Taylor Swift is “relieved” after Blake Lively’s legal setback last week, but insiders say she still fears being pulled back into the case as her wedding to Travis Kelce looms, according to a report by veteran entertainment industry insider Rob Shuter.
A source close to Swift told Shuter that the “Opalite” singer feels the dismissal of 10 of Lively’s 13 claims against It Ends With Us director and co-star Justin Baldoni has eased her immediate concerns, though the case could still go to trial — and with her high-profile wedding plans underway, any lingering fallout remains firmly on Swift’s radar.
“It’s a huge relief,” the insider told Shuter. “This case just got dramatically weaker.”
But Shuter’s source made clear that Swift remains on alert.
“She’s watching everything,” the insider said, “because the last thing she wants is her name or her texts dragged into this again.”
That concern is not hypothetical. Swift was unwillingly pulled into the Lively-Baldoni legal imbroglio after private texts between her and Lively surfaced in court filings, and with a trial now looming in May, the possibility of further revelations has not disappeared entirely.
According to a second Shuter exclusive published Monday, people inside Lively’s circle, including, reportedly, her husband Ryan Reynolds, are urging her to walk away.
“People around Blake are begging her to settle,” a source told Shuter. “They think enough damage has already been done.”
Lively, for her part, is pressing forward. After the ruling, reporter Bethany Braun-Silva of ABC News published a statement Lively posted to her Instagram Stories: “I’m grateful for the court’s ruling, which allows the heart of my case to be presented to a jury next month.”
GettyTaylor Swift is reportedly relieved that friend Blake Lively suffered a major legal setback.
What the Ruling Means for the Lively-Baldoni Case
The federal judge’s decision was a significant setback to Lively’s lawsuit, though not a complete defeat. As legal analysts told People, 10 of Lively’s 13 claims were dismissed, while three survived. Those include allegations tied to retaliation. The remaining claims are headed to a jury trial set for May. Baldoni, who has denied all of Lively’s allegations, has reportedly rejected settlement talks, according to Page Six. Both sides appear prepared to let a jury decide what remains. According to the Daily Mail, the legal dispute shows no signs of a negotiated conclusion before the May trial date.
How Taylor Swift Got Pulled Into the Drama
Swift’s connection to the lawsuit is rooted in her long friendship with Lively, who was once among her closest friends. Baldoni’s legal team alleged that Swift, along with Lively’s husband Reynolds, pressured him at a 2023 meeting in New York to accept script changes Lively was demanding for It Ends With Us. That allegation thrust Swift into a case she wanted nothing to do with.
The private texts between Swift and Lively that were subsequently unsealed in the proceedings, including messages that reportedly showed Swift agreeing to support Lively’s position in the film dispute, added another layer of exposure the singer found deeply uncomfortable. Lively was reportedly not invited to Swift’s bachelorette party, and the Daily Mail has reported that the rift between the two women has hardened over the course of the legal battle.
With Swift’s summer wedding to Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce drawing closer, the “Opalite” singer has made it clear, according to Shuter’s sources, that she has one priority regarding the case.
“She wants this wrapped up before her summer wedding,” the source told Shuter. “The timing couldn’t be worse.”
Taylor Swift Fears Getting Dragged Back Into Blake Lively Lawsuit Before Wedding