Blake Lively has withdrawn subpoenas issued to three independent content creators who had covered the lawsuit amid her ongoing legal dispute with Justin Baldoni.
In court documents, obtained by Us Weekly, Lively’s legal team informed the court of the decision on July 26, days after the YouTubers asked the judge to intervene.
The surprising development is the latest update in the 37-year-old Gossip Girl star’s legal battle against her former It Ends With Us co-star and director, who she accused of sexual harassment and retaliation. Baldoni has vehemently denied these claims.
The now-withdrawn subpoenas were initially sent to Google and X (formerly Twitter), requesting personal data from creators Kassidy O’Connell, McKenzie Folks, and Lauren Neidigh.
The content creators pushed back, with O’Connell writing to the court, ‘There is no evidence or sound legal basis whatsoever to have issued this subpoena in the first place,’ and calling the broader effort a ‘witch hunt for discovery.’
Neidigh echoed the sentiment, describing the subpoena as ‘unduly burdensome,’ and accusing Lively’s team of attempting to ‘harass’ and ‘intimidate’ small creators.
Blake Lively has withdrawn subpoenas issued to three independent content creators who had covered the lawsuit amid her ongoing legal dispute with Justin Baldoni
The subpoenas reportedly requested sensitive information, including credit card and bank account details.
Daily Mail has reached out to Lively’s representatives for comment, but they have not yet responded.
In a letter submitted to the judge, Lively’s attorneys stated, ‘Based on the Third-Parties’ representations made in meet and confers, public statements, and/or information provided in their moving papers, there is no further information required from the Subpoenas as to these specific Third-Parties at this time.’ They continued, ‘Ms. Lively has therefore withdrawn the Subpoenas as to them.’
While Lively’s legal team is no longer pursuing these three individuals, they made it clear that the broader investigation into the online smear campaign allegedly orchestrated by Baldoni’s team is ongoing.
The letter highlighted a text message allegedly sent by someone affiliated with Baldoni’s PR effort that described plans for an ‘untraceable’ digital media campaign to discredit Lively.
Lively’s rep also explained to Us Weekly, ‘Subpoenas are not accusations of wrongdoing. They are tools for gathering admissible evidence in federal court. There is no silencing of content creators, they are obviously making their views known. This is a sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit against Justin Baldoni and a number of other Wayfarer defendants and we are simply seeking information to aid in our fact gathering.’
Her spokesperson further emphasized, ‘Remember [Baldoni’s crisis PR rep’s] own words: to shield Justin Baldoni from the possibility that Blake Lively might publicly reveal he sexually harassed her and others, [Baldoni’s rep] planned an ‘untraceable’ media campaign designed to ‘bury’ Ms. Lively. The subpoenas to social media companies are one piece of the puzzle to connect the evidentiary dots of a campaign that was designed to leave no fingerprints.’
Lively’s lawyers have also sent subpoenas to outspoken critics of hers, including Perez Hilton and Candace Owens.
The surprising development is the latest update in the actress’ legal battle against her former It Ends With Us co-star, who she accused of sexual harassment and retaliation; seen last year
The now-withdrawn subpoenas were initially sent to Google and X, requesting personal data from creators Kassidy O’Connell, McKenzie Folks, and Lauren Neidigh (seen in April 2025)
As for the next steps, Lively’s scheduled deposition has been delayed and she will no longer be questioned by Baldoni’s attorneys on July 31.
The case is set to proceed to trial on March 9, 2026, where both sides will finally have their day in court.
Earlier this week, Folks, one of the small creators that used her tiny platform to weigh in on the Lively–Justin legal saga, opened up to Variety about her experience.
‘It’s baffling,’ the stay-at-home mom admitted. ‘I never talked to anybody in the industry. I’m from Kansas.’
As for the next steps, Lively’s scheduled deposition has been delayed and she will no longer be questioned by Baldoni’s attorneys on July 31; seen in 2024
She continued: ‘I feel like I’m in The Twilight Zone… This is totally a scene out of a movie — some millionaire actress coming after someone. It’s very daunting.’
John Genga, who represents entertainment journalist Kjersti Flaa, claimed to the outlet that Lively’s subpoenas were ‘designed to intimidate these people, many of whom don’t have the means to fight it.’
‘They’re just offering their opinions like anyone else has the right to do,’ the attorney stated. ‘We think it’s invasive.’
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Lively insisted that the subpoenas were not intended to silence content creators.
