Lively Stands Firm: Testifying Against Baldoni
Witness to take an oath in the upcoming court case - Acknowledged, testifying under oath is on the agenda for the upcoming trial.
Blake Lively (37), the actress known for her roles in Gossip Girl and The Shallows, has announced her intention to testify under oath against her co-star and director Justin Baldoni (41) in the upcoming trial regarding allegations she made against him. In an interview with US magazine "People", Lively's lawyer, Mike Gottlieb, confirmed that Lively will take the stand.
"Yep, that's the plan," Gottlieb affirmed when asked about Lively's involvement. "The heart of the plaintiff's case is set to unfold in court. We expect that's how it'll go down here. Of course, she's a key player in her own trial. Without a doubt, she'll testify."
Multiple Testimonies on the Horizon
Lively isn't the only one slated to take the stand. Gottlieb also disclosed that there will be multiple witnesses. "There are folks who saw the misconduct or experienced it firsthand, directly related to Lively's allegations," Gottlieb clarified. "We anticipate their testimonies, particularly about on-set events, to corroborate her claims."
Rumors about Lively's involvement in the trial swelled in late April following her speech at the Time100 Gala. Before confessing onstage that her mother had survived an attempted attack by a "workplace assailant intent on ending her life" before Lively was born, she teased the trial and stated, "There's been so much to discuss about the past two years of my life."
Whether Lively's husband, Ryan Reynolds (48), will be taking the witness stand is still uncertain. Reynolds is currently listed as a defendant in Baldoni's countersuit, but Lively's team is working to dismiss these accusations. "Our stance is that they're baseless," Gottlieb declared, hinting that Reynolds might or might not be a witness.
Potential Unnecessary Witnesses
Recently, Baldoni's team has hinted at potentially subpoenaing celebrities like Taylor Swift and Hugh Jackman. However, Gottlieb contends that these stars have no bearing on the case. "It's hard to see what connection these superstars have to the case," Gottlieb asserted. "This is about Lively's experiences with sexual harassment on set - not song choices or Marvel characters in Deadpool movies."
Baldoni's lawyer, Bryan Freedman, disputed Gottlieb's assertions, alleging that Lively is attempting to divert attention from the facts of the case. "Despite the Lively team's unease, the truth isn't a distraction. The truth has been evident through unaltered evidence, documents, and actual footage," Freedman stated.
Case Timeline
The legal dispute originates from the filming of the movie "It Ends with Us" in 2024, released in August. In December, Lively submitted a complaint to the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, followed by a lawsuit accusing Baldoni of sexual harassment and a smear campaign against her. The lawsuit was filed against Wayfarer Studios and several production-related individuals.
Baldoni denies the accusations and has filed a $400 million countersuit, alleging defamation and civil extortion against Lively, Reynolds, Lively's publicist Leslie Sloane, and their company Vision PR - claims that Lively's lawyers describe as "unfounded".
The trial has been scheduled for March 2026.
- Blake Lively
- Justin Baldoni
- Ryan Reynolds
- Mrs.
- During the upcoming trial in March 2026, Blake Lively, known for her roles in Gossip Girl and The Shallows, will testify under oath against her co-star and director, Justin Baldoni.
- Multiple witnesses, including those who saw or experienced misconduct directly related to Lively's allegations, are expected to testify during the trial.
- Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively's husband, might or might not be a witness, as Reynolds is currently listed as a defendant in Baldoni's countersuit, but Lively's team is working to dismiss these accusations.
- Contrary to speculation, celebrities like Taylor Swift and Hugh Jackman may have no bearing on the case as it primarily revolves around Lively's experiences with sexual harassment on set.
