Emerging details from Blake Lively's deposition against Justin Baldoni are beginning to illuminate the contours of the controversy. Subsequent to her deposition in the ongoing legal battle with the actor-director, Lively's legal team has issued a clarifying statement concerning the July 31 proceeding, addressing the allegations that have surfaced in the tabloids. In a court motion dated August 4, accessed by E! News, Lively's attorneys accused Baldoni and his legal representatives of leaking information about the deposition, portraying media reports as sensationalized accounts that framed the event as a dramatic "face-off" between the costars of 'It Ends With Us'.
"The narrative that was meticulously woven suggested Ms. Lively necessitated an enormous entourage for her testimony," affirmed Lively's legal counsel in court documents, alleging that the leak was deliberately designed to create the misconception that only Baldoni and his attorney, Bryan Freedman, stood on their side. However, according to Lively's team, the truth was starkly contrasting. Alongside Baldoni and Freedman, other defendants cited in her lawsuit—encompassing Wayfarer Studios executives Jamey Heath and Steve Sarowitz, publicist Jennifer Abel, and crisis PR expert Melissa Nathan—were likewise present, flanked by their respective legal advisors.
In their motion, Lively's attorneys contended that the leak was orchestrated to create a "media frenzy" around her deposition. They further emphasized, "Ms. Lively embarked on this litigation with the express intent and desire to have her testimony heard within a formal legal process, guided by the stringent rules of evidence." E! News reached out to Baldoni's legal team for comment, but as of yet, no response has been forthcoming.
Lively has filed a lawsuit against Baldoni for alleged sexual harassment, accusing him of cultivating a hostile work environment during the filming of their 2024 movie. Baldoni has steadfastly denied these allegations. Earlier in June, his countersuit against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, was dismissed by a judge who deemed the filmmaker's claim of defamation by the couple as unfounded. Additionally, Lively is suing Wayfarer Studios, Nathan, and Abel for allegedly orchestrating a smear campaign against her in retaliation for voicing concerns about Baldoni's conduct. The defendants have categorically denied any intentions to tarnish Lively's reputation.
