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A decade-long friendship between Taylor Swift and Blake Lively faces unprecedented strain as Swift allegedly feels "used" in the wake of a $400 million lawsuit involving Lively and her "It Ends With Us" co-star Justin Baldoni. The controversy has exposed cracks in what appeared to be one of Hollywood's most steadfast relationships.
The dispute centers on Baldoni's allegations that Lively weaponized her friendship with Swift during production disputes. According to court documents filed in February 2025, Lively compared herself to Game of Thrones' Khaleesi in messages to Baldoni, referring to Swift and husband Ryan Reynolds as her "dragons." Multiple sources report that Swift was "blindsided" by an arranged meeting with Baldoni at Lively's apartment.
"Taylor has always been Blake's friend, but Taylor doesn't have any involvement in the case. She wasn't part of the movie," an insider told Us Weekly. The source emphasized that Swift was touring during the film's production in 2023 and 2024, adding that she "never even saw the film or a single scene from it until the movie was in theaters."
The legal documents reveal Lively allegedly used Swift's music as leverage, threatening to withhold approval for using Swift's track "My Tears Ricochet" in the film's trailer unless her demands were met. A text exchange with Sony executives documented this negotiation, stating: "Blake is calling Taylor to approve the song... asking if you will reconsider... so Blake does not change her mind re calling Taylor Swift."
Industry insiders suggest this incident reflects a longer-standing dynamic. "Taylor Swift admires that Blake Lively is a ballsy chick who speaks her mind," a source told DailyMail.com, "but Taylor is more subtle. Blake has always gone full throttle about everything." The source revealed that Swift had previously attempted to help Lively "tone down" her approach.
Despite their last public appearance together in October 2024, when they enjoyed a double date with Reynolds and Travis Kelce in Manhattan, the relationship has reportedly cooled. "Right now, while they're still close, there's a slight shift because of the It Ends With Us drama. Taylor doesn't appreciate being referred to as one of Blake's dragons," the source added.
The controversy emerges as "It Ends With Us" proves a commercial success, earning $351 million worldwide against a $25 million budget. However, plans for adapting the sequel remain uncertain amid the ongoing legal disputes.
