Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively Drama: What’s New in the Case?

With all the glitz and glamour of Hollywood also comes conflict and scandal. This sad truth is evident in cases that catch the public eye. The internet has been stormed with newsreels, articles, and social media posts of the Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively drama. Over the past week, Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively have released public statements and taken legal action. Each side has compelling evidence and claims, but the ultimate verdict will be apparent in law. 

Keep reading for an in-depth dive into the Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively drama, including major events and celebrity opinions.

Blake Lively Launches Initial Accusations 

The story of Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively’s drama begins in December of 2024 when Lively first filed a legal complaint against Baldoni for sexual harassment and retaliation on the set of “It Ends With Us.” The initial complaint alleged that Baldoni created a hostile work environment for the actress. According to the actress and her team, Baldoni made repeated physical advances on set aside from their official acting roles. When told to stop, Lively alleged that Baldoni ignored or was insensitive to her requests. The complaint further stated that Baldoni launched a smear campaign to protect his name following her public complaint. 

Shortly after the complaint, Lively and her team filed an official suit against Justin and his production studio.

Amidst the drama, Lively released multiple statements. In one, she said, “I hope that my legal action helps pull back the curtain on these sinister retaliatory tactics to harm people who speak up about misconduct.”

Justin Baldoni Countersues Lively and the New York Times 

Following Lively’s initial lawsuit, Baldoni and his counterparts filed a suit against the New York Times. According to them, the paper worked closely with Lively to create a narrative that would purposefully ruin Baldoni’s name. 

According to a lawyer on Baldoni’s team, the news outlet “cowered to the wants and whims of two powerful ‘untouchable’ Hollywood elites, disregarding journalistic practices and ethics once befitting of the revered publication by using doctored and manipulated texts and intentionally omitting texts which dispute their chosen PR narrative.”

In an additional suit, Baldoni and his team made legal action against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds. The 400 million dollar suit claims that Lively and Reynolds used their power and influence to take control of the film and defame the names of Baldoni and his counterparts. In the words of his suit, “Lively wields immense power as one of the world’s best-known celebrities.” It claims she “used that power to seize control of the film… and set out to destroy Plaintiffs’ livelihoods and businesses when they did not comply with her incessant demands. When they refused to give way, she accused them of foul and reprehensible sexual misconduct.”

Evidence From Both Sides 

Amidst the Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively drama, both parties’ legal teams have released statements and pieces of evidence. Some of which, such as text messages, are a hot point of contention. For instance, Baldoni claims that texts released by Lively were doctored or taken out of context to ruin his character. 

Some pieces of evidence are even being used by both sides on the issue. For instance, Lively and Baldoni cite outside meetings in which their conflict worsened. Lively said these meetings were so bad that she had to invite her husband for moral support and safety. According to Baldoni, these meetings were a way for Lively to use her and her husband’s power to make changes to the script without permission. 

Another compelling piece of evidence was a behind-the-scenes video by Baldoni’s team. The footage shows Baldoni and Lively in the middle, filming an intimate scene, although they speak out of character. The two talked about filming the scene, discussing leaving space for romance and chemistry for the characters. As the filming went on, Baldoni took a few actions out of character, including caressing Lively with his lips. Lively claims that this evidence clearly displays how Baldoni created a hostile working environment. In contrast, Baldoni claims it shows Lively was difficult to work with and refused to take direction in integral scenes. 

Regardless of how you view the situation, it is clear that these pieces of evidence will require scrutiny to weigh out who is correct. 

Public Outcry 

Along with the various suits and pieces of evidence released, Lively, Baldoni, and other celebrities have been commenting on the situation. Aside from Baldoni and his counterparts, the vast majority of formal statements have been in support of Lively. The public outcry is perfectly summed up in a statement made by Lively’s lawyers. According to her representation, “This is an age-old story: A woman speaks up with concrete evidence of sexual harassment and retaliation, and the abuser attempts to turn the tables on the victim.”

America Ferrera, Amy Schumer, Amber Heard, Jenny Slate, and Gwyneth Paltrow have all expressed love, support, and belief in her claims. Among these comments, fans seem most impacted by a statement from Colleen Hoover, the author of It Ends With Us. In an Instagram story, Hoover wrote, “@blakelively, you have been nothing but honest, kind, supportive, and patient since the day we met…Thank you for being exactly the human that you are. Never change. Never wilt.”

Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively Drama: What’s Next? 

The two actors’ conactors’ emotions never end, but the case has recently seen positive progress. A New York judge officially set a trial date for March 2026 and scheduled the case conference for next week. The judge acted after Lively’s team accused Baldoni of publicizing the case and attempting to sway public opinion about the proceedings.

There is likely much more to come with this case. Fans are eager to hear more about what happened on set and how a jury will handle the issue.