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Here Are the Blake Lively–Taylor Swift Texts About Justin Baldoni—What the Court Filings Show

Court filings made Blake Lively and Taylor Swift’s messages about Justin Baldoni public. Here is what the exchanges say—and what remains disputed.
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Federal court filings have made public a series of messages between Blake Lively and Taylor Swift concerning Justin Baldoni and It Ends With Us. The exchanges show discussions about script revisions, Swift’s song in the movie trailer, the influence of Lively’s famous friends, and an expected news story. The words are quoted from exhibits, but the parties disagree about their meaning and legal significance.

Messages between Blake Lively and Taylor Swift became public through federal litigation over It Ends With Us. The exchanges, quoted in court filings and attached exhibits, cover script revisions in April 2023, the film’s trailer and Swift’s song in April 2024, and a December 2024 discussion about an expected New York Times story.

The messages are real quoted material in the court record, but the parties disagree about what several exchanges mean. They do not, by themselves, establish that Swift was a producer, editor, formal decision-maker, or controller of the film. Nor do they amount to a judicial finding that Lively or Swift committed misconduct.

At a glance

  • April 2023: Lively asked Swift for support concerning proposed script revisions and described Justin Baldoni in disparaging terms.
  • The “dragons” exchange: Lively compared Swift and Ryan Reynolds to protective “dragons,” language Baldoni’s lawyers presented as evidence of celebrity leverage.
  • April 2024: Lively and Swift discussed the strategic effect of Swift’s song “My Tears Ricochet” appearing in the trailer.
  • December 2024: Swift wrote that Baldoni had “gotten out his tiny violin” as the parties anticipated a news story.
  • Legal status: Lively’s case settled in May 2026, avoiding the scheduled federal trial. A June 2026 ruling addressed attorneys’ fees and costs, not whether the underlying harassment allegations were true.

The April 2023 messages about script revisions

The most direct discussion of the film’s creative process concerns an April 12, 2023 exchange. According to the filing, Lively referred to Baldoni as “this doofus director of my movie” and as “a clown” who “thinks he’s a writer now.” She then sought Swift’s endorsement of proposed revisions.

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Baldoni’s lawyers characterized the exchange as Lively asking Swift to support the revisions without reading them. Lively disputed that characterization. Her testimony, as described in the record, was that she sent Swift the script, told her she did not have to read it, and hoped that she would read it anyway. That distinction is important: the quoted language is one part of the record, while the parties’ descriptions of Lively’s intent remain contested.

Swift replied: “I’ll do anything for you !!”

The opposing filing presented that response as Swift agreeing to do Lively’s bidding. It also said Lively and Swift met Baldoni at Lively’s apartment, after which Swift endorsed the revised draft. Lively disputed that the cited evidence established those conclusions. The available record therefore supports saying that Swift expressed strong personal support for Lively and that the two discussed revisions; it does not support describing Swift as having formally approved or controlled the screenplay.

After the interaction described in the filing, Lively wrote to Swift that she had been “epically heroic” and called her the “worlds absolute greatest friend ever.” Those words show the warmth of the friendship and Lively’s gratitude. Their legal significance, however, is part of the broader dispute between the parties.

What Lively meant by calling Swift and Reynolds her “dragons”

Another exchange became central to Baldoni’s theory about celebrity influence. The filing says Baldoni later told Lively that he liked the revised scene and would have felt that way even without Ryan Reynolds and Taylor Swift.

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Lively responded by comparing Reynolds and Swift to her “dragons,” invoking the protective creatures associated with power in Game of Thrones. She also said that everyone benefited from her relationship with Reynolds and Swift, including Baldoni.

Baldoni’s lawyers argued that the “dragons” language showed Lively using her relationships with two highly influential celebrities as leverage during the production. Lively disputed that interpretation. The exchange can accurately be described as a discussion of the influence and perceived benefits associated with those relationships, but it should not be presented as a court finding that Lively coerced Baldoni or that Swift participated in a scheme.

The 2024 discussion about Swift’s song in the trailer

The next group of messages concerns the It Ends With Us trailer, released with Swift’s song “My Tears Ricochet.” In April 2024, Lively sent Swift a link to the trailer. Swift replied: “Wow I love how they use the song” and then added, “Welcome to hollywood Justin.”

A separate April 26 exchange used more explicitly strategic language. The filing quotes Swift saying that, if Baldoni had been strategic, he would have kept Taylor Swift’s music out of the trailer. Its inclusion, she said, gave Lively more power over the film and made the song “your ally not his.”

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Lively answered that Baldoni should have run from the music and described the trailer placement as his only chance to appear to have the upper hand.

These messages support the narrower conclusion that Lively and Swift discussed the perceived strategic consequences of using Swift’s music in the trailer. They do not establish that Swift negotiated the placement, owned a controlling interest in the film, or had formal authority over its marketing. They also do not show, solely from the quoted exchanges, that Baldoni agreed to a coercive arrangement.

The December 2024 “tiny violin” message

The final exchange drew attention because of a single line written by Swift during a December 4–5, 2024 discussion about an expected New York Times story. The filing quotes her as saying:

“I think this bitch knows something is coming because he’s gotten out his tiny violin.”

