Blake Lively and Taylor Swift dicussed their changing friendship dynamic amid the actress’s legal battle with Justin Baldoni.
The tense exchange, which took place Dec. 4, 2024, was revealed in a newly released court document unsealed on Tuesday ahead of a summary judgment hearing in Lively’s lawsuit against Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios.
“Hey, just checking in. I have no reason to ask, but I donno, l’ve been feeling like I should… is everything ok? I felt like a bad friend lately because was such a sad sack who only talked about my own s–t for months,” the “Gossip Girl” alum wrote in a private message to the pop star.
Lively went on to tell the “Lover” singer that she was a “key person” during the fallout, but that she had a feeling “something may not be right.” She further explained that she didn’t want to seem “needy” but wanted to make sure that “everything is good.”
“I always want the opportunity to be a better friend if there’s something [I] unintentionally did,” she said. “I know how busy and taxed you are – physically, emotionally, practically, so I don’t expect any more from you ever. Just want to make sure all is good.”
After about an hour, Swift replied, “No you’re not wrong, but it’s also not a big deal.”
The pop star went on to explain that she is “exhausted in every avenue of [her] life” and has been feeling “a little bit of a shift” in the way Lively talks to her in recent months.
“Yes there has been a lot of the Justin stuff but I’ve been through things like this before and I know how all consuming it is,” Swift said. “It’s more like.. and I feel really bad saying anything about this because your texts have been so nice in their intent but your last few… it’s felt like I was reading a mass corporate email sent to 200 employees.”
Swift claimed that Lively wasn’t acting like her usual self.
“You said the word we’ like 18 times. And it feels awful to be in any way critical of any way you process what you’ve been going through but I just kinda miss my funny, dark, normal-speaking friend who talks to me as herself, not like. A plural unit,” she said. “When it’s a group I’m hearing from, I feel distanced from you even more than we are geographically.”
Elsewhere in the conversation, Swift explained that she understood Lively was feeling “attacked from all sides for ridiculous reasons.”
“So you’re feeling like you have to overly explain things or be overly nice or whatever but. It’s me! That’s just caused a little distance!” Swift explained.
The “Bad Blood” singer assured her friend that she didn’t need to “apologize” and she just wanted her to “come back please.”
The “A Simple Favor” actress hit back at Swift’s response with a light-hearted joke.
“Dear Valued Customer, Thank you for your feedback. We at headquarters are reviewing your concerns and will get back to you in a timely manner,” she wrote.
Lively then became serious, acknowledging Swift was “right.”
“I literally deleted the awful thing I was gonna end that bit with because l’ve become digitally paranoid,” Lively explained. “I don’t know if you experienced that with phone calls after what happened to you, but after the thousands of text messages that weren’t meant for me that I’ve been reading, I’ve internalized that everything digital may be public.”
The 38-year-old acknowledged that her anxieties may be “irrational” but that her brain “can’t accept rationale there.”
“So yeah, I’ve been texting like I’m writing. Not like me talking. I didn’t realize that until you pointed it out, but I see it,” Lively clarified.
The “Blake Brown” founder went on to tell Swift, 36, that she has felt “deeply misunderstood” and doesn’t trust her own judgment.
“That sounds over the top but it’s true. This f–king guy and what he did to me gave me an identity crisis. Legitimately,” Lively said, referring to Baldoni.
Lively went on to admit that she was hurt by her longtime friends and allies who “quietly dipped” during the legal fight with her “It Ends With Us” co-star, making her “spooked.”
“And so I’m probably being over the top with my friends who stayed because I’ve never felt more alone.
The track is very violin heavy. I hate it,” Lively said.
The “Green Lantern” star said she was being “a stupid paranoid weirdo” and thanked Swift for her honesty.
“But I am sorry. To you. And I’m sorry to me and to our kids,” Lively added, referring to her and Reynold’s four kids before jumping back to Baldoni. “F–k that guy and f–k his whole gaggle of supervillains.”
Lively then told Swift she didn’t need to respond and expressed her excitement for the singer to be “done with suitcases, constant sinus infections and torn up kneecaps” after her Eras Tour.
“Your submission will be processed shortly. We thank you again for your patronage,” Lively joked.
Swift reacted by telling Lively that her joke “took [her] out,” before assuring her longtime friend that she loves her.
The “Cruel Summer” artist proceeded to call Baldoni a “bitch” with a “tiny violin.”
A source exclusively told Page Six last year that Swift felt “used” by Lively throughout her drama with Baldoni. Last summer, another insider said that their friendship was beyond repair and they were
“She will forever be furious at how Blake quite clearly was using her for clout and leverage in her dealings with Justin. She really hates that Blake would even think like that, let alone write the things she did in that text,” the source told Page Six at the time.
A source told Page Six in October 2025 that Swift and Lively have had “no contact” since the dispute began in the previous winter.
Feud rumors between Lively and the director began swirling in August 2024 following the New York City premiere of “It Ends With Us.”
In December 2024, Lively sued Baldoni for sexual harassment, retaliation, breach of contract, infliction of emotional distress, invasion of privacy and lost wages three months later.
Baldoni denied any wrongdoing and responded with a $400 million countersuit, accusing Lively and Reynolds of defamation, as well as a lawsuit accusing the New York Times (the first outlet to report on the Lively’s lawsuit) of libel.
The countersuit was dismissed in June 2025; however, Lively’s lawsuit is ongoing.