YouTuber subpoenaed by Blake Lively for communications with Justin Baldoni

Popcorned Planet, a YouTube channel run by Florida-based commentator Andy Signore, was subpoenaed on July 2, 2025, in a federal district court in New York, New York, by actor Blake Lively for its communications with actor Justin Baldoni and his production company.

In December 2024, Lively sued Baldoni, his company Wayfarer Studios and various associates for sexual harassment, retaliation and breach of contract. She alleges that the defendants launched a retaliatory publicity campaign during the release of the movie “It Ends With Us,” in which the two actors costarred and which Baldoni directed.

The campaign’s goal, according to the complaint, was to prevent Lively from speaking out about harassment and other misconduct by Baldoni and the CEO of Wayfarer on the set of the film.

In January, Baldoni filed his own claims against Lively, accusing her of extortion and defamation. Those claims were dismissed in June.

Signore has made multiple videos for Popcorned Planet, which covers entertainment and pop culture news, about the legal fight between Lively and Baldoni and in support of Baldoni, and is directing a documentary series on the making of “It Ends With Us.”

On July 2, Lively subpoenaed Popcorned Planet, demanding any communications with the defendants about Lively and the film and any evidence of an agreement with the defendants about related coverage on the channel.

Lively argues that the defendants coordinated with content creators to distribute “negative and derogatory content” about her.

Signore filed a motion to quash the subpoena on July 25, arguing that the documents requested are protected by Florida’s reporter’s privilege and the First Amendment. “This subpoena is an attack on press freedom,” he wrote on a fundraising page for his legal fees.

“I’m a journalist, I’m press, I don’t give up ANY sources,” Signore said in a video posted on Instagram. “This is only going to empower me even more so, to get to the truth and to fight back and to stand up.”

Jack Gordon, Signore’s attorney, told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker that fighting the subpoena was essential to prevent “an erosion of the First Amendment.”

“The only thing that prevents democracy and freedom of the press from being overrun are the people willing to stand and defend it,” Gordon said. “It doesn’t matter whether it’s a Hollywood scandal or a matter of national security.”

Lively also issued a subpoena to Google for Signore’s YouTube and GooglePay account information, but later withdrew it.

Lively’s attorneys did not respond to a request for comment from the Tracker.