Justin Baldoni’s Lawyer Slams Blake Lively as 'Elitist Manipulator'

Photo : AFP

The legal fight between It Ends With Us director Justin Baldoni and actress Blake Lively has become more serious. Baldoni’s lawyer has made strong claims against Lively, calling her an "elitist manipulator" and saying she is using the legal system for her own benefit.

The fight started when Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment in December. In response, Baldoni filed a countersuit against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and her publicist Leslie Sloane. Baldoni claimed they were trying to ruin his reputation with false accusations. He asked for $400 million in damages. Both sides have denied the claims made against them.

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Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, recently spoke out. He said Lively is misusing the court system to protect herself. He called her actions "disgraceful" and said she is twisting the law for her own advantage.

“Lively’s attempt to remove herself from the mess she created is a shameful use of the legal system,” Freedman said. “The law should not be controlled by rich and famous people for their personal gain.”

Lively’s legal team, led by attorneys Mike Gottlieb and Esra Hudson, defended her. They said Baldoni’s lawsuit was unfair and meant to scare Lively into silence. They argued that her motion to dismiss his countersuit was legal and valid. They also said Baldoni’s case went against California’s anti-SLAPP law, which protects people who speak out about harassment from being sued in return.

Lively’s lawyers claimed that Baldoni’s lawsuit was weak and had no real legal grounds. They called it a “misuse of the legal process.”

The fight took another turn when Baldoni’s team accused Lively of leaking private details from a complaint she filed with the California Civil Rights Department. They said she shared this information with the media to gain public sympathy while at the same time trying to block important evidence from being shared in court.

Baldoni’s lawyers also criticized Ryan Reynolds. They said Reynolds made fun of the legal fight during a recent SNL50 special. According to them, Reynolds and Lively were using their fame to control the public’s opinion and make the case seem less serious.

On the other hand, Lively’s lawyers said she and her team were facing threats and harassment because of the case. They asked the court to protect certain sensitive documents to keep them private, saying they were worried about safety and privacy.

The legal battle has also caused problems behind the scenes of the movie It Ends With Us. Sony Pictures, which produced the film, had to step in and calm the tension between Baldoni and Lively during filming. Reports say Sony gave more support to Lively than Baldoni, which made the situation worse.

The case is expected to go to trial in March 2026. Both sides are standing firm. Baldoni’s team says they will hold Lively responsible, while her lawyers say the lawsuit is just a way to silence her. The trial is likely to draw a lot of public attention and could have a big impact on how Hollywood handles legal fights over workplace issues.