Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce have kept a low profile since the Super Bowl. It’s been two months since they were seen together in public and even then it wasn’t like their pap walks in New York last year. The shots weren’t great because Taylor seemed determined to get from A to B as quickly as possible and narrow the opportunity where she could be photographed. 

 

This weekend, however, TNT resurfaced in Philadelphia for Mother’s Day with the Kelce family. And these aren’t pap shots either but footage filmed by other patrons. 

 

My point is, I’m not sure this means these two are coming back outside. Taylor seems to determined to keep it quiet in 2025, although this weekend was louder than it’s been lately. It’s not only the Mother’s Day sighting but also legal news. 

 

It was confirmed on Friday that she’s been subpoenaed as a witness in the Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni legal battle. Justin Baldoni’s lawyer has long been hinting at it because, as we have seen, he wants this case to be as big of a spectacle as possible. In response, Taylor’s representative issued a statement to the media. Per PEOPLE: 

"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 rep told PEOPLE.

"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," the spokesperson continued.” (The spokesperson is obviously Tree Paine even though her name has not been mentioned by any of the outlets who were sent the statement.)

 

How you read the statement depends on whether or not you believe Taylor and Blake are still friends. Some are taking this to mean that Taylor is officially done with Blake and going on the record to create distance between them; that she does not appreciate Blake dragging her into this mess. 

But the statement is also undeniably a rebuke of Justin Baldoni’s legal tactics. After all, Blake’s lawyers weren’t asking for the subpoena – embroiling any of her famous friends is what she specifically wants to avoid. So the “tabloid clickbait” accusation has to be directed at the Baldoni side. And if Tree Paine is seeing through that, she’s likely seeing through the rest of Baldoni’s legal machinations and how they’re trying to exploit Taylor’s fame for gain. Will that disdain inform Taylor’s testimony? 

 

This reminds me of the Gwyneth Paltrow trial from a couple of years ago and some of the wild questions that Gwyneth was asked when she was on the stand. You’ll recall, she was being sued (and countersued and eventually won) by some dude who claims she crashed into him while skiing. Gwyneth countersued for a symbolic amount, and the man’s lawyer randomly started asking her – are you suing for a symbolic amount because Taylor Swift did it? Are you friends with Taylor? Did you send her a Christmas gift? 

 

LOOOOOOOLLLLLL, seriously, that trial was pure comedy!

Anyway, to go back to Taylor, let’s not pretend that part of this subpoena has to do with gossip and that there won’t be weird ass questions like this when she’s deposed that will add to the chaos. How often do you and Blake Lively text? What do you text about? Did you watch Game of Thrones together? What recipes have you shared? Did you name her kids? Who is your song “My Tears Ricochet” about? 

And then, of course, the madness that will ensue if/when Taylor’s testimony somehow gets leaked. 

Taylor, as we know, isn’t stupid. And if history is any indication, she can give it as good as she gets, even better, actually, when she takes the stand. Back in 2017 when she testified against that DJ who groped her, her clapbacks at his lawyer were quick and sharp. If she thinks that Justin Baldoni’s lawyer is using her to promote his circus, there’s a good possibility that she’ll make that clear when she’s able to – beyond her publicist’s statement. While also, if they are indeed no longer friendly, not caping for Blake. Both things can be true. 

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