents.” They argued that the subpoena instead aims to obtain information “relating to witness tampering and evidence spoliation. Specifically, they said that Lively tried to “coerce” Swift into siding with her publicly.
“Ms. Lively requested that Taylor Swift delete their text messages,” Baldoni’s lawyers wrote. Insiders allege that these text messages contained details from over a decade of friendship between Swift and Lively.
This letter also alleges that Lively’s lawyer Michael Gottlieb had contacted Swift’s attorney and demanded “that Ms. Swift release a statement of support for Ms. Lively, intimating that, if Ms. Swift refused to do so, private text messages of a personal nature in Ms. Lively’s possession would be released.”
Swift’s reps reportedly fired back by slamming Lively’s “inappropriate and apparently extortionate threats in at least one written communication” that was sent to Gottlieb.
“It is those communications that [Baldoni’s team] seeks to obtain by way of subpoena, as they would evidence an attempt to intimidate and coerce a percipient witness in this litigation,” Baldoni’s lawyers wrote.
Related: Taylor Swift ‘Very Upset’ After Being ‘Exploited’ By Former Friend Blake Lively – She Feels ‘Used’
Swift Gets Dragged Into Lively’s Lawsuit Against Baldoni
Swift and Lively, 37, had been close friends for years. They are neighbors in New York City. Swift is also godmother to the three daughters that Lively shares with the Deadpool actor Ryan Reynolds.
However, everything changed back in December. It was then that Lively sued Baldoni, her 41 year-old co-star and director in the It Ends With Us. Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment and launching a smear campaign against her.
The next month, Baldoni fired back by countersuing. He accused Lively and Reynolds, 48, of defamation. Swift got dragged into this when Baldoni’s filing included screenshots of text messages and emails that named Swift. In one exchange, Lively even referred to herself as Khaleesi, a character in Games of Thrones. She then referred to Swift as one of her “dragons.”
Baldoni went on to claim that Swift was present for a meeting about the movie that he had with Lively and Reynolds at their New York City penthouse. A source close to Swift, however, claimed that the singer only arrived at the penthouse when the meeting was already happening. This insider alleged that Swift had no active part in it.
Related: Taylor Swift Fuming With Former Best Friend Blake Lively – ‘Taking A Step Back’
Swift Is ‘Very Upset’
Sources told The Mail that Swift was “completely floored” when she was subpoenaed. Indeed, Swift is reportedly now “very upset” by this entire situation.
A spokesperson for Swift released a statement on Friday minutes after she was subpoenaed.
“Taylor Swift never set foot on the set of this movie, she was not involved in any casting or creative decisions, she did not score the film, she never saw an edit or made any notes on the film, she did not even see It Ends With Us until weeks after its public release,” the spokesperson said.
“The connection Taylor had to this film was permitting the use of one song, ‘My Tears Ricochet’ [on the soundtrack],” the spokesperson added.
Another source close to Swift said that the singer blames Lively for getting her involved in this.
“Taylor has been aware that Blake has been exploiting her name for a while now, but this subpoena takes it to a whole new level,” this insider concluded.
Swift has reportedly taken a “step back” from her friendship with Lively in recent months. Only time will tell if their friendship can survive this, but it’s certainly not looking good!