Blake Lively Justin Baldoni Legal Battle: What Most People Get Wrong

Hollywood usually keeps its skeletons in the closet, or at least behind a very expensive mahogany door. But the fallout from It Ends With Us hasn't just leaked; it's basically exploded into a courthouse. Honestly, the Blake Lively Justin Baldoni legal battle is less about a movie and more about a complete breakdown of professional trust between two of the industry's biggest players.

It started with whispers. You know the ones—why weren’t they standing together at the premiere? Why does nobody in the cast follow the director on Instagram?

Now, we aren't just looking at petty social media unfollows. We're looking at federal lawsuits, $160 million in damages, and some truly wild unsealed text messages that make the actual movie look like a peaceful walk in the park.

How It All Went South

The tension didn’t start at the premiere. It was brewing way back in 2023. According to court filings, the vibe on set was "brutal."

Lively eventually filed a formal complaint with the California Civil Rights Department in December 2024. She isn't just claiming they didn't get along; she’s alleging sexual harassment and a hostile work environment. Some of the details are pretty specific. She claims Baldoni ignored intimacy protocols, improvised unapproved physical contact—like biting her lip during a scene—and even discussed his "previous pornography addiction" in front of her.

Baldoni’s team, led by attorney Bryan Freedman, calls this "false, outrageous, and intentionally salacious." They argue that Lively is the one who "hijacked" the film.

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The "Trap" and the Body Double

Just recently, in January 2026, some unsealed texts gave us a peek into Baldoni’s headspace during filming. On December 30, 2023, he texted his agent at WME saying he felt like Lively was setting him up for a "trap."

The issue? Intimate scenes.

Baldoni claimed Lively refused to use a body double for sex scenes, but then rejected his storyboards and insisted on keeping both of them fully clothed. He felt like he couldn't win. If he pushed for the book's accuracy, he was the "bad guy." If he didn't, the movie suffered.

"She's refused a body double which now Sony and Todd have to jump in to make sure that happens because that's just setting me up for a trap," Baldoni wrote.

The $400 Million Counter-Strike

Early in 2025, Baldoni went on the offensive. He filed a massive $400 million lawsuit against Blake Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and their publicist. He basically accused them of civil extortion and a smear campaign designed to bury him.

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He claimed Reynolds "unloaded" on him in a "traumatic" meeting at their New York penthouse—which Lively reportedly calls "Buckingham Palace."

But here’s the kicker: The judge tossed it.

In June 2025, U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman dismissed Baldoni's countersuit. The judge found that Lively’s accusations were legally protected. While it was a huge win for the Lively-Reynolds camp, it didn't end the war. It just narrowed the battlefield.

The New York Times Factor

Baldoni didn't just sue the stars. He went after The New York Times for $250 million. He claimed they pushed a "vicious smear campaign" by using "cherry-picked" communications. That suit also bit the dust in early 2025.

It’s been a rough run for the director’s legal team, but they’re still digging in for the main event.

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What's Actually Happening in 2026?

We are currently in the "discovery" phase of Lively's original lawsuit against Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios. This is where things get messy.

• Depositions: Baldoni sat for a nine-hour deposition in October 2025. He apparently held a "prayer gathering" the night before because he knew it was going to be intense.
• The Swift Subpoena: Lively’s team actually tried to subpoena Scooter Braun to see if there were links to Baldoni’s PR counsel. It sounds like a plot from a thriller.
• The Trial Date: Mark your calendars for May 18, 2026. That’s when the Blake Lively Justin Baldoni legal battle officially heads to trial in front of a jury.

Why This Matters for Hollywood

This isn't just celebrity gossip. It’s a case study in power dynamics. On one side, you have a director-producer who owns the rights to the project. On the other, you have a global superstar with massive "creative control" and a husband who is basically a one-man marketing machine.

When two "alpha" creatives clash over the vision of a film—especially one about a topic as sensitive as domestic violence—the legal fallout is inevitable. Lively’s side says she was protecting herself from a toxic boss. Baldoni’s side says he was bullied out of his own movie by Hollywood royalty.

Actionable Insights: What to Watch For Next

As the May 2026 trial approaches, expect more unsealed documents. If you're following this, keep an eye on these three things:

1. The "17 Protections" Document: There is a written agreement from November 2023 where Baldoni supposedly agreed to a list of safety protocols for Lively. Whether he followed them or not will be the core of the trial.
2. The Testimony of the Supporting Cast: People like Jenny Slate and Brandon Sklenar have already been deposed. Their accounts of the "vibe" on set will likely determine who the jury believes.
3. The Financial Records: Since Lively is seeking $160 million for "wage loss" and emotional distress, the court will have to look at how this drama actually impacted her career earnings.

The reality is that nobody really "wins" here. Both reputations have taken a hit. But by the time the verdict comes in this summer, we'll finally know if the "Buckingham Palace" meetings were as traumatic as Baldoni claims, or if the set of It Ends With Us was as hostile as Lively alleges.