Taylor Swift Spared Deposition in Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni Legal Dispute
In a recent legal development, Taylor Swift will not be required to give a deposition in the ongoing legal dispute between actors Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni. The decision was made by federal Judge Lewis Liman, who found that Baldoni's team had not acted diligently in requesting the deposition. Despite initial claims that Swift had agreed to be deposed, her attorney clarified that she had not consented and would only participate if ordered by the court.
The confusion arose when Baldoni's attorneys filed court documents stating that Swift had agreed to be questioned under oath, which was quickly refuted by Swift's legal team. Judge Liman pointed out the timing issues in Baldoni's request, noting that they had waited too long to contact Swift's representatives and had previously withdrawn a subpoena for her deposition.
Lively's attorneys criticized Baldoni's last-minute attempt to depose Swift, accusing his team of trying to involve the singer in the case for media attention. The underlying case involves Lively's allegations of sexual harassment against Baldoni during the filming of a movie and subsequent retaliation. Swift's involvement in the case is due to her friendship with Lively and her contribution to the film's soundtrack.
With Swift no longer required to give a deposition, the case will proceed without her as a witness. The trial is set for March 9, 2026, and depositions for the main parties must be completed by September 30, 2025. Judge Liman granted Lively's team an extension to depose Baldoni and his co-founders, citing delays in document production.
The ruling is seen as a victory for both Swift and Lively, putting an end to what some viewed as an attempt to use Swift's celebrity status to garner attention for the high-profile legal battle in Hollywood.