Legal Drama: Blake Lively Subpoenas Influencers

Actress Blake Lively is at the center of a massive legal and media storm. She has reportedly issued subpoenas to over 100 social media influencers, including big names like Perez Hilton and Candace Owens, as well as smaller accounts, in her lawsuit involving co-star Justin Baldoni.  

Lively alleges a coordinated defamation campaign against her, accusing Baldoni’s team of planting negative stories about her. Her legal team is demanding communications, DMs, and other platform data from these influencers to prove her case.  

Some influencers, especially Perez Hilton, are pushing back hard. Hilton argues that his coverage is protected journalism, not just “influencer commentary,” and has filed to quash the subpoena. In a bold move, Hilton said he used ChatGPT to help draft his legal response.  

This case is sparking big debates: What lines exist between influencer commentary and journalism? And how much legal responsibility do creators have for what they say online? Lively’s team seems to be testing that boundary — and the outcome could have big implications for how social media voices are treated in court.