Justin Baldoni breaks silence after legal battle with Blake Lively
Actor Justin Baldoni and his wife, Emily Baldoni, have spoken publicly for the first time following the conclusion of their lengthy legal dispute with actress Blake Lively, describing the emotional toll the case had on their family.
The legal battle stemmed from the 2024 film It Ends With Us. Lively alleged that Baldoni sexually harassed her during production and later orchestrated a retaliatory smear campaign against her. In May, both sides reached a settlement, bringing the case to an end.
Speaking in a video shared on Instagram this week, Baldoni reflected on the difficult period, saying there had been “many painful things” said over the past two years.
A judge dismissed Lively’s sexual harassment claims, while the parties settled the remaining allegations relating to retaliation. Lively has maintained that the case underscored the importance of ensuring respectful treatment in the workplace.
In the nearly five-minute video, Justin and Emily Baldoni appeared relaxed as they spoke about their experiences and the decision to finally address the matter publicly.
“We haven’t spoken publicly for almost two years, not because we had nothing to say,” Baldoni said. “We certainly did.”
Emily Baldoni said the family had endured significant emotional hardship, making it difficult to speak about the situation.
“There has been a lot of trauma for us to work through as a family,” she said, adding that the conclusion of the legal proceedings made it the right time to share their perspective.
She also said she believed “the truth and the facts have spoken for themselves” and reflected on how difficult it had been to understand how the dispute unfolded.
Lively filed her lawsuit against Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios, in December 2024.
In response, Baldoni filed a $400 million defamation and extortion lawsuit against Lively and her husband, actor Ryan Reynolds.
US District Judge Lewis Liman later dismissed 10 of the 13 claims brought by Lively, ruling that she could not pursue several of them, including sexual harassment, under the Civil Rights Act because she was an independent contractor rather than an employee. The judge also dismissed Baldoni’s counterclaim in its entirety.
The two sides eventually settled the remaining claims, including allegations of breach of contract and retaliation, shortly before the civil trial was due to begin in New York.
Following the settlement, Lively said filing the lawsuit had been “the last thing” she wanted but maintained that she pursued the case because of what she described as ongoing retaliation after requesting a safe working environment.
The BBC has contacted Lively’s legal representatives for comment.
In their video, the Baldonis expressed appreciation for the support they had received throughout the ordeal.
Emily Baldoni said they were deeply grateful to everyone who had stood by them, while Justin Baldoni added that their family was healing and feeling surrounded by love.
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