- Celebrities. Justin Baldoni suffers first serious consequence following Blake Lively sexual harassment lawsuit
- Kansas City Chiefs. Taylor Swift's gesture to her mother Andrea and Donna Kelce shows her relationship with Travis Kelce is on its best footing
Taylor Swift's name has surfaced in court documents tied to Blake Lively's sexual harassment lawsuit against Justin Baldoni.
Lively filed the lawsuit on December 20, accusing Baldoni of creating a hostile work environment and causing her severe emotional distress during the production of It Ends With Us.
Why is Taylor Swift involved in Lively's lawsuit?
Allegations of a public relations campaign targeting Lively have raised questions about Swift's indirect involvement.
Exhibits submitted in the lawsuit include emails from Baldoni's crisis management team, which referenced Taylor Swift as part of a strategy to counter Lively's claims.
In an August 6 email, a crisis management expert flagged the potential overlap between Lively's and Swift's fanbases, stating, "BL does have some of the same TS fanbase, so we will be taking it extremely seriously."
The documents also reveal plans to manipulate public opinion by linking Lively to Swift.
A scenario-planning document suggested exploring narratives about the "weaponization of feminism" and how public figures like Swift have allegedly used such tactics to their advantage.
This approach appears to aim at discrediting Lively, who has maintained a long-documented friendship with Swift.
Additionally, the complaint includes evidence of a broader strategy allegedly orchestrated by Baldoni's team.
Text exchanges highlight discussions about planting stories on social media to harm Lively's reputation, including using examples like a viral post about Hailey Bieber's alleged history of bullying women.
According to the complaint, these tactics contributed to a "digital retaliation campaign" that reached millions online.
Baldoni's attorney, Bryan Freedman, has called Lively's claims "false, outrageous, and intentionally salacious."
He alleged that Lively's lawsuit was a calculated attempt to repair her reputation and blamed her for the film's struggles, citing her "demands and threats" during production.
Lively, meanwhile, has denied retaliating against Baldoni.
In a statement, she said her legal action aims to expose "sinister retaliatory tactics" and protect others who may face similar situations.
As of now, Swift's representatives have not commented on the situation.
As for Baldoni, he has parted ways with his talent agency, WME, following the lawsuit's filing.