The first court hearing in the escalating legal battle between It Ends with Us co-stars Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni took a dramatic turn on Monday, with a federal judge warning both parties to refrain from airing their grievances in the media. Judge Lewis J. Liman threatened to move up the March 2026 trial date if the high-profile case continues to be “litigated in the press.”
The hearing, which lasted nearly 90 minutes, centered on allegations of sexual harassment on the set of the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s 2016 novel, and also claims of an online “astroturfing” smear campaign ahead of the movie’s August 2024 release. Baldoni’s lead attorney, Bryan Freedman, argued that his client had “suffered hundreds of millions of dollars in damages” due to Lively’s accusations. However, Judge Liman imposed a strict gag order, reminding both sides to avoid public statements that coudl prejudice a potential jury.
Outside the courtroom,both legal teams remained tight-lipped. Freedman emphasized his desire for the case to proceed swiftly,while Lively’s attorney,Michael Gottlieb,expressed satisfaction with the hearing’s outcome. In a statement released later, Gottlieb and his colleague Esra Hudson saeid, “We are pleased with the result of today’s hearing and eager to move forward immediately with discovery in this case. The Court granted our request that all attorneys in the matter actually follow the rule of law and not make any statements that could prejudice a jury. This case deals with serious allegations of sexual harassment and retaliation. we will hold the defendants accountable, and we are confident that once all the evidence is submitted in this matter, Ms. Lively will prevail.”
Neither Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds,nor Baldoni were present in court. The case, which has already played out extensively in the court of public opinion, now moves into a more formal legal phase.
key Points of the Case
Table of Contents
| Aspect | Details |
|————————–|—————————————————————————–|
| Parties Involved | Blake Lively vs.Justin Baldoni |
| Allegations | Sexual harassment, retaliation, and an online smear campaign |
| Trial Date | March 2026 (subject to change if media litigation continues) |
| Judge’s ruling | Gag order imposed to prevent prejudicial public statements |
| Legal statements | Lively’s attorneys confident in her victory; Baldoni’s team seeks swift resolution |
the case continues to draw critically important attention, not only for its high-profile participants but also for the serious nature of the allegations. As the legal process unfolds, all eyes will be on how both parties navigate the constraints of the gag order and the mounting pressure of public scrutiny.
Blake Lively and Ryan reynolds Face $400 Million Defamation and Extortion Case
The legal battle between Gossip Girl alum Blake lively, her husband Ryan reynolds, and actor Justin Baldoni has escalated into a high-stakes courtroom drama. The $400 million defamation and extortion case, which has captivated Hollywood, saw a heated pre-trial hearing on Monday at the 500 Pearl street Courthouse.
The Core of the Case
The case stems from two consolidated lawsuits. The first, filed by Lively on december 20, 2024, accuses Baldoni, his PR team, and financiers of harassment and retaliation. The second, initiated by Baldoni on January 16, 2025, alleges defamation and extortion against Lively, Reynolds, and their publicist leslie Sloane.
During Monday’s session, Judge Liman navigated procedural matters, including depositions, discovery, and the potential dismissal of defendants. However, the spotlight was on Bryan Freedman, Baldoni’s lead counsel, and his focus on “pre-trial publicity.”
Accusations of Media Manipulation
Freedman accused lively of collaborating with the New York Times on their December 21 exposé, “We Can Bury Anyone: Inside a Hollywood Smear Machine.” He claimed the article was part of a calculated effort to tarnish Baldoni’s reputation.
“Lively was in cahoots with the New York Times for weeks if not more,” Freedman asserted.He also highlighted Baldoni’s media appearances, including stints on Today, Megyn Kelly, and Chris Cuomo, as well as the ABC News documentary IMPACT x Nightline: Blake vs Justin, which debuted on January 30.
The Hollywood Power Struggle
Freedman’s strategy has been to portray Baldoni as the victim of a Hollywood power couple. He alleges that Lively and Reynolds not only smeared Baldoni’s reputation but also stole his film project.
The courtroom was packed as both sides exchanged accusations of media manipulation. Despite Judge Liman’s efforts to maintain decorum, the tension was palpable.
Key Points at a Glance
| Aspect | Details |
|————————–|—————————————————————————–|
| Plaintiffs | Blake Lively (harassment case); Justin Baldoni (defamation case) |
| defendants | Justin Baldoni (Lively’s case); Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, Leslie Sloane (Baldoni’s case) |
| Claims | Harassment, retaliation, defamation, extortion |
| Key Allegations | Media manipulation, collaboration with New York Times, film theft |
| Next Steps | Trial expected to begin spring 2025 |
What’s Next?
With the trial slated to begin next spring, the case continues to unfold as a gripping saga of power, reputation, and media influence in Hollywood. As both sides prepare for the courtroom showdown, the stakes remain sky-high.
For more updates on this developing story, stay tuned to Deadline. sought to destroy him.
let’s just say, with leaked behind-the-scenes footage, 2 a.m. voice messages and a cascade of text messages and internal emails, it’s gotten very personal.
After giving notice last week that they will seek to have Baldoni’s lawsuit tossed and having warned Freedman that he is getting close to defaming their client, lively and Reynolds’ legal team was seeking a protective order to stop the media-amiable Freedman from more “extrajudicial statements” about Lively and her character, as well to stop him from taking the actress’ deposition in the case.
