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Some of Blake Lively and It Ends With Us director Justin Baldoni’s famous friends and collaborators may have to testify in their 2026 trial. Lively filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against her former coworker in December 2024, accusing Baldoni of creating a “hostile work environment” and conducting a “social manipulation” campaign to “destroy” Lively’s reputation. Baldoni denied all accusations and countersued in January 2025, though Lively successfully petitioned a New York district court judge to dismiss the case that June. Both sides refocused their legal battle on a looming civil trial, which is set to begin on March 9, 2026, unless an out-of-court settlement is somehow reached. Lively has already confirmed she will testify at trial as she seeks at least $161 million in damages — but several other public figures may also be called to the witness stand. Keep scrolling for more details on which celebrities may be witnesses in the sexual harassment trial. Ryan Reynolds Us Weekly obtained court documents submitted in July 2025 and unsealed in November 2025 where Lively’s legal team listed numerous “individuals who are likely to have discoverable information” that could be useful at trial. Not all of these people will necessarily be called to testify, as some may simply assist in providing useful evidence. One of those mentioned by Lively was her husband, Ryan Reynolds, who was previously named as a codefendant in Baldoni’s now-dismissed countersuit. Reynolds asked to be removed from the case in March 2025 when his lawyers argued that Team Baldoni could not “identify a single allegedly defamatory statement” from the Deadpool actor. “The entirety of Mr. Baldoni’s case appears to be based on Mr. Reynolds allegedly privately calling Mr. Baldoni a ‘predator,’ but here is the problem, that is not defamation unless they can show that Mr. Reynolds did not believe that statement to be true,” Reynolds’ attorneys told Us. “The complaint doesn’t allege that, and just the opposite, the allegations in the complaint suggest that Mr. Reynolds genuinely believes Mr. Baldoni is a predator.” Baldoni’s counsel Bryan Freedman defended Reynolds’ inclusion in the countersuit and referred to the actor as a “coconspirator” in the smear campaign against the filmmaker. Baldoni’s countersuit was eventually dismissed in June 2025. Taylor Swift Swift was dragged into her friend Lively’s dispute against Baldoni almost from the beginning, though she has repeatedly resisted getting involved in the court battle. Swift’s involvement revolved around allowing her song “My Tears Ricochet” to be used in It Ends With Us, plus accusations that she offered feedback on the movie’s infamous rooftop scene. In May 2025, the “Fate of Ophelia” singer’s spokesperson told Us that she made no “casting or creative decisions” about the blockbuster. “She did not score the film, she never saw an edit or made any notes on the film,” her rep said. “She did not even see It Ends With Us until weeks after its public release, and was traveling around the globe during 2023 and 2024 headlining the biggest tour in history.” As the discovery process began for Lively’s lawsuit, Baldoni’s lawyers filed court documents claiming that Swift “agreed to appear” for a deposition in October 2025. Once again, Swift’s spokesperson tried to distance the musician from the case by clarifying that she was not volunteering to be deposed. “As counsel for the parties know, since the inception of this matter we have consistently maintained that my client has no material role in this action,” Swift’s legal team wrote to Judge Lewis J. Liman on September 12. “Further, my client did not agree to a deposition, but if she is forced into a deposition, we advised (after first hearing about the deposition just three days ago) that her schedule would accommodate the time required during the week of October 20 if the parties were able to work out their disputes. We take no role in those disputes.” Judge Liman ruled that Baldoni’s lawyers would not be allowed to depose Swift before the official end of the discovery process. “The only justification they have provided for the extension is their assertion that Swift’s preexisting professional obligations now prevent her from appearing for a deposition prior to October 20, 2025,” he wrote. “Discovery has been ongoing in this case for approximately six months. They have offered no evidence that they have served a renewed subpoena on Swift. … Having failed to demonstrate appropriate diligence, the requested extension is denied.” Team Lively later specifically mentioned Swift in unsealed disclosure documents. Lively’s lawyers claimed that, because Swift contributed to the It Ends With Us soundtrack, she may have knowledge of “the parties’ alleged conduct; complaints or