Justin Baldoni Speaks Out on Blake Lively Legal Battle: ‘There Have Been so Many Painful Things That Have Been Spoken Into Existence’
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- Justin Baldoni and his wife Emily posted an Instagram video on Wednesday — their first public remarks in nearly two years — framing the moment around gratitude and saying 'gratitude has saved us' during the legal fight with Blake Lively.
- Baldoni explained his prolonged silence by saying the plan had been to 'let the justice system run its course' and avoid 'add[ing] to the noise,' but that 'there have been so many painful things spoken into existence' requiring a response now.
- Lively alleged in December 2024 that Baldoni sexually harassed her and orchestrated an online smear campaign while she filmed 'It Ends with Us,' the 2024 drama Baldoni directed and co-starred in.
- Wayfarer Studios filed a $400 million defamation suit against Lively and Ryan Reynolds accusing her of weaponizing sexual-assault allegations to seize control of the film; a judge dismissed it, ruling her accusations were protected by litigation privilege.
- Lively dropped her own lawsuit and settled with Baldoni and Wayfarer just before the May trial — no cash exchanged hands — and is now seeking $7.5 million in attorney fees from Baldoni and Wayfarer.
Why it matters: The video lands as Lively is actively pursuing $7.5 million in fees from Baldoni and Wayfarer after a judge already dismissed his $400 million counter-suit, meaning his legal exposure remains despite the settlement. By choosing a gratitude-forward message instead of new counter-allegations, Baldoni signals he wants to shape public sentiment without adding fuel that could complicate the fee fight.
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