Justin Baldoni is “devastated” – both emotionally and financially – due to his ongoing legal battle with It Ends With Us co-star Blake Lively. His lawyer, Bryan Freedman, shared this bombshell at a pre-trial conference on February 3, 2025. The conference was focused on Lively’s attempt to get a gag order, while lawsuits from both sides continue to escalate.
According to Freedman, the toll on Baldoni and his associates has been significant. “My clients are devastated financially and emotionally,” he stated. His clients include Baldoni, It Ends With Us producers Jamey Heath and Steve Sarowitz, Wayfarer Studios, and publicists Melissa Nathan and Jennifer Abel.
Baldoni’s defense: ‘They started it’
In an emotional remark, Freedman likened the legal conflict to a childish argument: “Not to sound like a 4-year-old fighting a 4-year-old with ‘they started it,’ but in these cases, once something is said, it becomes fact. There’s no way to fight against it.”
The legal battle: sexual harassment and defamation claims
This legal storm began after Lively filed a bombshell complaint accusing Baldoni of sexual harassment and leading a retaliatory smear campaign against her. Baldoni quickly responded. On January 16, he filed a $400 million lawsuit against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and their publicists. His lawsuit accused them of civil extortion, defamation, and more. Baldoni’s team also sued The New York Times for reporting on Lively’s allegations.
Lively’s allegations: trauma and business interference
Lively claimed Baldoni’s alleged actions during the making of It Ends With Us and its promotion caused her “grief, fear, trauma, and extreme anxiety.” She is demanding unspecified damages for “intentional infliction of emotional distress” and for interference with her business, including her Blake Brown haircare company.
On December 20, Lively made a statement to The New York Times, expressing hope that her legal action would “pull back the curtain” on the retaliatory tactics used against those who speak up about misconduct. She also hopes to protect others who may be targeted in the future.
Baldoni’s response: legal and financial fallout
In response, Baldoni’s legal team argued against a potential gag order. They said that his team, including Wayfarer Studios, has been “exiled from polite society” and suffered losses totaling hundreds of millions. They also claimed the fallout from Lively’s complaint had been “utterly calamitous” and that Baldoni and his team had become “objects of public scorn and contempt.”
Sources close to Baldoni revealed in The Hollywood Reporter that he has “lost three jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars” as a result of the scandal. His upcoming project, Pac-Man, has been affected, and the financial hit has been devastating.
Case scheduled for trial in 2026
Meanwhile, the case is set for trial in March 2026. Judge Lewis Liman of New York has warned both legal teams to avoid making public statements that could sway the jury. He emphasized that both sides must refrain from any press leaks or inflammatory remarks.
Lively’s legal team was pleased with the hearing’s outcome. Attorneys Michael Gottlieb and Esra Hudson issued a statement, saying, “We are pleased with the result of today’s hearing and eager to move forward immediately with discovery in this case.” They also praised the court’s decision to require all attorneys to follow the law and refrain from making any statements that could prejudice a jury.
Baldoni’s team makes strategic leaks
In the midst of the legal chaos, Baldoni’s team has been active in sharing their side of the story. They’ve released video footage from the It Ends With Us set and even launched a website, thelawsuitinfo.com, where they link to all the relevant legal documents.
As the legal battle continues, both sides brace for what could be a long and costly fight. The next major hearing is scheduled for 2026, but the emotional and financial damage is already taking its toll on both Baldoni and Lively. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.
