Justin Baldoni Is 'Devastated Financially and Emotionally' by Blake Lively Legal Battle, Says His Lawyer

Mar. 15, 2025

Justin Baldoni in 2024.Photo:Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty

Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty

Justin Baldoniis “devastated” over his legal battle withIt Ends With UscostarBlake Lively, according to his lawyer.During a Monday, Feb. 3pre-trial conferencehashing out Lively’s prospectiverequest for a gag orderamid lawsuits from both sides, Baldoni’s attorney Bryan Freedman provided insight into current circumstances for Baldoni and his associates.Freedman said his “clients are devastated financially and emotionally.” In addition to Baldoni, Freedman’s clients includeIt Ends With UsproducersJamey Heathand Steve Sarowitz, their production company Wayfarer Studios and publicists Melissa Nathan and Jennifer Abel.Additionally, Freedman said at one point, “Not to sound like a 4-year-old fighting a 4-year-old with ‘they started it,’ but in these kinds of cases, once someone says something it becomes fact: There’s no way to fight against it.“Baldoni, on Jan. 16, countered with alawsuitagainst Lively, 37, her husbandRyan Reynoldsand their publicists. That $400 million lawsuit, accusing Lively’s side of civil extortion, defamation and more, followed Lively’s bombshellcomplaintagainst Baldoni, alleging sexual harassmentand a retaliatory smear campaign against her. Baldoni’s team alsosuedThe New York Timesover anarticlereporting on Lively’s complaint.Blake Lively; Justin Baldoni.Gotham/GC Images; SplashNewsIn her complaint, Lively said Baldoni’s alleged behavior both while making the movie and during its promotion caused her “grief, fear, trauma and extreme anxiety.” She is seeking unspecified damages for “intentional infliction of emotional distress” and “interference” in her businesses, including Blake Brown haircare company, per the filing.In a statement to theTimeson Dec. 20, theGossip Girlalum said, “I hope that my legal action helps pull back the curtain on these sinister retaliatory tactics to harm people who speak up about misconduct and helps protect others who may be targeted.“Arguing for any potential gag order to be denied, Baldoni’s lawyers previouslysaid in a letterto the judge that he and his Wayfarer Studios associates have been “exiled from polite society and suffered damages totaling hundreds of millions of dollars” following the release of her complaint. Baldoni faced “utterly calamitous” fallout, it continued, and the associates “instantly became objects of public scorn and contempt.“In an article reporting onPac-Man, one of Baldoni’s upcoming projects with Wayfarer Studios, sources close to the filmmaker toldThe Hollywood Reporterhe has “lost three jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars.”Justin Baldoni Dec. 4, 2024.Araya Doheny/Variety via GettyNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.TheLively v. Wayfarer Studios et al.case is nowscheduled forMarch 2026. At the pre-trial conference, New York Judge Lewis Liman warned both legal teams to refrain from making statements to the press that could influence a jury.“We are pleased with the result of today’s hearing and eager to move forward immediately with discovery in this case,” said Lively’s attorneys, Michael Gottlieb and Esra Hudson, in a statement. “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.”Baldoni’s lawyers have leaked to the pressvideo footagefrom theIt Ends With Usset andlaunched a website,thelawsuitinfo.com, linking to his legal documents.

Justin Baldoniis “devastated” over his legal battle withIt Ends With UscostarBlake Lively, according to his lawyer.

During a Monday, Feb. 3pre-trial conferencehashing out Lively’s prospectiverequest for a gag orderamid lawsuits from both sides, Baldoni’s attorney Bryan Freedman provided insight into current circumstances for Baldoni and his associates.

Freedman said his “clients are devastated financially and emotionally.” In addition to Baldoni, Freedman’s clients includeIt Ends With UsproducersJamey Heathand Steve Sarowitz, their production company Wayfarer Studios and publicists Melissa Nathan and Jennifer Abel.

Additionally, Freedman said at one point, “Not to sound like a 4-year-old fighting a 4-year-old with ‘they started it,’ but in these kinds of cases, once someone says something it becomes fact: There’s no way to fight against it.”

Baldoni, on Jan. 16, countered with alawsuitagainst Lively, 37, her husbandRyan Reynoldsand their publicists. That $400 million lawsuit, accusing Lively’s side of civil extortion, defamation and more, followed Lively’s bombshellcomplaintagainst Baldoni, alleging sexual harassmentand a retaliatory smear campaign against her. Baldoni’s team alsosuedThe New York Timesover anarticlereporting on Lively’s complaint.

Blake Lively; Justin Baldoni.Gotham/GC Images; SplashNews

Gotham/GC Images; SplashNews

In her complaint, Lively said Baldoni’s alleged behavior both while making the movie and during its promotion caused her “grief, fear, trauma and extreme anxiety.” She is seeking unspecified damages for “intentional infliction of emotional distress” and “interference” in her businesses, including Blake Brown haircare company, per the filing.

In a statement to theTimeson Dec. 20, theGossip Girlalum said, “I hope that my legal action helps pull back the curtain on these sinister retaliatory tactics to harm people who speak up about misconduct and helps protect others who may be targeted.”

Arguing for any potential gag order to be denied, Baldoni’s lawyers previouslysaid in a letterto the judge that he and his Wayfarer Studios associates have been “exiled from polite society and suffered damages totaling hundreds of millions of dollars” following the release of her complaint. Baldoni faced “utterly calamitous” fallout, it continued, and the associates “instantly became objects of public scorn and contempt.”

In an article reporting onPac-Man, one of Baldoni’s upcoming projects with Wayfarer Studios, sources close to the filmmaker toldThe Hollywood Reporterhe has “lost three jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars.”

Justin Baldoni Dec. 4, 2024.Araya Doheny/Variety via Getty

Araya Doheny/Variety via Getty

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

TheLively v. Wayfarer Studios et al.case is nowscheduled forMarch 2026. At the pre-trial conference, New York Judge Lewis Liman warned both legal teams to refrain from making statements to the press that could influence a jury.

“We are pleased with the result of today’s hearing and eager to move forward immediately with discovery in this case,” said Lively’s attorneys, Michael Gottlieb and Esra Hudson, in a statement. “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.”

Baldoni’s lawyers have leaked to the pressvideo footagefrom theIt Ends With Usset andlaunched a website,thelawsuitinfo.com, linking to his legal documents.

source: people.com