Legal dispute between Lively and Baldoni: Taylor Swift obviously wants to make a statement

The legal dispute between actress Blake Lively (38) and her former “only once” co-star Justin Baldoni (41) draws further circles. According to court documents, the singer Taylor Swift (35) has apparently agreed to make a statement. However, a survey would only take place if Baldoni’s lawyers can enforce a deadline extension.

Originally, the taking of evidence should end soon. Baldoni’s lawyer Ellyn S. Garofalo, however, emphasized in court that no general extension was applied for, but only an exception: Swift could only testify due to professional obligations from October 20th to 25th. The artist released her new album “The Life of a Showgirl” on October 3 and was bound by then.

Taylor Swift actually has nothing to do with the production of “only once”, the film adaptation of the novel of the same name. Their connection to the film is limited to the fact that one of her songs, “My Tears Ricochet” was used. Nevertheless, her name appeared in Baldoni’s lawsuit against LIVELY at the beginning of the year. Among other things, he accused his colleague defamation, breach of contract and emotional burden and in this context mentioned SWIFT as an example of Lively’s “protective powers”.

Swift’s team reacted indignantly in May when the singer was first charged as a witness: she never stood on the set, made no creative decisions and only saw the finished film weeks after the theatrical release. The original summons were withdrawn at the time, but Baldoni’s lawsuit was rejected by the court in June.

Baldoni had previously accused Sexual harassment, retaliation and interventions in her privacy. The actor rejected the allegations and reacted with his own lawsuit – which has now failed, but did not end the legal dispute. Most recently, new accusations against Baldoni were added by a person not mentioned by name who reported repeated problematic behavior and verbal degradation.

In addition to the legal dimension, the case also makes headlines in the private environment: media reports suggest that the clashes have burdened the relationship between Lively and Swift. Accordingly, the actress did not congratulate her long-time girlfriend on her engagement with football star Travis Kelce (35). Swift and Lively have been friends since 2015 and were considered famous celebrities.

Whether and in what form Taylor Swift actually has to testify in court depends on the decision of the responsible judge.