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In a dramatic twist, Blake Lively's legal team has issued subpoenas to high-profile content creators, Perez Hilton, Candace Owens, and Andy Signore, as part of her lawsuit against "It Ends With Us" director and co-star Justin Baldoni. The move signals a bold escalation in Lively's mission to expose what she alleges was an orchestrated online smear campaign designed to destroy her reputation.
The subpoenas were first reported by TMZ on July 1, citing a source close to the case. Lively, 37, is suing Baldoni, 41, for alleged sexual harassment and retaliation, claims he has repeatedly denied. Now, her legal strategy appears focused on proving that online creators were used as unofficial mouthpieces to amplify targeted negative content.
The Creators Under Fire
Candace Owens, known for her no-holds-barred online commentary, addressed the news in a statement to PEOPLE, making it clear she had not yet received any subpoena. "I appreciate Blake's team leaking this to TMZ to alert me to it," she said, with her signature sarcasm. Owens, who's racked up millions of views dissecting the case on her platforms, added she'd share more on her podcast as things unfold.
Latino celebrity blogger Perez Hilton (born Mario Lavandeira), who was even featured in the documentary "In Dispute: Lively vs. Baldoni," took a more measured tone in a video post. "I take this very seriously," he said, adding that he hadn't been served yet but planned to comply fully with any legal obligations. Notably, Hilton was previously represented by Baldoni's attorney, Bryan Freedman, a potential conflict of interest that could become a key issue.
Andy Signore, a YouTuber who regularly covers celebrity trials, also responded on July 1, saying through his lawyer that he hadn't been served either, but was prepared to defend himself. His attorney's statement stressed journalistic integrity and warned against labeling Signore an "anti-Blake content creator," calling that characterization "false" and "potentially defamatory."
Inside the Alleged Smear Campaign
Lively's legal complaint alleges a deliberate, behind-the-scenes campaign run by Baldoni and his team. She accuses them of "seeding" negative content through small, loosely moderated platforms like Reddit and YouTube. The strategy, she claims, was to amplify this content by pushing it to larger, more mainstream outlets, manufacturing a narrative that would damage her standing with the public and studios alike.
The lawsuit names Baldoni's production company, Wayfarer Studios, and his publicists as key players in this alleged plot. It even suggests that the campaign was disguised as an organic backlash tied to the rocky press surrounding the "It Ends With Us" release in August 2024.
Baldoni's team, however, says there's nothing to see here. They maintain that the negative press Lively received was a natural fallout from the film's troubled production, not the result of any secretive campaign. "Justin wasn't happy about anything negative about Blake, the movie, about himself," Freedman said in a podcast interview earlier this year. "This wasn't just about him or just about her. This was about the project."
A Legal Saga with A-List Cameos
This lawsuit isn't short on big names. Taylor Swift, a close friend of Lively's, was previously subpoenaed by Baldoni's team, though that was later dropped. Still, the court blocked Lively's attempt to keep her texts with Swift private. Another celebrity friend, Hugh Jackman, was also reportedly considered for a subpoena.
Meanwhile, Scooter Braun, who just stepped down from his CEO role at HYBE, has also been subpoenaed by Lively's legal team, though his connection to the case is still unclear.
Baldoni's Lawsuit Dismissed
In a major win for Lively, Judge Lewis J. Liman dismissed Baldoni's $400 million countersuit alleging extortion and defamation in June. Baldoni's legal team was given the option to amend the claims, but they chose not to.
The subpoenas to Hilton, Owens, and Signore suggest that Blake Lively's attorneys are digging deep into the digital trail, possibly aiming to trace back how information was shared, who received talking points, and whether content creators knowingly played a role in a broader campaign. If proven, it could reshape how influence and narrative manipulation are viewed in high-profile celebrity disputes.
The trial is scheduled for March 2026, meaning this saga still has a long road ahead and plenty of headlines to come.