A Shift in Blake Lively's Legal Battle Against Justin Baldoni: Withdrawal of Two Charges
- Let 'er rip, buddy!
She intends to retract two of the charges she levied - Defendant decides to dismiss two of the accusations.
The on-going feud between actress Blake Lively and her former co-star, Justin Baldoni, takes another unexpected turn as Lively ponders retracting two charges against the actor and director. According to "Variety", the charges up for reconsideration are "intentional infliction of emotional distress" and "negligent infliction of emotional distress."
Baldoni's legal team has demanded access to Lively's medical records to counter the allegations of causing "severe emotional distress and pain." The documents requested include therapy notes and other related records. In a twist, Lively's lawyers have reached out to Baldoni's team to communicate her intent to withdraw these charges, citing them as a publicity stunt.
The lawyers for Lively, Mike Gottlieb and Esra Hudson, stated that the request for medical records is nothing more than a ploy and that the focus for the lawsuit remains the same, emotional distress just being addressed in other parts of the case. Baldoni's team has chosen to keep tight-lipped regarding the claims.
The Bitter Past: Rebooting a Saga
The judge will now decide on this matter. In the U.S., such requests for medical records are common in cases involving emotional distress charges. Lively and Baldoni's legal dispute is now linked to six ongoing lawsuits.
The conflict originated during the filming of "It Ends with Us," in which Lively and Baldoni played lead roles, with Baldoni directing. The film hit theaters in the summer of 2024, and Lively filed a complaint with the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing in December. She then followed up with a lawsuit alleging sexual harassment and a suspected smear campaign. Baldoni denies these allegations and countered with a $400 million lawsuit, accusing Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, of defamation and extortion. The trial is set for March 2026.
- Blake Lively
- Justin Baldoni
- Legal Tussle
A Peek at the Past:
While the legal dispute between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni began with their work on the film "It Ends With Us," here's a quick recap of the key events and allegations:
Earlier Events
- Sexual Harassment Charges: Lively sued Baldoni in January 2025, claiming sexual harassment on set and accusing him of orchestrating a smear campaign to tarnish her reputation.
- Defamation and Extortion Accusations: Baldoni countered with a $400 million lawsuit against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, alleging defamation and extortion.
- Smear Campaign: Lively accused Baldoni of intentionally damaging her reputation in response to the sexual harassment allegations.
Recent Developments
- Emotional Distress Claims Redacted: Lively has recently withdrawn her emotional distress claims, focusing the lawsuit on other aspects.
- Financial Records Request: Lively’s team has demanded financial records from Baldoni and Wayfairy Studios to back up the high countersuit amount of $400 million.
- Taylor Swift's Involvement: Initially, Taylor Swift was subpoenaed to testify in the case due to her involvement with the film’s music. But Baldoni's team withdrew the subpoena later.
The drama continues to unfold as both parties prepare for the upcoming trial.
- Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, two prominent celebrities in the entertainment industry, find themselves embroiled in a lengthy legal tussle that began with their collaboration on the film "It Ends with Us."
- In a surprising twist, Blake Lively has decided to withdraw two charges against Justin Baldoni, alleging the moves as a publicity stunt, thereby shifting the focus of the lawsuit to other aspects.
