Washington, D.C. – A federal judge has rejected actor Justin Baldoni’s request for an extension to depose pop superstar Taylor Swift as part of his ongoing lawsuit against actress Blake Lively. United States District Judge Lewis Liman ruled on Friday, September 12, that Baldoni’s legal team had failed to demonstrate sufficient justification for the requested delay.
The dispute centers around a lawsuit filed by Baldoni alleging sexual harassment on the set of the film *It Ends With Us*, which starred Baldoni and Lively. Baldoni initially sought to depose Swift as part of his legal strategy.
Baldoni’s legal team submitted a letter on Thursday, September 11, claiming Swift “agreed” to be deposed between October 20 and 25, requesting an extension to allow time to speak with her. However, Judge Liman noted that Wayfarer Studios, Baldoni’s production company, had not provided details regarding when they initiated efforts to schedule the deposition. The judge pointed out that discovery has been ongoing for approximately six months and that a previous subpoena request was withdrawn in May 2025.
Swift’s legal team responded by asserting that Swift has no material role in the case. They stated that while her schedule could accommodate a deposition during the week of October 20 if disputes were resolved, she had not agreed to be deposed. They underscored their long-held position that Swift was not involved in any aspect of the film.
Blake Lively’s legal team also criticized Baldoni’s team’s “lack of diligence and disrespect for Swift’s privacy and schedule.” The team previously attempted to block Baldoni from seeking access to Swift’s texts.
Baldoni initially sued Lively in December 2024, alleging sexual harassment on the set of *It Ends With Us*, and subsequently filed a lawsuit against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, accusing them of extortion and defamation – a lawsuit which was dismissed in June.