Court Filings Allege Taylor Swift Used a Derogatory Term for ‘It Ends With Us’ Director Justin Baldoni

The ongoing legal fight tied to the movie It Ends with Us has taken a dramatic turn, and Taylor Swift is now part of the story. New court documents have pulled the pop star into the dispute between Blake Lively and the film’s director, Justin Baldoni.

According to court filings obtained by Variety, Swift shared blunt opinions about Baldoni in a private text exchange with Lively. The messages were sent in 2024, at a time when rumors were spreading about serious tension behind the scenes of the film.

The texts came up while Swift and Lively were talking about a New York Times exposé that was expected to cover the growing conflict around the movie. In one message cited in the documents, Swift referred to Baldoni using harsh language. She allegedly wrote, “I think this b*** knows something is coming because he’s gotten out his tiny violin.”

The filings suggest that Lively’s frustration with Baldoni started long before Swift sent that text. A year earlier, Lively had already shared negative thoughts about him in private messages to Swift. In those texts, Lively reportedly called Baldoni the “doofus director of my movie” and criticized his creative role.

She also described him as a “clown” and said he “thinks he’s a writer now,” showing that tensions were already high early in production. These messages were included as part of a larger set of claims against Baldoni related to his behavior on set.

Lively and others involved in the film have accused Baldoni of inappropriate conduct that they say created a hostile work environment. The court documents also detail major creative fights during the making of the movie. Lively was unhappy enough with Baldoni’s direction that she made her own cut of the film.

In her declaration, Lively said Baldoni’s version of the movie “marginalized the female characters” and failed to respect the original story. She also claimed his edit “glorified the abuser,” which she said was deeply troubling given the subject matter of the film.

The conflict later became very visible during the film’s press tour. Lively refused to appear publicly with Baldoni or producer Jamey Heath. In the filings, she explained why. “They painted themselves as the victims and me as a bully,” she said. She added, “I was not willing to endorse Baldoni or Heath personally by appearing alongside or promoting the Film with them.”

Lively has since filed a lawsuit against Baldoni, his publicist, and the film’s producers, accusing them of harassment and retaliation. Baldoni’s legal team has responded by filing a motion to dismiss the case, arguing that Lively’s claims are exaggerated and amount to minor issues. A hearing on that motion is scheduled for this Thursday, and the trial is currently set for May 18.

Taylor Swift has not commented publicly on the situation. She has been close friends with Lively for years, and their friendship has often been visible through public outings and past collaborations. The court documents mark a rare moment where Swift’s private messages have surfaced in a legal dispute.

Despite all the controversy, It Ends with Us was a major box office success, earning more than $300 million worldwide. Still, the drama surrounding the film has kept it in headlines long after its release, and the upcoming court proceedings are expected to reveal even more about what happened behind the scenes.

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