Taylor Swift’s legal representatives have stated that the singer has not agreed to provide a deposition in the ongoing Blake Lively legal deposition dispute involving Lively and Justin Baldoni. This contradicts assertions from Baldoni’s side that Swift had consented to appear for questioning related to the lawsuit over the film It Ends With Us.
On September 11, Baldoni’s lawyers requested an extension for the discovery schedule, indicating that Swift
“has agreed to appear for deposition”
but could not do so before October 20 due to existing professional commitments, likely tied to her upcoming album release on October 3.
However, Swift’s longtime attorney, Douglas Baldridge, clarified on September 12 that these claims are untrue.
Attorney Baldridge Responds to Deposition Timeline and Consent
In a court filing, Douglas Baldridge insisted that Swift neither consented to a deposition nor was made aware of a deposition request until just days ago. He added that if compelled to attend, Swift’s schedule could allow for a deposition during the week of October 20, provided all parties resolve their disputes beforehand.
“My client did not agree to a deposition, but if she is forced into a deposition, we advised (after first hearing about the deposition just three days ago) that her schedule would accommodate the time required during the week of October 20 if the parties were able to work out their disputes,”
—Douglas Baldridge, Taylor Swift’s Attorney
Baldoni has long claimed that Swift is a critical witness because of her friendship with Lively. The actress accuses Baldoni of sexually harassing her on the set of It Ends With Us and of leading a retaliatory smear campaign after she reported the misconduct.
Judge Grants Access to Text Messages, Discovery Phase Advances
In June, the federal judge overseeing the case allowed Baldoni to obtain text messages exchanged between Swift and Lively during the discovery process. Baldoni is now seeking to depose Swift as part of this documentary evidence review.
The present discovery schedule expects all depositions to finish by late September, ahead of the trial date set for March 2026. Yet, Baldoni’s legal team has requested an extension specifically to accommodate Swift’s deposition timeline.
Swift’s Team Criticizes Baldoni for Including the Singer in Litigation
Swift’s lawyers have strongly criticized Baldoni’s approach, accusing him of using tabloid publicity tactics by entangling the pop star in a lawsuit where her involvement is minimal. Baldridge reiterated this stance in court documents, emphasizing that Swift has no significant role in the dispute.
“Since the inception of this matter we have consistently maintained that my client has no material role in this action.”
—Douglas Baldridge, Taylor Swift’s Attorney
Lively’s legal representatives also condemned Baldoni for involving Swift, arguing his strategy aims to create a media spectacle rather than contribute to the case’s substance.
Lively’s Lawyers Oppose Extending Deposition Deadline for Swift
Lively’s counsel expressed strong opposition to postponing the discovery cutoff to allow for Swift’s deposition. They blame Baldoni for the late scheduling request, pointing out that he had ample opportunity over recent months to arrange deposition timing.
“The Wayfarer defendants’ lack of diligence, and disrespect for Ms. Swift’s privacy and schedule, is astounding,”
—Michael Gottlieb, Blake Lively’s Lawyer
“Ms. Swift is someone whose calendar should be presumed to be packed with professional obligations for months in advance. At any point over the past six months, the Wayfarer defendants could have noticed a deposition, served a subpoena and negotiated an agreeable time and place for this deposition. But they did not.”
—Michael Gottlieb, Blake Lively’s Lawyer
Judge Lewis J. Liman has yet to rule on Baldoni’s request for the discovery extension.
Ongoing Legal Conflict Between Lively and Baldoni Intensifies
The legal battle began in December when Blake Lively accused Justin Baldoni of sexual harassment and retaliation connected to the filming of It Ends With Us. Baldoni denied these allegations and filed a defamation countersuit, which was later dismissed by Judge Liman as legally insufficient. Consequently, only Lively’s original claims are moving forward toward a trial expected in spring 2026.
From early in the case, Baldoni’s team sought to involve Taylor Swift, asserting that Lively leveraged relationships with influential celebrities to strengthen her position during the film’s production.
The story was last updated on September 12 at 2:27 p.m. ET to confirm that Taylor Swift has not agreed to provide a deposition in this dispute.
