Blake Lively's legal team has subpoenaed Google for account details of 16 YouTubers as part of her ongoing lawsuit against Justin Baldoni. The move has drawn criticism from those who argue it is an attempt to intimidate online critics.
McKenzie Folks, a Kansas-based TikTok creator, received a subpoena notice on July 10. She claims she has no connection to Baldoni and is simply sharing her opinions on the case. 'It's baffling,' she said. 'I never talked to anybody in the industry.'
Lively's lawsuit alleges that Baldoni orchestrated a smear campaign against her after she complained of sexual harassment on set. Her attorneys have also subpoenaed X and individual critics including Andy Signore, Perez Hilton and Candace Owens. A spokesperson for Lively said the subpoenas are 'an evidence-gathering tool' and not an attempt to silence anyone.
However, attorney John Genga, representing entertainment journalist Kjersti Flaa, called the subpoenas 'invasive' and 'designed to intimidate'. Flaa said the case is now about 'freedom of speech on the internet'. Some recipients have turned the subpoenas into content, boosting their followings.
Gregory Doll, a Los Angeles attorney, described the strategy as 'foolhardy' and a 'PR backfire'. He noted that if Lively is being targeted by a sophisticated bot attack, it would be nearly impossible to trace the perpetrators.
