“The connection Taylor had to this film was permitting the use of one song, ‘My Tears Ricochet.’ Given that her involvement was licensing a song for the film, which 19 other artists also did, this document subpoena is designed to use Taylor Swift’s name to draw public interest by creating tabloid clickbait instead of focusing on the facts of the case,” the assertion reads.
It’s definitely not the primary time that Baldoni’s workforce has introduced Swift’s identify up in reference to Lively. According to Lively’s preliminary authorized submitting, the PR workforce employed by Wayfarer offered a “scenario planning document” that learn “our team can also explore planting stories about the weaponization of feminism and how people like Taylor Swift, have been accused of utilizing these tactics to ‘bully’ into getting what they want.”
In an e mail despatched to Wayfarer shortly earlier than the movie’s August 9, 2024 launch, a PR strategist wrote “We have seen the most innocuous issues turn giant due to socials or the hugest crises have no effect on social whatsoever. You just cannot tell at this stage. But, BL does have some of the same TS fanbase so we will be taking it extremely seriously.” (BL and TS are assumed to reference Lively and Swift, respectively.)
A spokesperson for Lively says that the Baldoni workforce’s transfer to carry Swift into the case is one other try to punish Lively for talking out.
“Mr Baldoni, [Wayfarer Studios co-founder Steve Sarowitz], and team continue to turn a case of sexual harassment and retaliation into entertainment for the tabloids, going as far as suggesting that they sell tickets to a concert venue – Madison Square Garden – to witness Ms. Lively’s deposition, to subpoenaing Taylor Swift, a woman who has given a voice to millions the world over. This is a very serious legal matter, not Barnum & Bailey’s Circus,” the assertion reads.
“The defendants continue to publicly intimidate, bully, shame and attack women’s rights and reputations. Including in the past month seeking to strike down for all, a powerful California victims’ rights law, calling it ‘unconstitutional’. The disturbing actions by a billionaire, men who made their careers as ‘female allies’ and their team continue to show their true colors.”
The case is anticipated to be heard within the US District Court for the Southern District of New York on March 9, 2026, with Judge Lewis J. Liman presiding.
