Expected Courtroom Tango: Blake Lively Facing Off Against Justin Baldoni
Actor Blake Lively to offer testimony against Justin Baldoni in legal proceedings.
Here's the scoop on actor Blake Lively taking the stand against her "It Ends with Us" co-star and director, Justin Baldoni, in an upcoming trial. According to Lively's legal representative, Mike Gottlieb, Lively will testify under oath with the expectation that she'll play a pivotal role in the proceedings.
In an interview with U.S. magazine "People", Gottlieb confirmed, "Yep, you got it! This is a defining court appearance for the plaintiff's case—and ours too, of course. We're counting on Blake to tell her story."
Lively isn't the only one expected to share her two cents. Gottlieb mentioned, "There'll be other witnesses, folks who saw the wrongdoing firsthand or experienced it themselves, all adding weight to Blake's allegations, particularly regarding events on set."
Rumors swirled about Lively's involvement in the trial after her emotive speech at the Time100 gala in late April. Lively hinted at the case when she said, "Two years of my life, man! There's so much to say."
The question on everyone's lips: Is Blake Lively's husband, Ryan Reynolds, joining the testifying party? Not approved for comment yet, as Reynolds is named in Baldoni's countersuit, but his legal team is working to have his name dropped. Gottlieb commented, "We believe their claims are bogus, but whether Ryan takes the stand remains to be seen."
Baldoni's team has made some noise about potentially enlisting high-profile figures like Taylor Swift and Hugh Jackman as witnesses. But Gottlieb thinks they're barking up the wrong tree, stating, "These celebs? They're a red herring! This case isn't about their music or comic book characters. It's about sexual harassment on set, plain and simple."
Baldoni's lawyer, Bryan Freedman, clapped back, claiming that Lively is trying to skirt the facts of the case. Freedman said, "Despite the Lively team's shielding tactics, the undeniable evidence speaks for itself."
The case springs from the filming of the movie "It Ends with Us" in 2024, which hit theaters 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 trial, scheduled for early 2026, promises to paint the town red with drama—minus the TV cameras, unlike the Johnny Depp-Amber Heard showdown. However, some U.S. media outlets will gain access to audio recordings.
Sources: ntv.de, lpe/spot
- Sexual Harassment in Hollywood
- Celebrity Legal Drama
- High-Stakes Trials
Extra Facts for Enthusiasts:
- The legal battle's base lies in claims of sexual harassment and retaliation by Blake Lively against Justin Baldoni. Likewise, Baldoni has countered with accusations of defamation and civil extortion against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and their inner circle [1][2].
- One of the key points of contention is a series of text messages between Baldoni and his team, which were obtained through a subpoena. Baldoni's team is questioning the legal validity of this subpoena [3].
- A female crew member has made fresh allegations against Blake Lively, claiming Lively exploited Justin Baldoni's kindness during the filming of "It Ends With Us" [4].
- Stephanie Jones, Justin Baldoni's former PR representative, is another notable figure in this saga, having shared private messages with Lively, which are central to the lawsuit [5].
- Blake Lively's legal representative, Mike Gottlieb, confirmed that Lively will testify under oath and may "whatsapp" crucial information to strengthen her claims against Justin Baldoni during the trial.
- Justin Baldoni's team has emphasized that other celebrities like Taylor Swift and Hugh Jackman might serve as witnesses, but Gottlieb believes these figures are irrelevant and that the case centers around allegations of sexual harassment on the set of "It Ends with Us."
- Despite the potential involvement of several high-profile figures, there's speculation that Blake Lively's husband, Ryan Reynolds, will not testify, as his name has been named in Baldoni's countersuit, with legal efforts being made to have his name removed from the proceedings.
