- - Blake Lively and Taylor Swift's Texts Reveal Why Their Friendship Began Fracturing: 'Miss My Funny, Dark, Normal-Speaking Friend'

Melody ChiuJanuary 22, 2026 at 12:38 AM

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In legal filings unsealed on Jan. 20, texts apparently exchanged between Blake Lively and Taylor Swift give insight into their relationship

"I felt like a bad friend lately because I was such a sad sack who only talked about my own s--- for months," wrote Lively in one text submitted to the court

Multiple sources previously told PEOPLE the longtime friendship had "halted" amid Lively's legal battle with Justin Baldoni

Taylor Swift and Blake Lively's friendship began stalling long before the public was aware of their fallout.

In legal docs unsealed on Tuesday, Jan. 20 before a summary judgment hearing in Lively’s ongoing lawsuit against Justin Baldoni scheduled for Jan 22., an apparent text exchange between the former best friends included in the filing gives insight into their relationship. While the text messages do not include the stars' names, other documents in the filings describe the exchange as a conversation between Lively and Swift.

"I have no reason to ask, but I donno [sic], I've been feeling like I should... is everything ok? I felt like a bad friend lately because I was such a sad sack who only talked about my own s--- for months. You were generous to not only be the key person there for me during all of it, but also to let me off the hook for being so in it," Lively writes to Swift in one, adding that her husband Ryan Reynolds advised her to ask the pop superstar directly about her concerns.

"I always want the opportunity to be a better friend if there's something I unintentionally did. I know how busy and taxed you are - physically, emotionally, practically, so I don't expect any more from you ever," continues Lively. "Just want to make sure all is good."

Swift responded to Lively's note more than an hour later, telling Lively she was "not wrong, but it's also not a big deal."

Kevin Mazur/WireImage; Araya Doheny/Variety via Getty

Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni

"I think I'm just exhausted in every avenue of my life and in recent months had been feeling a little bit of a shift in the way you talk to me," said the singer, who was then about to wrap up her Eras Tour. "Yes there has been a lot of Justin stuff but I've been through things like this before and I know how all consuming it is.

"It's more like... and I feel really bad saying anything about this because your texts have been so nice in their intent but your last few... it's felt like I was reading a mass corporate email sent to 200 employees," Swift continues. "And it feels awful to be in any way critical of any way you process what you've been going through but I just kinda miss my funny, dark, normal-speaking friend who talks to me as herself... And I know you feel attacked from all sides for ridiculous reasons so you're feeling like you have to overly explain things... but. It's me! That's just caused a little distance. And you don't need to apologize. Just come back please."

Hours later, Lively responded to Swift, telling her she's "become digitally paranoid."

"So yeah, I've been texting like I'm writing. Not like me talking. I didn't realize that until you pointed it out, but I see it," Lively acknowledged. "On top of that, I'm over packaging simple things bc I've felt so deeply misunderstood that I don't trust my judgement of myself anymore... This f---ing guy and what he did to me gave me an identity crisis. Legitimately."

Lively then referenced other relationships she had lost. "The thing that spooked me most in all this though, wasn't the bad guys being bad guys. It was the good guys, my lifelong friends -allies to women- who quietly dipped. And so I'm probably being over the top with my friends who stayed because I've never felt more alone," she told Swift.

The actress then thanked Swift and apologized, "to you... to me and to our kids," writing, "F--- that guy and f--- his whole gaggle of supervillains."

The exchange took place three days before Swift wrapped her tour, and Lively ended her note by telling the Grammy winner she was "excited" for Swift "to be done with suitcases, constant sinus infections and torn up kneecaps."

Sources previously told PEOPLE the pair's friendship had become complicated amid Lively's legal battle with Baldoni, whom she accused of sexual harassment and retaliation, allegations he denies.

In Lively's alleged texts to Baldoni exhibited in his January 2025 countersuit against Lively and Reynolds — which has since been dismissed by the judge — the actress referred to her husband and Swift as her "dragons" who defend her, a Game of Thrones reference.

"I happen to have a few dragons. For better or worse, but usually for better," Lively's alleged text read. "Because my dragons also protect those I fight for. So really we all benefit from those gorgeous monsters of mine. [Smiley-face emoji] you will too, I can promise you."

When Baldoni's lawyers attempted to subpoena Swift in May 2025, her rep spoke out in a statement, distancing the pop star from It Ends With Us.

"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, and was traveling around the globe during 2023 and 2024 headlining the biggest tour in history," a spokesperson for Swift said at the time.

"The connection Taylor had to this film was permitting the use of one song, 'My Tears Ricochet.' Given that her involvement was licensing a song for the film, which 19 other artists also did, this document subpoena is designed to use Taylor Swift’s name to draw public interest by creating tabloid clickbait instead of focusing on the facts of the case."

on People

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”