Taylor Swift Steps In: Will She Be Deposed in Lively Baldoni Feud Amid Legal Bombshells and Timed Album Drop?

A journalistic expert providing a well-researched, analytical take with key insights and data. Taylor Swift appears set to be deposed in the high-stakes legal battle between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, a development that could reshape the ongoing defamation and extortion allegations swirling around the It Ends With Us set. Court documents obtained by Page Six reveal that Wayfarer Parties requested a deposition window during October 20-25, citing Swift’s preexisting professional commitments and indicating that the pop icon has allegedly agreed to participate, though she cannot do so before October 20 due to her schedule surrounding a new album release.

The timeline of the dispute is intricate and loaded with celebrity crossfire. Lively, who filed a defamation suit in December 2024 against Baldoni, accuses him of orchestrating a smear campaign against her. Baldoni countersued in January, asserting defamation and extortion on Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, their publicist Leslie Sloane, and Vision PR Inc. The counterclaims frame the conflict as a broader attack on their reputations, with Baldoni alleging that Lively pinpointed Reynolds and Swift as strategic targets in a public feud. He even alleged that Lively referred to Reynolds and Swift as “dragons” or used Khaleesi-like language in a text chain, details that have fed media speculation but require corroborating evidence.

Swift’s potential deposition introduces a fresh layer of complexity. The subpoenas and filings indicate an intersection of personal and professional relationships that have long drawn public interest, especially given Swift’s documented ties to Lively and Reynolds as a godmother to their children. Yet, Swift has historically kept a careful distance from the fray on record, especially after a May subpoena reportedly identified by Baldoni’s team. In May, Swift was subpoenaed to testify but was later removed from the process when her representatives denied involvement in the case. The public statements from Swift’s camp emphasized that she did not participate in the film’s production, casting, or edits, and did not view the film until after its release as she was touring globally for the era-defining tour.

This new deposition window comes at a time when the walls of the courtroom are already bearing the weight of contested claims and legal theatrics. Baldoni’s camp argued that Swift had previously agreed to be deposed and that scheduling constraints were in play, but Lively’s lawyers pushed back, challenging the notion that Swift had provided a clear, timely agreement or showing they had feasible cause to compel the deposition during the late discovery period. The court filings reveal a delicate balance between the litigation’s deadlines and the strategic leverage each side seeks to gain through compelling testimony from Swift, a figure whose public persona stands at the confluence of artistic achievement and personal relationships with both parties.

Analysts note that Swift’s involvement could have broad implications beyond the immediate dispute. If Swift testifies, it could illuminate communications and decision-making processes surrounding the alleged rooftop scene rewrite discussions that initially placed Swift in the orbit of the controversy. It could also impact reputational dynamics and settlement considerations as both sides maneuver for favorable public perception while navigating confidentiality concerns and discovery obligations.

As October approaches, observers are watching how this deposition will unfold against the backdrop of Swift’s new album release, The Life of a Showgirl, slated for October 3. The timing adds a layer of intrigue: will Swift align her public obligations with a private deposition, or will strategic concessions shift in response to the ongoing legal crossfire? The broader question remains: how much of this dispute will seep into popular culture versus resolving through court documents and negotiated settlements?

What to watch next: whether Swift’s deposition proceeds as scheduled, what testimony reveals about the so-called dragon-and-Khaleesi text exchange, and how the judge balances discovery needs with the sensitive reputational stakes for all involved.