Justin Baldoni’s legal team claims Blake Lively is leveraging her fame to dictate where her deposition in their ongoing lawsuit will take place. The dispute adds another layer to their bitter legal battle over allegations of s*xual harassment and retaliation during the production of their film *It Ends With Us*.
Legal Teams Clash Over Deposition Location
Blake Lively requested her upcoming deposition be held at her lawyer’s office in New York City, citing fears of paparazzi ambushing her outside Baldoni’s legal team’s location. Baldoni’s lawyers rejected this, arguing there’s no proof of such a risk and noting the two offices are only a mile apart.
“Although Lively’s foot-stomping and use of her celebrity status may have enabled her to seize control of the film, which is the crux of this dispute, her counsel’s tantrum has no place in this Court,” Baldoni’s attorneys stated in court filings.
Lively’s team fired back, accusing Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, of trying to turn the deposition into a “spectacle.”
“Justin Baldoni’s lawyer has tried to make this matter a public spectacle at every turn, even proposing to sell tickets to a televised deposition at Madison Square Garden,” Lively’s representatives said. “This is a serious matter of sxual harassment and retaliation, and it deserves to be treated as such.”*
Background of the Legal Feud
The conflict stems from Lively’s December 2024 lawsuit accusing Baldoni of s*xual harassment on the set of *It Ends With Us*, which he directed and co-starred in. She also alleges he orchestrated a smear campaign against her through his PR team. Baldoni denied the claims and countersued Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, for defamation and extortion, accusing them of trying to take control of the film.
Key disputes include:
- Alleged Improvised Intimate Scenes: Lively claims Baldoni added unscripted physical interactions without an intimacy coordinator.
- Smear Campaign: Baldoni’s PR team allegedly targeted Lively’s public image after she reported misconduct.
- Creative Control: Baldoni alleges Lively excluded him from editing decisions and the film’s premiere.
Recent Developments in the Case
In June 2025, a judge dismissed Baldoni’s $400 million countersuit against Lively and Reynolds, as well as his $250 million defamation case against The New York Times for reporting on Lively’s allegations. However, the court allowed Baldoni access to Lively’s text messages with Taylor Swift, whom he accused Lively of pressuring for public support.
Lively withdrew her emotional distress claims but continues to pursue allegations of harassment and retaliation. The trial is set for March 2026.
Public and Industry Reactions
The case has drawn attention from women’s rights groups, with 19 organizations filing amicus briefs supporting Lively. Baldoni’s feminist advocacy, including a viral 2017 TED Talk, has come under scrutiny as his legal team challenges these briefs.
“Baldoni is now contradicting years of his own public persona,” Lively’s lawyers argued in court.
Meanwhile, It Ends With Us became a box-office hit, grossing $350 million globally despite the behind-the-scenes turmoil.
Also read: Ryan Reynolds Addresses Business Impact Amid Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni Legal Feud
Credits: Compiled from verified court filings, TMZ, Page Six, BBC, and Forbes reports.
