The legal battle between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni's legal teams has escalated, with new filings over what the jury will hear. At the forefront of the dispute are claims regarding Baldoni's alleged comments on Lively's weight, which have been brought up in connection with the upcoming trial for the production of 'It Ends With Us.'
In a motion filed on April 10th, lawyers representing Wayfarer Studios, co-founded by Baldoni, requested that the judge block these claims, arguing that they are "irrelevant" to the narrowed case and would "only serve to inflame the jury and cause unfair prejudice." This move follows an April 2nd ruling by Lewis J. Liman, who dismissed 10 of Lively's 13 claims against Wayfarer, including those related to sexual harassment. Although Baldoni is no longer a defendant on those dismissed claims, Wayfarer remains as a defendant in the case.
The ruling has narrowed the scope of the trial and is central to the current fight over what evidence jurors should hear. Wayfarer lawyers argue that the case now centers on Lively's allegations of retaliation tied to an alleged smear campaign, not workplace harassment, and that the weight-related claims would "distract from the issues the jury must decide."
Lively's team, however, pushed back in an April 17th filing, arguing that the jury should hear the allegations because they provide "necessary context" for her retaliation claims. The actress' lawyers say that the alleged comments are "part of the same course of conduct" and "bear directly on the reasonableness of her belief" that she was opposing inappropriate behavior. They also argue that the evidence is relevant to her retaliation claims, even if it is not being pursued as a standalone harassment allegation.
The dispute stems from a meeting between Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds with Baldoni on April 25th, 2023 at their New York City penthouse. In her December 2024 complaint, Lively alleged that Baldoni engaged in "back-channel ways of criticizing her body and weight" during production of 'It Ends With Us,' including contacting her fitness trainer without her knowledge and suggesting she lose weight within a short timeframe.
In response, Baldoni's attorneys disputed Lively's account, saying he contacted the 'Gossip Girl' alum's trainer only to understand her weight so he could safely prepare for a lift scene, citing his history of back issues and intent to avoid injury. The actor-director also alleged that Reynolds confronted him during that meeting over comments about Lively's weight, describing the exchange as heated and accusing Baldoni of "fat-shaming" his wife, prompting him to apologize.
The recent filings are part of a broader effort by both sides to shape what evidence will be presented to the jury. Beyond the weight-related dispute, both sides are also fighting over additional evidence ahead of trial. Wayfarer Studios is seeking to block testimony from seven women and prior misconduct allegations involving Baldoni, while the defense is asking the court to exclude evidence tied to Lively's alleged smear campaign claims, including materials involving crisis publicist Melissa Nathan and strategist Jed Wallace, as well as emails and text messages Lively cites to support her case.
Lively's team has pointed to statements by Wayfarer financier Steve Sarowitz, including an alleged remark that he was willing to spend "$100 million to ruin the lives" of Lively and Reynolds, which Baldoni's side argues should be excluded as irrelevant. Lively is seeking up to $300 million in damages and is also asking the court to bar any mention of her and Reynolds' net worth. The actress is also seeking to limit testimony around a viral interview and "mean girl" claims, which Lively's team has called irrelevant.
A final pretrial hearing is set for April 28th, where the judge may address the outstanding evidentiary disputes. The trial is scheduled to begin on May 18th in New York City.
