New York: A New York federal judge has scheduled a trial date for 9 March 2026, to resolve the ongoing legal battle between actors Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni over their work on the film It Ends With Us. This comes after a series of legal disputes between the two stars escalated, including claims of defamation, sexual harassment, and media manipulation.
Judge Lewis J Liman made the ruling on Monday, moving an initial conference from mid-February to next week. Both parties have been instructed to prepare for the trial and address concerns about pretrial publicity and attorney conduct. Lively’s legal team claimed that Baldoni’s lawyer was attempting to influence potential jurors by releasing documents and communications between the two actors on a website. They warned that this could “taint the jury pool” and requested an end to the “defamatory and extrajudicial media statements.”
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Defamation, media campaign claims
In response, Baldoni's attorney Bryan Freedman dismissed the accusations, stating that Lively was attempting to “gag the truth” to prevent the public from seeing evidence that contradicted her allegations. Freedman defended his actions, insisting that his aim was to present "pure, unedited facts" that would clear Baldoni’s name.
In addition to the New York case, Lively has filed another legal motion in Texas, requesting a deposition from crisis management expert Jed Wallace. Lively alleges that Wallace, working with Baldoni’s production company, orchestrated social media campaigns to turn public sentiment against her. According to Lively's legal team, Wallace created a “digital army” to manipulate online content on platforms like Reddit and TikTok to spread defamatory messages.
Lively, who filed her lawsuit in December 2024, is seeking damages for sexual harassment and harm to her reputation. Baldoni countersued in January, accusing Lively and her husband, actor Ryan Reynolds, of defamation and extortion, requesting at least $400 million in damages. Judge Liman indicated that the lawsuits might be combined for trial.
Box office success, behind-the-scenes controversy
The movie It Ends With Us, based on Colleen Hoover’s 2016 bestselling novel, was released in August 2024. It exceeded box office expectations with a $50 million debut, but was marred by rumours of discord between Lively and Baldoni during production and promotion. The film, which starts as a romance but delves into domestic violence, was a surprise hit despite the controversy.
Blake Lively rose to fame with The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (2005) and the TV series Gossip Girl (2007-2012). She has since appeared in films such as The Town and The Shallows. Justin Baldoni is best known for his role in Jane the Virgin and for directing Five Feet Apart (2019). He is also the author of Man Enough, a book that challenges traditional notions of masculinity.
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Published: 28 Jan 2025, 08:28 am IST
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