Testifying Against Her Co-Star: Blake Lively's Upcoming Court Battle
Actor Blake Lively is set to provide testimony against Justin Baldoni in an unspecified legal matter.
Get ready for some juicy courtroom drama as Blake Lively, the famed actress from movies like Gossip Girl and The Rhythm Section, prepares to take the stand against her It Ends with Us co-star and director, Justin Baldoni.
According to Lively's lawyer, Mike Gottlieb, the actress will testify under oath in the upcoming trial. Gottlieb believes Lively to be a key witness in the case, and others may follow suit.
In an interview with the U.S. magazine People, Gottlieb stated, "Yes, Mrs. Lively will testify. The decisive moment for her story is in court. We expect that to be the case here. We expect her to be a witness in her trial. Of course, she will testify."
There are those who witnessed questionable behavior or experienced it themselves, which Gottlieb insists will corroborate Lively's statements. "We have people who directly experienced or witnessed misconduct that is relevant to Mrs. Lively's allegations," Gottlieb emphasized.
Rumors about Lively's involvement in the trial have been circulating since her emotional speech at the Time100 Gala in late April. She alluded to the case by saying, "There's so much to say about the last two years of my life."
Witnesses in Focus
The question of whether Lively's husband, Ryan Reynolds, will also testify remains ambiguous. Reynolds is currently listed as a defendant in Baldoni's countersuit, but Lively's team is working to dismiss these claims.
"We believe they are unfounded," Gottlieb said, adding that Reynolds "may or may not be a witness."
Recently, Baldoni's team has hinted at subpoenaing notable celebrities like Taylor Swift and Hugh Jackman to testify. However, Gottlieb finds this unnecessary, stating, "It's completely unclear what relevance these celebrities have to the case. This isn't a case about how songs were chosen for the film or fictional Marvel characters in 'Deadpool' movies. It's a case about what Blake Lively experienced when she made allegations of sexual harassment on set."
The Controversy's Roots
The controversy between Lively and Baldoni stems from the filming of It Ends with Us in 2024, which was released in August. In December, Lively filed a complaint with the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, followed by a lawsuit alleging sexual harassment and a smear campaign against her.
The lawsuit named Wayfarer Studios and several individuals involved in the production as defendants. Baldoni later filed a $400 million countersuit, accusing Lively, Reynolds, Lively's spokesperson, Leslie Sloane, and their firm Vision PR of defamation and civil extortion. Lively's lawyers dismiss these allegations as "unfounded."
The trial, which has generated significant media buzz, will begin in March 2026 and will not be televised. However, some U.S. media outlets will have access to audio recordings.
- Trials
- Hollywood Dirt
- Sexual Harassment Scandals
- During the trial, Blake Lively's lawyer, Mike Gottlieb, confirmed that Lively will testify, expressing the belief that her story will be best told in court.
- Aside from Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni's legal team has hinted at subpoenaing celebrities like Taylor Swift and Hugh Jackman to testify, a move that Lively's legal team finds unnecessary.
- The upcoming trial involving Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni stems from the filming of "It Ends with Us" in 2024, with allegations of sexual harassment and a smear campaign leading to a lawsuit filed by Lively in December 2024.
