The legal battle between It Ends With Us co-stars Blake Lively and Justin baldoni has escalated dramatically, with Ryan Reynolds and Lively’s legal team taking aggressive steps to counter Baldoni’s claims. Last week, the couple’s lawyers sought to have Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan freedman, disciplined by the courts for his “extrajudicial statements” in the media. They also filed a protective order to prevent Freedman from deposing Lively in her New Year’s Eve lawsuit against Baldoni, which alleges sexual harassment and retaliation.The conflict began with Lively’s December 20 complaint filed with California’s Civil Rights department, accusing Baldoni of mistreatment during the production of It Ends With Us. Baldoni responded with a $400 million defamation and extortion lawsuit against lively and reynolds on January 16, which the couple is now seeking to have dismissed.
The legal drama is set to intensify at the February 3 pretrial conference in New York City, where federal Judge lewis J. Liman will address the proposed “gag order” against Freedman. The conference comes after Judge liman consolidated Baldoni’s $400 million lawsuit with Lively’s New year’s Eve case.
Baldoni’s attorney, Kevin Fritz, has objected to Freedman’s request to depose Lively, stating in a letter to the court, “During a conference of the parties’ counsel on January 30, 2025, counsel for the Wayfarer Parties requested the earliest possible deposition of Blake lively.”
Here’s a summary of the key developments:
| Key Event | Details |
|————————————|—————————————————————————–|
| December 20, 2024 | blake Lively files a complaint against Justin Baldoni for sexual harassment.|
| January 16, 2025 | Baldoni sues Lively and Reynolds for $400 million for defamation and extortion.|
| January 30, 2025 | Lively and Reynolds file to dismiss Baldoni’s lawsuit. |
| February 3, 2025 | Pretrial conference to address gag order and deposition requests. |
As the legal battle unfolds, the stakes remain high for both parties, with the outcome possibly impacting their careers and reputations. Stay tuned for updates as this high-profile case progresses.
Blake Lively Objects to Bryan Freedman Conducting Her Deposition in Legal Battle with Justin Baldoni
the ongoing legal saga between actress Blake Lively and filmmaker Justin Baldoni has taken another dramatic turn, with Lively’s legal team objecting to Bryan J.Freedman, Baldoni’s lead counsel, personally conducting her deposition. The objection, which remains unspecified in its grounds, has added another layer of tension to an already contentious case.
The Objection and Its Implications
According to court filings, “Counsel for Ms. Lively and Ryan reynolds (the ‘Lively Parties’) stated their objection to the Wayfarer Parties’ lead counsel conducting the deposition of Blake Lively.” The Lively Parties’ legal team declined to elaborate on the reasons behind their objection, leaving the matter open to speculation.
Baldoni’s team, though, has pushed back against the objection. Fritz, a representative for Baldoni’s legal team, stated, “We are unaware of any situation that would warrant the deposed party to have a choice in which attorney takes her deposition. Parties to litigation simply do not have the right to dictate which of their opponents’ attorneys may or may not take their deposition or perform any other aspect of the opposing party’s case.”
The issue is expected to be addressed at a hearing scheduled for Monday, which is already shaping up to be lengthy and contentious.
A Rare Silence from Both Sides
In a surprising twist, neither Lively’s nor Baldoni’s representatives responded to Deadline’s request for comment on the deposition-related objection. This silence is unusual in a case that has been marked by public statements, media handouts, and aggressive legal maneuvers from both sides.
The Escalating Legal Battle
The dispute between Lively and Baldoni has been anything but quiet.Over the past weeks, freedman, known for his combative style, has made several provocative statements. He has accused Lively and her team of having “one heinous pivot left” when faced with evidence presented by Baldoni’s legal team, suggesting they would “double down on the revoltingly false sexual allegations against Mr.Baldoni.”
The case has also seen a flurry of legal filings, media attacks, and counterattacks. Baldoni recently filed a $250 million lawsuit against the New York Times on New Year’s Eve, adding another layer of complexity to the proceedings. The lawsuit alleges defamation and other claims, further fueling the fire between the two parties.
Multimedia and Message Control Tactics
The legal battle has also spilled into the realm of multimedia, with both sides leveraging private correspondence, text messages, and even outtakes from the production of It Ends With Us. Freedman has reportedly threatened to create a website containing all communications related to the film and the alleged astroturfing campaign against Lively. Baldoni’s team claims they never had to enact the campaign as the internet “organically hated the actress.”
Whether this website will materialize before monday’s hearing remains to be seen, but given the intensity of the legal grenades being thrown, it’s a possibility that cannot be ruled out.
Key points at a Glance
| Aspect | Details |
|—————————|—————————————————————————–|
| Deposition Objection | Lively’s team objects to Bryan Freedman conducting her deposition.|
| Baldoni’s Response | Argues that parties cannot dictate which attorney takes a deposition. |
| Monday’s Hearing | Expected to address the deposition issue and other contentious matters. |
| Media Tactics | Both sides have used private correspondence and media handouts. |
| Potential Website | Freedman has threatened to release all communications related to the case. |
What’s Next?
As the hearing approaches,all eyes are on how the court will address Lively’s objection and whether Freedman’s threatened website will come to fruition. The case, which has already seen a $250 million lawsuit and a barrage of legal and media tactics, shows no signs of slowing down.
For more updates on this unfolding legal drama, stay tuned to Deadline.
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This article is based exclusively on the information provided in the source material. For further details, refer to the original Deadline report.
