Actors Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively are currently embroiled in a legal battle over allegations of sexual harassment and defamation related to their film, It Ends With Us.
Lively filed a complaint against Baldoni in December, accusing him of sexual harassment and orchestrating a smear campaign against her. Baldoni, in turn, denied these claims and countersued Lively on multiple grounds, including defamation.
The pretrial meeting at federal court in Manhattan saw both actors’ lawyers engaging in heated exchanges, with accusations of badmouthing each other’s clients outside of court. Lively’s attorney, Michael Gottlieb, emphasized the importance of resolving the case in court rather than through media channels.
Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, defended his client and highlighted the financial and emotional toll the allegations have taken on Baldoni. The dispute has gained public attention, with rumors of a feud between the two actors circulating even before the film’s release.
The legal proceedings have garnered significant interest, with Judge Liman cautioning against litigating the case in the press to avoid biasing potential jurors. Both parties have filed amended complaints, with Baldoni releasing a detailed timeline of events and launching a website containing evidence related to the case.
The courtroom drama involves other parties, including the New York Times and public relations firms associated with the actors.
Judge Liman indicated that these matters would be addressed in separate trials following Baldoni and Lively’s case. The judge also stressed the need for a protective order given the high-profile nature of the individuals involved and the serious allegations at stake.
