Federal Judge Blocks Justin Baldoni's Attempt to Depose Taylor Swift in Blake Lively Harassment Trial
A federal judge has rejected Justin Baldoni’s last-minute request to depose Taylor Swift as part of the ongoing legal battle with Blake Lively. The case centers on Lively’s allegations of sexual harassment and retaliation during the production of It Ends With Us.
A judge denied Justin Baldoni’s bid to depose Taylor Swift in Blake Lively’s harassment case, granting Lively more time for depositions.
Griffin Lotz for Rolling Stone
U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman ruled on Friday that Baldoni and his co-defendants at Wayfarer Studios had waited too long to pursue the deposition. The judge emphasized that discovery has been ongoing for six months and the defendants failed to demonstrate diligence in their efforts. Instead, the court granted Lively a 10-day extension to depose Baldoni and two others, citing delays by the defense in producing requested documents.
According to court filings, Baldoni first sought Swift’s deposition in May 2025 before withdrawing that subpoena. No renewed subpoena was issued, and the judge concluded the defendants had not shown “good cause” for a late extension. Judge Liman wrote that scheduling conflicts with Swift’s professional obligations did not explain why her deposition could not have been arranged earlier.
Baldoni’s lawyer, Ellyn S. Garofalo, argued in a Thursday letter that Swift had “agreed” to appear but could not do so before October 20. However, Swift’s attorney, J. Douglas Baldridge, disputed the claim, clarifying that Swift never agreed to a deposition and has no material role in the case. Baldridge added that Swift’s schedule would not allow her appearance before the deadline.
Lively, 38, is suing Baldoni, 41, and Wayfarer Studios, alleging that she was subjected to “disturbing” harassment during production. Her complaint includes claims that Baldoni improvised a scene where he pressed against her neck without consent and attempted to insert a graphic sex scene into the film. Lively also alleges Baldoni made invasive comments about her private life with her husband, actor Ryan Reynolds.
Swift became entangled in the case when Baldoni filed a defamation countersuit claiming she was present during a script-editing meeting at Lively’s Tribeca penthouse. Lively’s lawyers have argued that Baldoni’s repeated attempts to involve Swift are a tactic to generate media attention.
Attorney Michael J. Gottlieb, representing Lively, told the court that Baldoni’s efforts showed “a lack of respect for Swift’s privacy and schedule.” He added that the defense could have scheduled the deposition months earlier but instead attempted to drag Swift into the case for publicity.
Earlier this year, a representative for Swift stated she had no involvement with the film, saying she never visited the set, participated in casting, or contributed to editing decisions. The rep criticized the subpoenas as attempts to use Swift’s name for headlines.
The trial follows Lively’s December 2024 complaint against Baldoni, first detailed in The New York Times under the headline “‘We Can Bury Anyone’: Inside a Hollywood Smear Machine.” That report revealed her claims of harassment and a campaign to discredit her.