discussions about the work environment or conduct on the set of the Film; the production editing, cut and creative process associated with the Film; publicity surrounding the Film; the retaliation campaign alleged by Ms. Lively and resulting damages suffered,” according to Deadline. Hugh Jackman Jackman starred with Reynolds in the 2024 Marvel Studios movie Deadpool & Wolverine, which became unexpectedly embroiled in Lively and Baldoni’s legal battle. Team Baldoni alleged that Reynolds’ Deadpool variant character Nicepool may have been a thinly veiled dig at his wife’s It Ends With Us director. Team Baldoni previously subpoenaed Marvel Studios and Disney executives in January 2025 to request any and all documents “relating to or reflecting a deliberate attempt to mock, harass, ridicule, intimidate or bully Baldoni through the character of Nicepool” for their since-dismissed lawsuit. “It is important that Marvel take every reasonable step to preserve this information until further notice,” Freedman requested. Jackman may be called to testify in the 2026 trial about his personal relationships with close friends Lively and Reynolds. In addition to their acting work, the Deadpool & Wolverine costars are all part-owners in an Australian SailGP team. Emily Blunt Blunt was listed in Team Lively’s disclosure forms as someone with potential “discoverable information” relevant to the case. Lively and Reynolds are longtime friends with Blunt and her husband, John Krasinski. ‘The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants’ Cast Others listed by Team Lively with possible “discoverable information” included her former Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants costars Amber Tamblyn, America Ferrera and Alexis Bledel. The trio released a joint statement of support for Lively when she initially took legal action against Baldoni in December 2024. “As Blake’s friends and sisters for over 20 years, we stand with her in solidarity as she fights back against the reported campaign waged to destroy her reputation,” they said. “Throughout the filming of It Ends with Us, we saw her summon the courage to ask for a safe workplace for herself and colleagues on set, and we are appalled to read the evidence of a premeditated and vindictive effort that ensued to discredit her voice. Most upsetting is the unabashed exploitation of domestic violence survivors’ stories to silence a woman who asked for safety. The hypocrisy is astounding.” Their statement concluded, “We were struck by the reality that even if a woman is as strong, celebrated and resourced as our friend Blake, she can face forceful retaliation for daring to ask for a safe working environment. We are inspired by our sister’s courage to stand up for herself and others.” Jenny Slate and ‘It Ends With Us’ Collaborators In October 2025, Us Weekly reported that Jenny Slate — along with It Ends With Us costar Isabela Ferrer and book author Colleen Hoover — were all deposed ahead of the 2026 trial. Slate and Ferrer were reportedly deposed in summer 2025, while Hoover answered questions later in the year. Slate — who played Baldoni’s onscreen sister in It Ends With Us — came to Lively’s defense when her costar initially filed a complaint against the director with the California Civil Rights Department in December 2024. “As Blake Lively’s castmate and friend, I voice my support as she takes action against those reported to have planned and carried out an attack on her reputation,” Slate told NBC’s Today. “Blake is a leader, loyal friend and a trusted source of emotional support for me and so many who know and love her.” Gigi Hadid Team Lively’s disclosure documents referenced some people who may have heard her “complaints or discussions about the work environment or conduct on the set of” It Ends With Us. As one of Lively’s close friends, Hadid could fit into this group. Scooter Braun Braun was cited by Team Lively as someone who may have information about Baldoni’s “conduct” and “the retaliation campaign alleged by Ms. Lively.” Baldoni has had a friendship with Braun in the past, with the two even recording a podcast together about the implications of the #MeToo Movement in 2018. Candace Owens The conservative commentator was identified as someone Team Lively considered subpoenaing in July 2025, along with podcaster Andy Signore and blogger Perez Hilton. “Given the fact that I have not received any subpoena yet, I appreciate Blake’s team leaking this to TMZ to alert me to it,” Owens told People in a statement at the time. “And, of course, I have not the slightest idea what I am being subpoenaed for as I knew none of these parties when their respective lawsuits were filed. But stay tuned, and I’ll let audiences know on my podcast.” Team Lively eventually did cite Owens as someone they were considering for testimony in unsealed court documents.
