Taylor Swift allegedly played a bigger role in the production of “It Ends With Us” than what sources have led the public to believe.
The film’s director, Justin Baldoni, and actress Isabela Ferrer, who played a supporting role in the drama, have said in separate interviews that the pop superstar was involved in the latter’s casting.
in a resurfaced clip from a sit-down with “Access Hollywood,” Baldoni, 41, claimed he cast Ferrer, 25, to play a younger version of Blake Lively’s character, Lily, because they resembled one another and the Hollywood newbie is a “phenomenal actress.”
“I had actually brought in and showed her casting tape to Blake and Taylor and they were both, like, ‘Yes! her,’” the director then divulged. “And that’s a true story.”
Taylor Swift was allegedly involved in part of the casting process for “It Ends With Us.”
Justin Baldoni claimed in a resurfaced interview that Swift and Blake Lively both approved of Isabela Ferrer’s casting.
Ferrer, for her part, confirmed to “Extra” at the premiere of “It Ends With Us” that Swift, 35, had “some influence” in her getting the role.
“I don’t even know if I’m supposed to be saying it, but I’m saying it!” she added hesitantly. “Yeah, she was a helpful part of the process of the audition, which I found out later after I got it and that rocked my world. I have no words.”
Additionally, Lively said she asked Swift permission to use her song “My Tears Ricochet” in the film’s trailer and soundtrack and was by her side “throughout this whole process.”
“I think that, for better or worse, she experienced the whole thing with me,” the “Gossip Girl” alum, 37, told “CBS Mornings” in August 2024.
“This was actually — it’s quite a small budget movie. … So we never thought, like, our eyeballs were not that big to think that we could put one of her songs in the movie and it had to be.”
Ferrer, who played Young Lily in the film, once also said she was told Swift had an “influence” in her casting.
Despite these on-camera admissions, sources have tried to distance Swift from Baldoni and Lively’s ongoing legal feud, even going so far as to claim that the “Lover” singer was duped by her friend.
In January, Baldoni name-dropped Swift in his $400 million extortion and defamation lawsuit against Lively after the latter accused him of sexual harassment and other claims in a California Civil Rights Department complaint and her own subsequent lawsuit.
The “Jane the Virgin” alum claimed he was invited to Lively’s New York City penthouse to discuss her script re-writes with her husband, Ryan Reynolds, and “a famous, and famously close, friend,” referencing Swift.
Lively allegedly texted Baldoni after the meeting, “If you ever get around to watching ‘Game of Thrones,’ you’ll appreciate that I’m Khaleesi, and like her, I happen to have a few dragons,” referring to Swift and Reynolds, 48.
“For better or worse, but usually for better. Because my dragons also protect those I fight for. So really we all benefit from those gorgeous monsters of mine. You will too, I can promise you.”
Baldoni has alleged via his lawyers that Lively used Swift to manipulate his decisions throughout production.
He claimed Lively once texted him, “If you ever get around to watching ‘Game of Thrones,’ you’ll appreciate that I’m Khaleesi, and like her, I happen to have a few dragons,” referring to Swift and Ryan Reynolds.
Baldoni’s lawyers argued in the suit that their client “felt obliged to text Lively to say that he had liked her pages and hadn’t needed Reynolds and her megacelebrity friend to pressure him.”
They added, “The message could not have been clearer. Baldoni was not just dealing with Lively. He was also facing Lively’s ‘dragons,’ two of the most influential and wealthy celebrities in the world, who were not afraid to make things very difficult for him.”
Sources then began to speak out, claiming that the Grammy winner felt “used” by Lively and that she “doesn’t appreciate being referred to as one of Blake’s dragons.”
A “well-connected” insider also claimed to TMZ that Swift “had no idea” there was a meeting being held with Baldoni when she was invited to Lively’s penthouse that day.
Sources then began to speak out, claiming that the Grammy winner felt “used” by Lively and that she “doesn’t appreciate being referred to as one of Blake’s dragons.”A “well-connected” insider also claimed to TMZ that Swift “had no idea” there was a meeting being held with Baldoni when she was invited to Lively’s penthouse that day.
Multiple sources have said that the legal issues have strained Lively and Swift’s friendship.
Additionally, Page Six has been told that the “You Belong With Me” singer is “hurt by this whole situation,” feels like a “pawn” and is “taking a break from their friendship.”
Baldoni’s lawyers have said they are considering deposing Swift.
The “Age of Adeline” star still follows Swift on Instagram but was noticeably absent from the Super Bowl 2025, where the “So High School” singer gathered with her closest pals to cheer on Travis Kelce.
A trial date for Lively and Baldoni’s cases has been set for March 9, 2026.
Baldoni’s lead attorney, Bryan Freedman, has said he is considering deposing Swift for his case, but an official decision on that matter has not yet been made.
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