SUMMARY:

• Legal Battle: Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni are embroiled in a legal feud over their collaboration on the film It Ends With Us.
• Court Hearing: On February 3, 2025, U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman ordered both legal teams to comply with federal rules barring public statements that could prejudice the case.
• We think it is Legal Advantage Blake.

The legal battle between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni over the film It Ends With Us escalated in court on February 3, 2025. U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman ordered both legal teams to comply with federal rules barring public statements that could prejudice the case. Lively’s attorney, Michael Gottlieb, accused Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, of making inflammatory statements to the press, including accusations of bullying and launching a website with an editorialized narrative of the dispute. Freedman defended his actions as responses to Lively’s claims, which include allegations of sexual harassment and a smear campaign by Baldoni and his team. Baldoni, in turn, filed a $400 million lawsuit against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, for extortion and defamation.

The case has drawn attention to “astroturfing,” where publicists allegedly manipulate social media to sway public opinion. Lively claims the campaign against her has caused significant personal and professional harm. The trial is set for March 2026, with both sides preparing for extensive discovery. Judge Liman expressed reluctance to escalate the case into “satellite litigation” over press statements but warned he could move up the trial date if necessary. Both legal teams expressed satisfaction with the hearing’s outcome, with Lively’s attorneys vowing to hold the defendants accountable and prove her claims.

Blake‘s lawyers, Michael Gottlieb and Esra Hudson, reacted after court.

In a statement, they shared, “We are pleased with the result of today’s hearing and eager to move forward immediately with discovery in this case. The court granted our request that all attorneys in the matter actually follow the rule of law and not make any statements that could prejudice a jury. This case deals with serious allegations of sexual harassment and retaliation. We will hold the defendants accountable, and we are confident that once all the evidence is submitted in this matter, Ms. Lively will prevail.”

DETAILED ANALYSIS

The legal feud between actress Blake Lively and filmmaker Justin Baldoni, stemming from their collaboration on the film It Ends With Us, reached a critical point in court on February 3, 2025. U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman presided over the hearing, where he ordered both legal teams to adhere to federal court rules that prohibit attorneys from making public statements that could prejudice the case. This ruling came after Lively’s attorney, Michael Gottlieb, accused Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, of engaging in a media campaign that included inflammatory statements and the launch of a website presenting an editorialized narrative of the dispute.

Lively’s legal team argued that Freedman’s public comments, including accusations of bullying and claims of having “receipts” to prove his case, violated ethical guidelines and risked tainting public opinion. Gottlieb emphasized that they were not seeking a full gag order but rather compliance with existing rules on trial publicity. In response, Freedman defended his actions as necessary to counter Lively’s allegations, which he claimed were unfounded and damaging to Baldoni’s reputation. He also read out statements made by Lively’s team to the press, though Judge Liman noted that Freedman had gone further in his public remarks.

The dispute began when Lively filed a lawsuit in December 2024, accusing Baldoni, her co-star and director on It Ends With Us, of sexual harassment and orchestrating a smear campaign against her following the film’s release. She also named Baldoni’s production company, Wayfarer Studios, and several publicists in the suit, alleging that they engaged in “astroturfing”—a practice where publicists manipulate social media to sway public opinion. Lively claimed the campaign caused her significant emotional distress and harmed her family and business ventures.

Baldoni countered with a $400 million lawsuit against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, accusing them of extortion and defamation. He denied Lively’s allegations and insisted that the social media backlash against her was organic, not orchestrated by his team. Freedman, representing Baldoni, has repeatedly claimed that Lively and Reynolds used their influence to wrest control of the film during post-production, and he has leaked texts, voice memos, and videos to the press to dispute Lively’s version of events.

Judge Liman expressed reluctance to allow the case to devolve into “satellite litigation” over press statements but warned that he could move up the trial date if necessary to prevent further prejudice to potential jurors. The trial is currently scheduled for March 2026, with both sides preparing for extensive discovery. Freedman has already filed an amended complaint adding The New York Times as a defendant for its coverage of Lively’s allegations, while Lively’s team is considering adding new parties and claims to their complaint.

Outside the courtroom, Freedman expressed satisfaction with the hearing, stating that he was eager to prove Baldoni’s innocence. Meanwhile, Lively’s attorneys, Gottlieb and Esra Hudson, emphasized their commitment to holding the defendants accountable and expressed confidence that the evidence would vindicate Lively’s claims.

The case has drawn significant media attention, not only for the high-profile parties involved but also for its focus on issues like sexual harassment, retaliation, and the manipulation of public opinion through social media. As the legal battle continues, it underscores the complexities of navigating disputes in the entertainment industry, where public perception often plays a crucial role. Both sides appear determined to fight vigorously, setting the stage for a protracted and highly publicized courtroom showdown.