You Won’t Believe the Twist in Baldoni and Lively’s Case!

The legal war between Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively has taken another shocking turn — one that shifts the battlefield dramatically and raises serious questions about strategy, credibility, and what comes next. What was once a sprawling clash involving subpoenas to celebrities, billion-dollar counterclaims, and explosive accusations is now tightening around a single core: the sexual harassment and retaliation allegations at the heart of Lively’s lawsuit.

Taylor Swift Subpoena Withdrawn — But Her Texts Aren’t Safe

One of the biggest bombshells came when Baldoni’s legal team abruptly withdrew their subpoena for Taylor Swift.

Originally, Baldoni wanted Swift to hand over documents and potentially testify, alleging she attended a meeting where he was pressured to approve script rewrites. Had it gone forward, Swift could have faced sworn testimony — a spectacle that would have turned the case into a global media circus.

But with the subpoena withdrawn, Swift avoids the witness stand. However — her involvement isn’t over. Blake Lively has still been required to turn over private text messages she exchanged with Swift, after the judge ruled they could be relevant to the harassment allegations. Those texts will remain under protective order, meaning they can’t be splashed across tabloids — but they’re now part of the evidentiary record.

This leaves open a tantalizing question: what exactly did Blake and Taylor say about Justin Baldoni — and why was it important enough for the court to preserve?

Blake Lively Quietly Trims Her Claims

Another twist? Lively dropped two counts from her lawsuit: intentional emotional distress and negligent emotional distress.

But here’s the catch: she dismissed them without prejudice. That means she isn’t necessarily walking away from those claims forever. Instead, she’s keeping the door open to bring them back at a later stage.

The judge has already pressed her legal team to clarify whether this was a permanent move or a temporary tactic. For now, it looks like a strategic decision to keep her case leaner — but still flexible.

Baldoni’s Mega-Countersuits Collapse

Perhaps the most brutal blow came for Baldoni. His $400 million counterclaim against Lively, Ryan Reynolds, and publicist Leslie Sloan was dismissed in June. His separate $250 million libel suit against The New York Times was also tossed.

Together, those claims represented over $650 million in damages that Baldoni hoped to recover. Now, both are gone.

The judge allowed him the option to amend certain contract-related claims by June 23, but instead of doubling down, Baldoni’s team chose not to refile. He’s now pivoting fully to focus on discovery ahead of trial.

This dramatic retreat is being read by many observers as an acknowledgment that the mega-lawsuits were overreach — and possibly undermined his credibility with the court.

Key Reporter Recants, Undermining Baldoni’s Narrative

In another twist, a People/Daily Mail reporter whose text message had been used as key evidence by Baldoni’s side has now recanted.

The reporter confirmed that Leslie Sloan, Lively’s longtime publicist, never claimed that Blake was sexually assaulted. This retraction punches a massive hole in Baldoni’s defamation allegations and weakens the broader argument that there was a coordinated campaign of false claims.

Without that testimony, one of Baldoni’s biggest narrative weapons against Lively’s camp has essentially disintegrated.

Where the Case Stands Now

Despite these withdrawals and dismissals, the core case is very much alive.

Blake Lively’s sexual harassment and retaliation claims remain intact.
The trial is set for March 2026 in federal court in New York.
Discovery battles are heating up, with private texts, emails, and depositions all in play.

For Baldoni, this means his sweeping legal offensive has collapsed, and he’s now forced to defend himself directly against Lively’s accusations. For Lively, it means trimming excess claims while still holding her strongest allegations in place.

The Bigger Picture

This latest twist shows just how volatile and high-stakes this case has become:

Taylor Swift escapes testimony — but her private texts with Lively are evidence.
Lively pares down her lawsuit — but leaves the door open to bring distress claims back later.
Baldoni’s $650M blitz collapses — leaving him on the defensive.
Reporter recantation — undercuts one of Baldoni’s core defamation narratives.

Now, the drama heads toward a 2026 showdown where everything will come down to whether Blake Lively can prove her harassment and retaliation claims, or whether Baldoni can dismantle them in court.

What was once sprawling chaos is now a laser-focused legal battle — and the outcome could reshape reputations, careers, and Hollywood power dynamics for years to come.