A judge has cautioned the attorneys for Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni to cease public discussions regarding their opposing lawsuits.
The two actors, who appeared together in the 2024 film It Ends With Us, have initiated legal actions against one another following an initial lawsuit filed by Lively.
The 37-year-old has made allegations of sexual harassment against Baldoni during the filming of the movie, claiming there was a subsequent scheme intended to tarnish her reputation.
Baldoni then filed a lawsuit against Lively and her spouse Ryan Reynolds, accusing them of usurping both the production and promotion of the film, along with purported attempts to defame him and other personnel involved in the project through false claims.
New York District Court Judge Lewis J. Liman has set a trial date for March 2026 to consolidate the two cases but cautioned both sides on Monday that their public comments might influence the outcome of their cases.
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Why is Blake Lively suing Justin Baldoni?
Lively’s attorney, Michael Gottlieb, expressed dissatisfaction, alleging that Baldoni’s counsel, Bryan Freedman, breached professional ethical standards by branding the actress as “bullying” in People magazine.
He stated during a session at Manhattan federal court that “it’s extremely challenging to un-ring the bell,” emphasizing that such remarks could contaminate a jury pool.
Conversely, Mr. Freedman contended that “this has not been a one-way street,” asserting that his remarks to the magazine and on a podcast were in retaliation to a New York Times article dated December 21 that “utterly devastated” Baldoni.
Judge Liman has now instituted a state rule prohibiting most public statements that may influence a case’s resolution—except for shielding clients from prejudicial negative publicity. Neither attorney raised an objection.
Lively’s legal team had previously accused Mr. Freedman in a legal document of attempting to sway potential jurors by developing a website to disseminate selective documents and communications between her and Baldoni.
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In late December, Lively initiated legal action against Baldoni, his production company Wayfarer Studios, and others in New York for sexual harassment and reputational attacks, seeking unspecified compensation.
Baldoni subsequently launched his lawsuit in January, accusing Lively and her spouse, Deadpool star and Wrexham FC co-owner Reynolds, of defamation and extortion, seeking damages of at least $400 million (£321 million).
The actor has also filed a libel suit against The New York Times due to the publication of allegations concerning him.
Lively gained prominence with her role in the 2005 film The Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants and achieved further acclaim through her performance in the TV series Gossip Girl from 2007 to 2012. Her filmography also includes titles like The Town and The Shallows.
Baldoni is recognized for his role in the television comedy Jane The Virgin and for directing the 2019 film Five Feet Apart. He is also the author of Man Enough – a book challenging conventional notions of masculinity.
