Taylor Swift has once again found herself in the middle of a headline she likely didn’t ask for—this time, it’s not about the Chiefs fandom and her constant presence at her boyfriend, Travis Kelce’s games. No, this time her name appeared in Blake Lively’s sexual harassment lawsuit against Justin Baldoni. This is a masterclass in weaponizing fandoms and public opinion, and somehow Swift is now part of the conversation.
Baldoni’s team wanted to weaponize Taylor Swift’s fandom
The lawsuit filed by Lively is heavy. It accuses Baldoni of creating a hostile work environment during the production of It Ends With Us. The legal filings go way further, all the while exposing emails and documents allegedly from Baldoni’s crisis management team. The emails detailed plans to manipulate public opinion against Lively.
And this is where Taylor Swift finds her name mentioned, or even ’embroiled’ in this controversy—Swift’s name comes up in these emails.
One document reportedly acknowledges the overlap between Lively’s fanbase and Swift’s. The email read, “BL does have some of the same TS fanbase, so we will be taking it extremely seriously.” What does this suggest? Well, on the surface this could easily be used strategically. Another proposal explored planting narratives about the “weaponization of feminism” with Swift as a pointed example. The goal here was to discredit Lively by drawing parallels between her and Swift, accusing them of leveraging feminism to silence criticism.
Take a pause and gloss over it. The audacity to not just target Lively, but to casually drag Swift’s brand into their game plan. A brand that has meticulously built trust with millions, including her now-crossover NFL audience.
For context to the unversed: Swift and Lively have been close friends for years. Their connection wasn’t incidental here—it was leveraged as a way to undermine Lively’s claims. If your PR strategy involves using the world’s most loyal fanbase to muddy the waters, you’re not playing fair.
Taylor Swift celebrates Chiefs win amid swirling controversy
Saying that Taylor Swift is going through a lot right now, would be stating the obvious, but the ‘Karma’ singer did not let it show on Saturday. As the Kansas City Chiefs beat the Houston Texans 27-19, Swift celebrated in the family suite with her mom, Andrea Swift, and Travis Kelce’s mom, Donna Kelce.
A fan-captured video posted online showed Swift embracing both moms in a warm group hug as the game ended, exuding joy and relaxation despite the storm brewing outside the stadium. The ‘You belong with me’ singer could not be more relaxed, and it goes on to show that whatever life throws at her, she’s ready to tackle it, head on.
What was Baldoni’s response?
Unsurprisingly, Justin Baldoni has denied all accusations. His attorney, Bryan Freedman, released a scathing statement calling Lively’s claims “completely false, outrageous, and intentionally salacious.” He went further, accusing Lively of trying to repair her reputation through the lawsuit.
“The representatives of Wayfarer Studios still did nothing proactive nor retaliated, and only responded to incoming media inquiries to ensure balanced and factual reporting and monitored social activity.” Freedman said.
Baldoni’s team has painted Lively as a disruptive force during filming, accusing her of making “multiple demands and threats” that they claim led to the film’s struggles.
Swift’s NFL spotlight adds much more to the drama
Taylor Swift has reshaped the NFL’s cultural reach. Her appearances at Chiefs games with Travis Kelce have boosted ticket sales, merchandise, and even TV ratings. She’s at Chiefs games, hugging Donna Kelce, and cheering in box seats. She’s brought a new audience to the sport—one that might not have tuned in otherwise.
This isn’t a good look for anyone involved. For Swift, being associated with a strategy to undermine a woman’s claims of harassment—however indirectly—could be a PR headache waiting to happen. For Lively, it highlights how far Baldoni’s team allegedly went to discredit her.
And for NFL fans, it serves well as a timely reminder that in 2024, sports, celebrity culture, and messy legal battles are more connected than we’d like to admit.
Swift’s name is everywhere these days, but this might be one mention she didn’t see coming.
Also read: All The Taylor Swift Songs Which Hint At A Travis Kelce Reference
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