Taylor Swift's Leaked Text to Blake Lively Fuels Claims 'CANCELLED!' Is Shade at Justin Baldoni — 'Tiny Violin' Lyrics Cited

Taylor Swift's name has entered the legal and cultural storm surrounding Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni after private text messages were unsealed in court this week.

A single phrase from those messages — 'tiny violin' — has sent fans and media outlets revisiting Swift's 2025 song CANCELLED!, with many asking whether the track quietly took aim at Baldoni while backing Lively during her fallout over It Ends With Us.

What's confirmed, what's inferred, and what remains speculation is now being parsed line by line.

The Text Message That Sparked the Theory

On Tuesday, unsealed court filings from Justin Baldoni's countersuit against Blake Lively revealed a December 2024 text sent by Swift to Lively. In the message, Swift allegedly referred to Baldoni using profanity and added that he had 'gotten out his tiny violin,' a phrase commonly used to mock performative sympathy.

The text surfaced as part of Baldoni's legal response to Lively's claims of harassment and retaliation during and after the filming of It Ends With Us.

Baldoni's team cited the messages to argue that Lively coordinated narratives with high-profile allies. Swift is not a party to the lawsuit, and her representatives have not commented on the leaked texts.

Why 'Tiny Violin' Set off Alarm Bells

The phrase immediately rang familiar to Swift fans. On CANCELLED!, released in October 2025 as part of The Life of a Showgirl, Swift sings in the pre-chorus, 'Or bring a tiny violin to a knife fight? Baby, that all ends tonight.'

The overlap has fueled speculation that the song was written with the Baldoni-Lively conflict in mind or at least shaped by it. While Swift has never named Baldoni, the timing and phrasing have become central to the theory that CANCELLED! includes pointed commentary.

Reading the Lyrics Through the Lawsuit Lens

Beyond the 'tiny violin' line, listeners have pointed to other lyrics they believe echo Lively's public backlash at the time. References to 'cancelled friends,' 'scandal,' and women being scrutinised for ambition have been interpreted as nods to Lively's criticism during the film's press run.

Some analysts have also highlighted lines questioning whether someone was 'too smug' or 'girl-bossed too close to the sun,' which critics link to media commentary around Lively's power on set. These readings remain interpretive, not confirmed.

Swift has previously said the song reflects her views on cancel culture and loyalty, shaped by watching people she knows face public judgment. She has not tied the track to any individual or lawsuit.

What the Lawsuit Actually Establishes

According to court records, Baldoni's countersuit alleges that Lively misused her influence and coordinated pressure campaigns against him. The filings include references to text messages involving Swift, though no evidence suggests Swift directed legal or professional action.

Lively's legal team has denied claims that she threatened Swift or attempted to leverage their friendship. Swift's representatives have also denied involvement beyond allowing one of her songs to be licensed for the film.

Importantly, the lawsuit does not claim CANCELLED! was written about Baldoni; that connection has been drawn entirely by fans and commentators.

Fans Split on Whether the Song Is a Diss

Meanwhile, some Swift listeners argue the lyric match is too precise to ignore, calling the song a subtle swipe delivered months before the texts became public. Fans have also raised questions about whether the song defends Lively uncritically or simply critiques how women are 'cancelled' more harshly than men.

So far, Swift has remained silent.