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Blake Lively is celebrating after scoring a major legal victory against Justin Baldoni, but it's far from the end of the road. With Baldoni’s massive $400 million countersuit officially dismissed, Lively’s lawyers are now shifting focus to someone used to drama: Scooter Braun, Taylor Swift’s longtime nemesis.
© GettyBraun is known for being Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande's former manager and infamously holding Swift's masters hostage (which she now owns), but he is also the CEO of HYBE America - the U.S. arm of the massive K-pop label.
According to new court filings, Lively’s legal team just subpoenaed HYBE America in an attempt to gather any documents related to crisis PR exec Melissa Nathan and the firm she runs, The Agency Group, per Deadline.
© GettyNathan is named co-defendant in Lively’s lawsuit, and her team believes she is one of the masterminds behind the alleged smear campaign during the chaotic filming and fallout of It Ends With Us. And HYBE, Scooter’s company, reportedly owns a controlling stake in Nathan’s firm.
The subpoena to HYBE America, and by extension, Braun, aims to uncover exactly who was involved in trying to spin the narrative during last year’s backlash surrounding the It Ends With Us set. According to court records, there were conversations as far back as August 2024 between PR insiders discussing Nathan’s involvement, and one of them even texted, “At least they didn’t mention Scooter.”
Blake Lively celebrates
© GettyThis comes just days after Lively and her team successfully got Baldoni’s countersuit dismissed, although Baldoni’s team has until June 23 to try and amend two minor claims. After half a year of legal battles, it reportedly had her in tears of relief. “She’s obviously relieved. They both are,” a source told People, referring to Blake and Ryan. “She feels vindicated.”
Lively herself posted to Instagram on the day of the decision, linking to women’s rights organizations and writing, “While the suit against me was defeated, so many don’t have the resources to fight back. I’m more resolved than ever to continue to stand for every woman’s right to have a voice in protecting themselves.”
Justin Baldoni's team says it isn't over
© GettyMeanwhile, Baldoni’s lawyer is still insisting the case isn’t over. “We march forward with the same confidence we had when Ms. Lively and her cohorts initiated this battle,” he said in a statement.
With the biggest part of the countersuit gone, Lively’s team is moving forward with their own claims of sexual harassment, retaliation, and a coordinated PR takedown. The trial is set for March 9, 2026.
