Justin Baldoni’s team reignites feud with Blake Lively after surprise settlement

Justin Baldoni’s legal team has thrown fresh fuel on his bitter Hollywood row with Blake Lively.

They claimed that the 38-year-old actress was “scared” to take the stand before the case was settled.

The 42-year-old actor and director and Lively have been locked in a headline-grabbing legal dispute since December 2024, sparked after their collaboration on the 2024 drama It Ends With Us. 

The situation escalated quickly into a full-blown courtroom battle before both sides reached an out-of-court settlement on Monday.

However, just days after the deal was announced, Baldoni’s lawyer Bryan Freedman made explosive comments to TMZ, suggesting Gossip Girl actress backed down because she did not want to face cross-examination.

“Part of the reason Blake settled is because she was scared to take the witness stand at trial,” he said. 

“She did not want to face cross examination by anyone because that would require her to tell the truth.”

Lively had accused Jane the Virgin star, who both directed and starred opposite her in the film, of sexual harassment and alleged he co-ordinated a smear campaign against her. 

In response, Baldoni and his Wayfarer Studios filed a countersuit against A Simple Favor actress and her husband, actor Ryan Reynolds, alleging defamation and extortion.

Freedman also claimed that she “ended up with nothing”, questioning her public stance. 

He added: “If she’s doing this for survivors of sexual assault and sexual harassment and retaliation as she says, then why don’t you take the stand at trial and prove it?”

He went on to suggest a trial would have exposed inconsistencies in her claims.

Lively’s legal team quickly fired back, dismissing his remarks with a sharp retort: “I guess he’s no longer ‘ecstatic’ about the settlement.”

Despite the fiery exchanges, both sides have now confirmed the settlement and issued a joint statement praising the film and expressing hope for closure, professionalism, and a more respectful working environment moving forward.

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