Taylor Swift called Justin Baldoni ‘b***h’ with ‘tiny violin’ in text to Blake Lively, legal docs reveal

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Private text messages between Taylor Swift and Blake Lively have exploded into public view after being revealed in newly filed court documents in the ongoing legal battle involving actor-director Justin Baldoni. 

The texts, dating between 2023 and December 2024, include Swift allegedly calling Baldoni a “b***h” who had taken out his “tiny violin,” sending shockwaves across Hollywood and social media.

The messages were disclosed in documents obtained by Page Six and stem from Baldoni’s countersuit connected to the film ‘It Ends With Us’, in which he starred opposite and directed Lively. The revelations offer an unfiltered look at how deeply the feud had spread into Lively’s inner celebrity circle.

Texts reveal harsh words and behind-the-scenes influence

According to the court filings, Lively referred to Baldoni as the “doofus director of my movie” in messages to Swift. The actress allegedly sought Swift’s endorsement of her rewritten version of the It Ends With Us script in April 2023, despite claims that Swift had not read it at the time.

Baldoni’s lawyers allege Swift was immediately supportive, with the singer allegedly texting Lively, “I’ll do anything for you!!”

After Swift backed Lively’s revisions during a meeting with Baldoni at Lively’s apartment, Lively sent Swift a glowing follow-up message. “You were so epically heroic today,” Lively wrote, according to the docs.

She went on to describe Baldoni as “this clown falling for all of it,” while praising Swift as “the world’s absolute greatest friend ever.”

Song strategy and power dynamics

The filings also include April 26, 2024, messages where Lively and Swift discussed using Swift’s song “My Tears Ricochet” in the film’s trailer. Swift allegedly suggested Baldoni had misplayed his hand.

“If Justin was strategic he would be like no Taylor Swift in the trailer because that gives you more power over the film, that’s your ally not his,” Swift wrote, according to the docs.

Lively reportedly replied, “You are so right…He should’ve run from your music…How stupid. This was his only shot at having the appearance of an upper hand.”

‘Tiny violin’ text before New York Times expose

The most explosive exchange surfaced from December 2024, shortly before The New York Times published a bombshell article alleging Baldoni orchestrated a smear campaign against Lively.

“I think this b***h knows something is coming because he’s gotten out his tiny violin,” Swift allegedly texted Lively.

In her response included in the filings, Lively denied that she and Swift had prior knowledge of the New York Times article and also disputed claims that Swift endorsed her script revisions without reading them.

Lively stated she sent Swift the script while Baldoni was still present and stressed she did not pressure her to review it.

Justine Baldoni claims a pattern of disparagement

Baldoni’s lawyers further allege Lively regularly disparaged him to other powerful friends, including Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. According to the filings, she described Baldoni as a “chaotic clown” and claimed she “rewrote the script” and “directed every actor.”

Swift was formally pulled into the dispute in January 2025, when Baldoni referenced messages where he allegedly felt “pressured” by Lively’s “dragons”, a term she used for Swift and Ryan Reynolds.

“The message could not have been clearer,” Baldoni’s lawyer wrote, claiming the singer’s influence loomed large.

In June 2025, Swift’s representatives strongly distanced her from the film and its drama, stating she never visited the set, made creative decisions, or even saw ‘It Ends With Us’ until weeks after release.