The ongoing legal disputes between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni are set to escalate in early 2024, with the co-stars of It Ends With Us preparing to meet in court soon. A federal judge is scheduled to hear arguments regarding a gag order request as early as next week.
Both lawsuits in the case of Lively v. Wayfarer Studios were consolidated on Monday in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, where the trial is expected to commence on March 9, 2026. Additionally, a preliminary hearing originally set for February 12 to discuss Lively’s gag order request has been moved up to February 3.
Lively’s breach-of-contract lawsuit, which also targets Baldoni’s production company, Wayfarer Studios, along with his PR representatives Melissa Nathan and Jennifer Abel, was filed on New Year’s Eve shortly after Baldoni and his team filed a $250 million lawsuit against The New York Times for what they termed “defamatory” reporting concerning Lively’s December 20 sexual harassment complaint.
In her lawsuit, Lively accuses Baldoni of sexual harassment and conducting a smear campaign in retaliation for her speaking out about misconduct. Baldoni has countersued Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and their publicist Leslie Sloane, alleging defamation and extortion.
Legal representatives for Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios, and other co-defendants have not yet commented on TheWrap’s request for insights regarding this matter.
Lively’s accusations against Baldoni include sexual harassment, an “unconscionable” smear campaign, and breach of contract following a January 4 meeting where both parties agreed to cease “harassing behavior and other disturbing conduct.”
The lawsuit provides a detailed account of this meeting, which included Reynolds attending as Lively’s representative. The meeting was described as an “all-hands” initiative convened in New York to address the hostile work environment that nearly derailed the production of It Ends With Us.
The suit claims multiple causes of action including retaliation, aiding and abetting harassment, intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress, and false light invasion of privacy. Lively, through her filing made on Tuesday, demands a jury trial and asserts her right to seek punitive and exemplary damages in an amount to be determined at trial.
The news about the legal battle between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni marks a significant moment in the entertainment industry, particularly in relation to ongoing discussions about workplace conduct. For more updates, follow the full story on TheWrap.
