Candace Owens made headlines by reading her own private messages live on her podcast after she learned that Blake Lively had issued a subpoena as part of an ongoing court case concerning alleged smear tactics involving Justin Baldoni. The incident, which centers around the focus keyword “Blake Lively subpoenas Candace Owens,” unfolded against the backdrop of a high-profile legal dispute with accusations of orchestrated online campaigns and fierce debate among influencers, legal teams, and celebrities.
Owens Responds Publicly to Lively’s Legal Actions
After news spread that Blake Lively’s attorneys had issued subpoenas to several content creators, including Candace Owens, Perez Hilton, and Andy Signore, Owens reacted in her signature bold fashion by addressing the situation on her popular podcast. Rather than remaining silent, she addressed the mounting controversy head-on, choosing to broadcast her reaction to the legal maneuver in real-time.
Alongside her response, Owens produced private text messages referencing Lively, stating that she wanted to be transparent about her involvement before the lawsuit and to counter any suggestion of malicious intent. This on-air revelation occurred promptly after media outlets, including TMZ, reported on the subpoena and after Owens claimed she first learned of the matter via the press rather than official notification from Lively’s legal team. As Owens put it:
Given the fact that I have not received any subpoena yet, I appreciate Blake’s team leaking this to TMZ to alert me to it. And, of course, I have not the slightest idea what I am being subpoenaed for, as I knew none of these parties when their respective lawsuits were filed. But stay tuned, and I’ll let audiences know on my podcast.
—Candace Owens, Political Commentator and Podcast Host
In the episode, Owens conducted a search for “Blake Lively” in her messages, revealing two conversations dated before December 2024—the month in which Lively initiated her lawsuit. The first message, from January 2019, was a positive remark about Lively’s wedding ring in a chat with her friend Christy:
I say, ‘Blake Lively’s’, with the heart eyes. And she writes back, ‘This is a pink diamond and it’s flawless.’ Oh my god, lock me up, Judge Liman. I said something nice about Blake Lively in 2019.
—Candace Owens, Political Commentator and Podcast Host
The second relevant text message surfaced from a conversation in August 2024 with Sklyer, Owens’ producer, where they discussed the potential of covering Blake Lively due to her viral status at the time. The message read,
“We should cover Blake Lively as well. Very viral at the moment.”
This text further suggested that Owens’ podcast did not have a concerted effort against Lively prior to the lawsuit, but rather responded to trending topics in the public eye.
Allegations of a Covert Campaign Targeting Lively
The heart of the legal battle revolves around claims made by Blake Lively’s attorneys that Justin Baldoni, with his team at Wayfarer, initiated a smear campaign targeting Lively by leveraging Reddit discussions and collaborating with content creators to amplify negative coverage. The lawyers stated their view of this effort:
The team would then ‘amplify’ that content by sharing it with larger outlets to increase negative sentiment toward Ms. Lively.
—Blake Lively’s Legal Team
This assertion connected the subpoenas sent to well-known online personalities—among them, Owens, Perez Hilton, and Andy Signore—to a wider strategy to shape public perception around the legal dispute. Despite these allegations, Owens maintained on her show that she was unaware of the specifics of the subpoena’s focus and denied knowing the key individuals involved when lawsuits were filed.
Owens continued to defend her role as a journalist committed to protecting her sources. On her podcast, she said she opened a tip line after the lawsuit’s emergence to receive information relevant to the case, focusing on substantiating her reporting rather than fueling a “smear” narrative.
Others Named in Blake Lively’s Subpoenas
Candace Owens is not alone in being drawn into Lively’s legal campaign. Alongside Owens, celebrity blogger Perez Hilton and YouTube content creator Andy Signore also received subpoenas related to the online activities under scrutiny. Hilton, a longtime figure in celebrity news, has previously clashed with notable entertainment personalities and was recently featured in the documentary “In Dispute: Lively vs. Baldoni.” Signore is known for his commentary on lawsuits and high-profile cases, while Hilton’s prior legal experiences include representation from Bryan Freedman, now acting as Baldoni’s counsel.
Lively’s legal effort also extended to the music executive Scooter Braun. According to reports, subpoenas were issued to Braun and HYBE, with requests for documentation pertaining to Melissa Nathan, Baldoni’s PR crisis manager during this tumultuous period. The scope of these legal moves points to a wide-ranging investigation aimed at uncovering the origins and amplification of negative media against Lively.
Owens Continues Her Support of Baldoni and Criticism of Lively
Throughout the unfolding legal saga, Owens has remained a vocal supporter of Justin Baldoni, who filed a $400 million lawsuit linked to media coverage and personal reputation. Owens has consistently expressed skepticism towards Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, and their circle of friends, fueling further controversy on public platforms. She offered a stark opinion about her impressions upon first learning of the lawsuit:
I truly looked at this lawsuit when it all came out in January, okay? And I just thought that you were a bad person. Truly, that was from the bottom of my heart. I think you and Ryan are bad people. There is nobody involved.
—Candace Owens, Political Commentator and Podcast Host
In addition to challenging Lively’s actions, Owens speculated about the involvement of Taylor Swift in the media narrative, pointing out Swift’s visible connection to Lively and Reynolds during the time the New York Times article was published. Owens suggested, via her YouTube show, that Swift may have encouraged the outlet to cover the story, though no public evidence has been provided. She also criticized what she sees as patterns in Swift’s and Lively’s media tactics, including the use of pseudonyms and indirect commentary through creative works.
Owens further alleged that Swift’s influence extended to the films “Deadpool & Wolverine” and “It Ends With Us,” speculating that details such as the character Gordon Reynolds in “It Ends With Us” may have originated from Swift’s input as well. These claims have not been verified and contribute to the contentious atmosphere surrounding the trial.
Ahead: The March 2026 Trial
The legal confrontation between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni is scheduled for trial in March 2026. The case, which has now drawn in a host of media figures and sparked heated reactions from content creators like Candace Owens, is expected to reveal further details about celebrity public relations strategies, the role of online amplifiers, and the evolving landscape of high-stakes legal challenges in the entertainment world. With subpoenas still being issued and new statements emerging, the dispute shows no signs of quieting soon, keeping figures like Lively, Owens, Hilton, and Baldoni at the center of public and legal scrutiny as the trial date approaches.
