A recent federal court decision may bring a welcome sigh of relief to pop icon Taylor Swift and NFL star Travis Kelce, as a judge moves to tamp down escalating legal drama that risked pulling the couple deeper into controversy. The dispute centers around a harassment case involving actor Justin Baldoni and actress Blake Lively — a close friend of Swift — which has now taken an unexpected turn with Swift’s name being thrust into the spotlight.

U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman issued a strong rebuke this week, striking from the court record a letter that accused Lively’s legal team of attempting to coerce Swift into making a public statement supporting Lively.

The letter, written by attorney Bryan Freedman on behalf of Baldoni, alleged that Lively had threatened to release private text messages unless Swift voiced her support — a claim that Judge Liman deemed potentially libelous and lacking merit. The judge warned against “legal maneuvering” designed to "promote scandal" and emphasized the importance of focusing on the facts rather than stirring public drama.

Swift, who skyrocketed into NFL relevance thanks to her high-profile romance with Kelce, was reportedly “really hurt” after being implicated in the legal mess. According to PEOPLE reporters Benjamin VanHoose and Sean Mandell, a source revealed that Swift and Lively were attempting to move past the situation, though recent legal moves appear to have reopened emotional wounds.The same report cited an earlier complaint filed by Baldoni, which noted that Lively had allegedly referred to Swift as one of her “dragons” in a text exchange — a cryptic and telling descriptor that may hint at deeper tensions between the two friends.

“Their friendship has halted,” PEOPLE reported. “Taylor wants no part in this (Lively) drama.” The fallout is especially poignant given that Swift is the godmother to Lively’s four children with husband Ryan Reynolds.A source close to the ongoing case added that a recent subpoena “fractured” the “fragile peace” between the two women, potentially ending a high-profile Hollywood friendship that once seemed unbreakable.Also Read: Donald Trump vs. Taylor Swift feud takes a toxic turn: Is it tearing apart Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes’ longstanding NFL brotherhood?With the NFL 2025 season on the horizon, Swift is expected to return to Arrowhead Stadium to cheer on Kelce, possibly during his final season. Kansas City’s Week 2 game — a Super Bowl rematch against Swift’s hometown team, the Philadelphia Eagles — may mark her first public appearance amid the fallout.