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The filing used the remark to argue that Swift and Lively were discussing the coming article and viewed Baldoni’s public posture skeptically. Lively disputed the filing’s description of the timing and surrounding discussion while acknowledging that the quoted words appeared in the exhibit.

The record described in the filing does not establish the full intent behind Swift’s phrase. In particular, it would go beyond the available evidence to label the remark as mocking Baldoni’s alleged sexual-abuse experience. The careful description is that Swift used the “tiny violin” phrase in a conversation about the expected news coverage.

Why the messages appeared in the litigation

Lively sued Baldoni and associated parties after alleging sexual harassment, a hostile work environment, and retaliation connected to the production and promotion of It Ends With Us. Baldoni and Wayfarer denied the allegations and pursued counterclaims and related litigation.

Baldoni’s lawyers relied on the messages to argue that Lively used powerful friendships to influence the film’s creative direction and the public narrative surrounding the dispute. Their filings pointed to the script-revision exchange, the “dragons” reference, the discussion of Swift’s song, and the December “tiny violin” message as parts of that theory.

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Lively acknowledged that many of the quoted words appeared in the exhibits but disputed the opposing side’s summaries and conclusions. That distinction runs through the entire record. A message can be accurately quoted while the parties continue to disagree about its context, purpose, and legal significance.

What remains disputed

  • Whether Swift was asked to endorse unread material: The filing says Lively sought support without Swift reading the material. Lively testified that she sent the script, said reading it was optional, and hoped Swift would read it.
  • What happened at Lively’s apartment: Baldoni’s lawyers said Swift later endorsed the revised draft after meeting Baldoni with Lively. Lively disputed that the cited evidence proved this characterization.
  • What the “dragons” reference meant: Baldoni’s side treated it as evidence of leverage; Lively disputed that interpretation.
  • How much power Swift’s music gave Lively: The messages discuss the song’s strategic value, but they do not establish formal control over the trailer or film.
  • What Swift intended by “tiny violin”: The phrase is quoted in the exhibit, but the surrounding timing and meaning were disputed.
  • Whether any of this proved the legal claims: The messages were evidence cited by litigants, not a verdict or independent judicial finding.

The adaptation context

It Ends With Us is the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s novel. Readers who want to compare the source material with the movie can start with Colleen Hoover’s It Ends with Us novel, which the author’s official site identifies as the first book in the It Ends With Us series and lists among its U.S. retail options.

For viewers revisiting the adaptation, the author’s official site has listed where to watch It Ends With Us, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Apple, YouTube, Google Play, and Fandango. Availability can change by country, platform, and date, so those listings should be checked before relying on them.

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What happened to the case

The dispute did not proceed to the federal trial that had been scheduled for May 18, 2026. The parties reached a settlement on May 7, 2026, and a later court filing stated that Lively dismissed her action after settling with the defendants.

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The settlement did not end every related procedural issue immediately. On June 12, 2026, Judge Lewis J. Liman granted in part Lively’s motion for attorneys’ fees and costs under California Civil Code section 47.1. The court allowed recovery of attorneys’ fees and costs but denied treble and punitive damages.

That ruling addressed the fee and damages request after settlement. It did not determine that the underlying harassment allegations were true, and it did not turn the disputed text-message interpretations into findings of fact. June 2026 reporting said Lively received no settlement payment, while the parties continued submissions concerning the amount of recoverable legal fees. Any final fee total is a separate procedural question unless established by a later order.

Source note: This account is based on the messages as quoted in federal court filings and attached exhibits, together with the later filings and orders described above. Statements about intent, leverage, and the meaning of the exchanges are attributed to the parties because those interpretations were disputed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did Taylor Swift’s messages to Blake Lively say?

The public exhibits quote Swift saying “I’ll do anything for you !!” during a discussion about script revisions, calling the song in the trailer “your ally not his,” and writing that Baldoni had “gotten out his tiny violin.” The exchanges also include Lively’s references to Baldoni as “this doofus director of my movie” and her comparison of Swift and Ryan Reynolds to her “dragons.”

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Do the texts prove that Taylor Swift controlled It Ends With Us?

No. The filings describe Swift discussing script revisions, her song’s use in the trailer, and her relationship with Lively. They do not establish that Swift was a producer, editor, formal decision-maker, or controller of the film.

Did Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni go to trial?

No. Lively and Baldoni settled in May 2026, and Lively dismissed her action after the May 7 settlement. The federal trial scheduled for May 18 did not take place. A June 12 ruling addressed Lively’s attorneys’ fees and costs, not the truth of the underlying harassment allegations.

The Bottom Line

The public messages show a close friendship, conversations about script revisions and Swift’s music, and skepticism about the coming news coverage. They also show why Baldoni’s lawyers argued that Lively’s celebrity relationships carried influence. But the texts are contested litigation evidence—not a judicial finding that Swift controlled It Ends With Us, that Lively coerced Baldoni, or that either woman committed the alleged misconduct.

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