Justin Baldoni Drops Taylor Swift Extortion Claims, Blake Lively’s Lawyers Respond

Justin Baldoni‘s legal team has dropped its subpoena against Taylor Swift, which previously claimed Blake Lively‘s team was trying to extort the music star.

What did Blake Lively’s team say about the subpoena?

The subpoena dropping was confirmed by a spokesperson for Lively (via TheWrap), with Lively’s legal team saying they were “pleased” that Baldoni’s team stopped a “harassing” probe into Swift and Lively’s relationship.

“We supported the efforts of Taylor’s team to quash these inappropriate subpoenas directed to her counsel and we will continue to stand up for any third party who is unjustly harassed or threatened in the process,” the spokesperson said.

“The Baldoni and Wayfarer team have tried to put Taylor Swift, a woman who has been an inspiration for tens of millions across the globe, at the center of this case since day one,” the statement continued. “Exploiting Taylor Swift’s celebrity was the original plan in Melissa Nathan’s scenario planning document, and it continues to this day. Faced with having to justify themselves in federal court, they folded. At some point they will run out of distractions from the actual claims of sexual harassment and retaliation they are facing.”

In a letter filed in court last week (via THR) from Baldoni’s lawyer Bryan Freedman, Baldoni’s team alleges that Michael Gottlieb, who is representing Lively, reached out to the legal firm that represents Swift, Venable.

According to the letter, Gottlieb “demanded that Ms. Swift release a statement of support for Ms. Lively, intimating that, if Ms. Swift refused to do so, private text messages of a personal nature” would be released.

Freedman’s letter went on to say that Swift’s legal team responded to the request in at least one written message. The letter Freedman entered into court is looking to have those communications released, claiming that they prove that Lively’s team is essentially trying to intimidate a witness in Baldoni and Lively’s ongoing legal battle.

In response to the letter, Gottlieb said that the accusations are “categorically false,” and that the use of anonymous sources is “cowardly” from Freedman.