With an increasingly full agenda, today’s hearing marks the end of the first phase of the six-week-long multi-lawsuit conflict between Lively and Baldoni, with the matter now actually in front of a judge. Not unexpectedly, in a tussle that has played out from Day 1 in the courts and the court of public opinion, the lead-up to the session saw a squall of new filings, documents, statements and even the posting of a much-hyped full-clarity website promised by Freedman.
earlier Monday,attorney Gottlieb told Judge Liman that Lively and Reynolds’ side will be putting its proposed protective order on Freedman before the courts by March 11 — a point that is now moot. Taking any deposition of Lively off the table for now, Liman made it clear that sooner would be better for that protective order to show up.
Liman also left there’s no doubt whatsoever that he was not impressed by attempts by Lively’s lawyers to decide who (aka not Freedman) gets to question Lively from the other side. If anyone missed that point, the judge made it clear to Gottleib, saying, “I don’t think you’re going to be the one who chooses who takes Ms.Lively’s deposition.”
the judge also made it sound like he thinks the 168-page attachment/timeline to the latest Baldoni complaint violates federal court procedure since it’s basically a narrative. He pointedly said to Freedman, “You can’t just attach a factual narrative” to a complaint. Liman went on to ask Freedman,“What is the purpose of that attachment?” Adding later,“You can’t just give me a whole bunch of documents.” Lively lawyer Gottleib said he’s going to move to have the document stricken — a move that looks likely based on the judge’s skepticism in court.
despite the attention to the timeline posted online by Baldoni’s team,the real meat and bones of Monday might be in January 31 amended complaint that has added the New York Times as a defendant to the $400 million case; Freedman told the court he is set to pull the plug on $250 million L.A. case that Baldoni filed on New Year’s Eve. AtThe legal drama surrounding Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively continues to unfold, with new developments emerging in their ongoing case. According to reports, the couple’s legal team, led by Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP partner Gottlieb, claims they were blindsided by the addition of The New York Times to the main case. “Gottlieb said his side had received no notice that the NYT was being added to the main case before it hit the press,” a statement that underscores the tension in this high-profile legal battle.
In a surprising twist, Gottlieb hinted that Lively and Reynolds might potentially be preparing to file an amended complaint of their own. This new filing could introduce additional claims, further complicating the case. “Lively and Reynolds may be filing an amended complaint of their own, and that it could include new claims,” Gottlieb revealed, leaving many to speculate about the potential direction of the lawsuit.
One notable absence from Monday’s discussions was the Nicepool controversy, stemming from Reynolds’ blockbuster Deadpool & Wolverine released last year. The controversy, which has sparked significant media attention, was not addressed during the proceedings. However, it’s clear that this issue is far from resolved. “But there will be time for that,especially if Disney lawyers have anything to say about it,” suggesting that the entertainment giant may soon weigh in on the matter.
As the case progresses, all eyes are on how these legal maneuvers will impact the careers of Reynolds and Lively, as well as the broader implications for the entertainment industry. Below is a summary of the key points in this unfolding saga:
| Key Developments | Details |
|——————————————|—————————————————————————–|
| Addition of The New York times | Gottlieb claims no prior notice was given before the addition to the case. |
| Potential Amended Complaint | Lively and Reynolds may file new claims, adding complexity to the lawsuit. |
| Nicepool Controversy | Not discussed in recent proceedings, but Disney lawyers may address it soon.|
Stay tuned as this legal battle continues to evolve, with potential ramifications for both the individuals involved and the entertainment industry at large.
Legal Battle Unfolds: Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds Face New Developments in High-Profile Case
Editor: The ongoing legal drama involving Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds has taken new turns. Can you walk us through the latest developments?
Guest: Certainly.The case has seen meaningful activity, especially with the addition of The New York Times as a defendant. According to their attorney, Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP partner Gottlieb, the couple was blindsided by this move. Gottlieb stated they received no prior notice before the NYT was added to the main case, which has heightened tensions in this already contentious legal battle.
Editor: How is the couple responding to these developments?
Guest: lively and Reynolds are considering filing an amended complaint of their own. Gottlieb hinted that this new filing could introduce additional claims, potentially complicating the case further.While details are still emerging, it’s clear that the couple is prepared to take significant legal steps to defend their position.
Editor: Was there any discussion of the Nicepool controversy during the proceedings?
Guest: Surprisingly, no. The controversy, which stems from Reynolds’ blockbuster Deadpool & Wolverine, was not addressed in the recent hearing. However, Gottlieb did mention that “there will be time for that, especially if Disney lawyers have anything to say about it.” This suggests that the issue is far from resolved and could resurface as the case progresses.
Editor: What can we expect next in this case?
Guest: The legal teams are gearing up for potentially dramatic shifts. With the possibility of an amended complaint from Lively and Reynolds, and the unresolved Nicepool controversy, the case is likely to become even more complex. Additionally, the involvement of The new York Times adds another layer of intrigue. All eyes will be on how these developments impact the couple’s careers and the broader entertainment industry.
Key Developments in the Case
| Key Developments | Details |
|---|---|
| Addition of the New York Times | Gottlieb claims no prior notice was given before the addition to the case. |
| Potential Amended complaint | Lively and Reynolds may file new claims,adding complexity to the lawsuit. |
| Nicepool Controversy | Not discussed in recent proceedings, but Disney lawyers may address it soon. |
Conclusion: The legal battle between Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, and their plaintiffs continues to evolve with new filings and developments. The addition of The New York Times,the potential for an amended complaint,and the unresolved Nicepool controversy ensure that this case will remain in the spotlight for the foreseeable future.
