Blake Lively Contradicts Claims About Celebrity Witnesses in Weight Discussion
In a newly released deposition from Tuesday, actress Blake Lively has directly disputed allegations that fellow celebrities Taylor Swift and Hugh Jackman were present during a confrontation between her husband, Ryan Reynolds, and director Justin Baldoni. The incident, which Lively describes as a discussion about inappropriate inquiries into her weight, reportedly took place at the couple's New York City penthouse on April 25, 2023.
Lively's Account of the Meeting
According to Lively's testimony, only three individuals were present in the office during the weight-related conversation: herself, Reynolds, and Baldoni. She stated that Baldoni had come to her office to work on script revisions for their film, It Ends With Us. It was during this meeting that Lively raised concerns about a conversation Baldoni had allegedly held with her personal trainer, Don Saladino.
"I raised his conversation with Saladino about my weight and conveyed that it was upsetting to me and that it felt invasive and inappropriate," Lively testified. She claimed that Baldoni had asked Saladino "behind my back" how much she would weigh when filming was scheduled to begin. Baldoni has previously stated that this question stemmed from legitimate concerns about his back issues, as he needed to lift Lively in a scene.
Lively clarified that Reynolds "briefly walked over and joined our discussion" but emphasized that no other individuals were in the room. She specifically noted, "No one but Baldoni, myself, and Reynolds was anywhere in our office during the discussion about Baldoni's inappropriate inquiries into my weight."
Contradicting Previous Allegations
This testimony directly contradicts an exhibit unsealed in November 2024, which outlined a timeline of events sent from Wayfarer Studios co-founder Jamey Heath's team to Baldoni's publicist. That email, obtained by The Daily Mail, claimed that both Swift and Jackman were inside the penthouse when Reynolds "unloaded" on a tearful Baldoni during a heated confrontation.
The previous document alleged that Baldoni was "completely embarrassed and apologized and even shared some tears" after Reynolds confronted him over "how horrible it was that Justin would ask about a women's [sic] weight," calling it "fat shaming Blake." It specifically stated that Swift and Jackman "were also present in the apt at the time" of the meeting.
Jackman's Brief Appearance
Lively did acknowledge that Hugh Jackman "stopped by" the penthouse later that day, but only to take Reynolds to lunch. She explained that Jackman "shook Baldoni's hand at the door, they exchanged niceties, and Jackman left with Reynolds." This interaction occurred separately from the weight discussion and did not involve Swift at all according to Lively's account.
Broader Legal Context and Text Messages
The deposition is part of an ongoing legal battle between Lively and Baldoni. Lively sued Baldoni and others in December 2024, alleging sexual harassment and retaliation—claims that Baldoni denies. Their trial is currently scheduled for March 2026.
Court documents have revealed text messages between Lively and Taylor Swift that contain unflattering remarks about Baldoni. In these messages, Lively referred to Baldoni as the "doofus director of my movie" and a "clown," while Swift reportedly called him a "b***h" in one exchange. Swift agreed to help Lively, texting "I'll do anything for you!" and later endorsing script revisions during a meeting with Baldoni at Lively's apartment.
After that meeting, Lively wrote to Swift: "You were so epically heroic today. I recapped every moment to Ryan. I kept remembering stuff. You making s*** up about me and lenses. And referring to yourself as my doll. This clown falling for all of it. But also resisting it. You are the world's absolute greatest friend ever."
Baldoni's Defense and Swift's Involvement
Baldoni has maintained that his inquiry about Lively's weight was made in "good faith" and represented a "reasonable question to ask of his trainer" given his back injury, multiple bulging discs, and chronic pain. He claimed he needed to train his back muscles specifically for a scene requiring him to lift Lively.
Swift's representative has emphasized that the singer had minimal involvement with the film, stating: "Taylor Swift never set foot on the set of this movie, she was not involved in any casting or creative decisions, she did not score the film, she never saw an edit or made any notes on the film, she did not even see It Ends With Us until weeks after its public release." The representative added that Swift's connection to the film was limited to permitting the use of one song, "My Tears Ricochet," and accused parties of using her name "to draw public interest by creating tabloid clickbait instead of focusing on the facts of the case."
Both Swift and Jackman were previously listed as potential witnesses by Lively's legal team, though Lively's latest deposition explicitly denies their presence during the key confrontation about her weight. The conflicting accounts are likely to feature prominently as the legal proceedings continue toward the 2026 trial date.
