Actress Blake Lively seeks to dismiss two allegations against Justin Baldoni.
Sparking Controversy Once Again: Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni's Feud Heats Up
The drama between American actress Blake Lively (37) and her former co-star Justin Baldoni (41) is back in the headlines. Reports flying across the U.S. reveal a twist in their long-standing feud—Lively is planning to drop two of her accusations against Baldoni. According to industry magazine "Variety," these accusations include alleged actions causing "intentional infliction of emotional distress" and "negligent infliction of emotional distress."
Baldoni's squad has upped the ante by demanding medical records to protect their client from Lively's claims of inflicting "severe emotional distress and pain." The records requested include therapy notes and other personal data. In response, Lively's legal eagles, Mike Gottlieb and Esra Hudson, have informed Baldoni's team that the actress intends to scrap those allegations.
Gottlieb and Hudson argue that the request for medical records is simply a publicity stunt from the opposing side, seeking to "create a media frenzy" and "draw attention away" from the case's core issues. Moreover, they maintain that emotional distress will continue to be tackled within the context of other claims in the lawsuit. Baldoni's team has not issued a comment regarding this allegation as of yet.
Rewind the Tape
The court is set to decide on the matter, and this isn't the first time medical records have come into play in such disputes within the U.S. entertainment industry. Lively's unpleasant encounter with Baldoni began during the filming of "It Ends with Us," where they shared the screen and Baldoni also took on the director's role. The movie released theaters in the summer of 2024, and in December, Lively lodged a complaint with the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, accusing Baldoni of sexual harassment, a suspected smear campaign, breach of contract, and infliction of emotional distress. Baldoni refutes these allegations and fired back with a $400 million defamation and extortion lawsuit against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds (48), and their PR team. The trial is scheduled for March 2026.
The Enrichment Factor
The ongoing feud between Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni, Ryan Reynolds, and their respective teams involves accusations of sexual harassment, emotional distress, defamation, and extortion. Here's a quick recap of the background, legal actions, and recent developments:
Backdrop
- Lively and Baldoni first clashed on the set of the movie adaptation of Colleen Hoover's novel "It Ends With Us." In late 2024, Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment, breach of contract, infliction of emotional distress, and invasion of privacy.
Legal Shrapnel
- Lively filed her complaint in December 2024, including claims of emotional distress. These claims were later withdrawn, and she is barred from presenting evidence on emotional distress at trial unless she refiles the claims.
- Baldoni denied all accusations and filed a $400 million defamation and extortion lawsuit against Lively, Reynolds, and their PR team. He claimed that Lively attempted to intimidate him by using her high-profile connections like Reynolds and Taylor Swift.
Fresh Developments
- Lively's withdrawal of emotional distress claims was recently approved by U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman, meaning she can't present evidence on this matter at trial unless the claims are refiled.
- Although Taylor Swift was initially subpoenaed by Baldoni, she was eventually dropped from the subpoena. Lively's friendship with Swift reportedly remains unscathed.
This legal battle underscores the complex web of charges and countercharges common in the entertainment industry, involving key players and legal warriors. Buckle up, folks—the trial is just around the corner!
In the midst of the ongoing legal battle between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, the recent news about Lively's plans to drop accusations of emotional distress against Baldoni has sparked discussions about the role of celebrities and entertainment industry disputes. The requested medical records, which include therapy notes and personal data, are seen as a potential tactic to 'create a media frenzy' and 'draw attention away' from the case's core issues, as argued by Lively's legal team.
