Blake Lively and Taylor Swift texted about how their friendship dynamic changed during the actress’ legal battle with Justin Baldoni.
The tense exchange, which took place on Dec. 4, 2024, was included in a newly released court document which was unsealed on Tuesday before a summary judgment hearing in Lively’s lawsuit against Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios.
“Hey, just checking in. I have no reason to ask, but I donno, l’ve been feeling like I should… is everything ok? I felt like a bad friend lately because was such a sad sack who only talked about my own s–t for months,” Lively wrote in a private message to the pop star.
The “Gossip Girl” alum went on to tell Swift that she was a “key person” during the fallout but that she had a feeling “something may not be right.” She further explained that she didn’t want to seem “needy” but that she wanted to make sure “everything is good.”
“I always want the opportunity to be a better friend if there’s something [I] unintentionally did,” she said. “I know how busy and taxed you are – physically, emotionally, practically, so I don’t expect any more from you ever. Just want to make sure all is good.”
After about an hour, Swift replied to Lively, telling her, “No you’re not wrong, but it’s also not a big deal.”
The pop star went on to explain that she is “exhausted in every avenue of [her] life and has been feeling “a little bit of a shift” in the way Lively talks to her in recent months.
“Yes there has been a lot of the Justin stuff but I’ve been through things like this before and I know how all consuming it is,” Swift said. “It’s more like.. and I feel really bad saying anything about this because your texts have been so nice in their intent but your last few… it’s felt like I was reading a mass corporate email sent to 200 employees.”
Swift claimed that Lively wasn’t acting like her usual self.
“You said the word we’ like 18 times. And it feels awful to be in any way critical of any way you process what you’ve been going through but I just kinda miss my funny, dark, normal-speaking friend who talks to me as herself, not like. A plural unit,” she said. “When it’s a group I’m hearing from, I feel distanced from you even more than we are geographically.”
Elsewhere in the conversation, Swift explained that she understood Lively is feeling “attacked from all sides for ridiculous reasons.”
“So you’re feeling like you have to overly explain things or be overly nice or whatever but. It’s me! That’s just caused a little distance!” Swift explained.
Swift assured her friend that she didn’t need to “apologize” and she just wanted her friend to “come back please.”
Lively reacted to Swift’s response by hitting back with a light-hearted joke.
“Dear Valued Customer, Thank you for your feedback. We at headquarters are reviewing your concerns and will get back to you in a timely manner,” Lively wrote.
Lively then became serious, telling Swift is “right.”
“I literally deleted the awful thing I was gonna end that bit with because l’ve become digitally paranoid,”Lively explained. “I don’t know if you experienced that with phone calls after what happened to you, but after the thousands of text messages that weren’t meant for me that I’ve been reading, I’ve internalized that everything digital may be public.”
Lively acknowledged that her anxieties may be “irrational” but that her brain “can’t accept rationale there.”
“So yeah, I’ve been texting like I’m writing. Not like me talking. I didn’t realize that until you pointed it out, but I see it,” Lively said.
Lively went on to tell the singer that she has felt “deeply misunderstood” and doesn’t trust her own judgment.
“That sounds over the top but it’s true. This f–king guy and what he did to me gave me an identity crisis. Legitimately,” Lively said, referring to her “It Ends With Us” co-star.
Lively said that she was hurt by her longtime friends and allies who “quietly dipped” during the legal fight with Baldoni, making her “spooked.”
“And so I’m probably being over the top with my friends who stayed because I’ve never felt more alone.
The track is very violin heavy. I hate it,” Lively said.
The “A Simple Favor” star noted that she was being “a stupid paranoid weirdo” and thanked Swift for her honesty.
“But I am sorry. To you. And I’m sorry to me and to our kids,” Lively said, referring to her and Reynold’s four kids. “F–k that guy and f–k his whole gaggle of supervillains.”
Lively told Swift that she didn’t need to respond and expressed her excitement for the singer to be “done with suitcases, constant sinus infections and torn up kneecaps” after she wrapped her Eras Tour.
“Your submission will be processed shortly. We thank you again for your patronage,” Lively joked.
Swift reacted by telling Lively that her joke “took [her] out,” before assuring her longtime friend that she loves her.
The “Cruel Summer” artist proceeded to call Baldoni a ‘bitch’ with a “tiny violin.”
Feud rumors between Lively and the director began swirling in August 2024 after “It Ends With Us” premiered in New York City.
In December 2024, Lively sued Baldoni for sexual harassment, retaliation, breach of contract, infliction of emotional distress, invasion of privacy and lost wages three months later.
Baldoni denied any wrongdoing and responded with a with a $400 million countersuit, accusing Lively and Reynolds of defamation, as well as a lawsuit accusing the New York Times (the first outlet to report on the Lively’s lawsuit) of libel.
The countersuit was dismissed in June 2025, however, Lively’s lawsuit is ongoing.
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