Legal Tensions Rise Between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni In Court Hearing

In a heated initial court hearing in Manhattan, lawyers for Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni engaged in a verbal sparring match over sexual harassment and defamation allegations linked to their movie "It Ends With Us." As each side accused the other of damaging public statements, the judge emphasized the need for a fair trial free from media influence.

Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni's legal battle commenced with a tense court hearing in Manhattan, where their attorneys exchanged sharp words over serious allegations related to their film, "It Ends With Us." The conflict began last December when Lively filed a legal complaint accusing Baldoni of sexual harassment and orchestrating a smear campaign against her. In response, Baldoni has counter-sued Lively for various claims, including defamation.

While neither actor was present during the Monday pretrial session, lawyers were actively engaged as the proceedings turned contentious. Lively's attorney, Michael Gottlieb, called out Baldoni's lawyer, Bryan Freedman, accusing him of making "inflammatory extrajudicial comments" about the actress that were aimed at tarnishing her character. Freedman, however, countered that it was an attempt to enforce a "gag order" on discussing the case.

Baldoni's legal representative further claimed his client had suffered significant financial and emotional distress due to Lively's accusations. Highlighting the media attention surrounding the case, Judge Lewis Liman warned both sides that if the legal battle spilled into the public domain, he might need to expedite the March 2026 trial date to protect the jury from any potential bias.

As part of the case dynamics, Baldoni filed an amended complaint that presented a detailed 168-page timeline of events and included a website containing evidence related to the dispute. Gottlieb questioned the origins of this website and its funding, while also critiquing outtakes from a romantic scene in the film that Baldoni claims disproves Lively's allegations. Conversely, Lively argued that such footage substantiates her claims.

With other parties already involved in the ongoing legal tussle and Lively's team hinting at submitting their amended complaint soon, the complexity of the case continues to evolve. The judge remarked on the necessity of a protective order given the high-profile nature of those implicated and the serious allegations involved. Both legal teams are keen on adhering to a pre-trial schedule as the saga between the co-stars progresses, reiterating that the ultimate resolution will rest with a jury's deliberation.