Movies

Blake Lively Demands Enhanced Protection Amid Legal Battle with Justin Baldoni

BBG News

In the context of an ongoing legal dispute with my co-star and director, Justin Baldoni, from our project “It Ends With Us,” I, Blake Lively, have appealed to a judge for a more robust protective order due to the influx of ‘aggressive’ communications I’ve been receiving.

After the former Gossip Girl star, aged 37, submitted an updated complaint on Tuesday, she asserted that two additional actresses from the film are preparing to corroborate her accusations against the actor, aged 41, by offering supporting evidence.

In December 2024, she alleged that Justin had sexually assaulted her and started a defamatory campaign against her. In response, he initiated a lawsuit for $400 million against her, her spouse Ryan Reynolds, and their publicist Leslie Sloane.

On a Thursday, Blake and her spouse, Ryan Reynolds, sent a letter to Judge Lewis J. Liman in New York City for extra protective measures, as reported by People.

Initially, both Baldoni and Lively consented to a safety agreement known as a Protective Order (PO). However, the actress has since requested an enhanced level of protection rather than the standard court-ordered model.

In their correspondence, the newly featured duo on the SNL 50th anniversary show have specifically asked for a confidential section labeled ‘For Legal Eyes Only’ or simply ‘LEO’.

It pertains to materials of an extremely private, delicate, or secretive nature in the realm of ‘Confidential Discovery’, disclosure of which could potentially harm one’s competitive position, business operations, financial status, personal interests, or privacy.

The lawyers representing Blake and Ryan argued that the court should accept the proposed Probation Order, as there are compelling reasons in favor of it, and they supported this argument by citing Blake’s recent changes to his initial complaint.

According to Ms. Lively’s revised lawsuit, Ms. Lively, her relatives, fellow actors, eyewitnesses providing facts, and public figures who have voiced their support for Ms. Lively have been subjected to abusive, vulgar, misogynistic, and threatening messages.

In response to Blake’s recent petition for a protective order, Justin’s legal representatives issued a statement expressing that they do not support or encourage any harmful speech directed at anyone, regardless of the circumstances.

They also alleged to have received similar communications amid the ongoing lawsuit. 

It’s unacceptable for anyone to receive threatening or violent messages from unknown sources, as stated further by his team.

When Lively and her hired team falsely accused private parties of misconduct, these individuals were subjected to persistent death threats and home visits, particularly at residences with minor children present.

It’s unfair for anyone to encounter such situations, but it’s particularly challenging for those without the resources for personal security.

In the month of December, Blake initiated her lawsuit against not only Baldoni but also Jamey Heath (the producer), Steve Sarowitz (co-founder of Wayfarer Studios), crisis management expert Melissa Nathan, Jed Wallace, and Jennifer Abel (his publicist).

As a loyal supporter, I find myself involved in two lawsuits just like Justin. The first one, worth $400 million, is against Lively. The second one, also involving a hefty sum of $250 million, is a libel lawsuit aimed at the New York Times. This legal action was initiated after the newspaper published information regarding Lively’s accusations.

On Tuesday, Blake made changes to her original claim and asserted that two actresses from the movie “It Ends With Us” would offer supplementary evidence to bolster her own accusations.

As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, actress Jenny Slate (known for her portrayal of Allysa in the film version of Colleen Hoover’s book) has filed a grievance directed at Jamey Heath, CEO of Wayfarer Studios.

However, in her amended documents, Blake notably did not reference Slate by name. 

In New York City, during the filming of “It Ends With Us,” there were reports that Slate discussed with Heath about her discontent towards the apartment she was leasing.

Jenny, a mother of a 4-year-old, shared that the current place wasn’t suitable anymore, yet she was struggling to locate another home because she had previously invested a $15,000 deposit.

It is said that Health was planning to refund the actress’s forfeited deposit from Wayfarer Studios, enabling her to secure a new residence.

However, Slate asserted that his language caused her disquiet, and reports suggested he emphasized significantly on the sacredness of motherhood and Slate’s role as a parent.

After the reported incident, Jenny submitted a grievance directly to Sony, who is responsible for distributing ‘It Ends With Us’.

According to a different source, The Hollywood Reporter learned that Jamey remembers their conversation to be quite distinct from how Slate remembers it.

He’s mentioned that the production company provided help, but subsequently turned it into a weapon used against them.

On Tuesday evening, Lively submitted a revised lawsuit, asserting that not only she but also the two actresses working alongside her in “It Ends With Us” faced discomfort due to the film’s director and co-star.

As reported by a representative from Blake, the grievance deliberately omits mentioning the potential victim-witnesses and excludes their messages or images (such as texts or screenshots) to uphold their confidentiality.

Essentially, the spokesperson noted that the individuals identified as victim-witnesses have granted Ms. Lively authorization to include their correspondence within the Amended Complaint, as presented. Moreover, these individuals are prepared to offer testimony and submit relevant documents during the discovery phase.

The grievance reportedly includes substantial evidence from the same time period indicating that Blake wasn’t the only one making accusations of misbehavior on set, and there is support verifying her initial allegations.

Additionally, it is said to provide ‘evidence outlining the dangers, bullying, and intimidation’ experienced not only by Blake, but also ‘several uninvolved onlookers.’

In the previous month, a court date was set for the trials involving multiple lawsuits, which is now scheduled for March 2026. Both parties have opted against pursuing any form of mediation beforehand.

Simultaneously, Bryan Freedman, Justin’s attorney, stated that these accusations have caused Justin a significant loss of projects.

At the SNL50 anniversary special over the weekend, Blake and her spouse Ryan Reynolds – who will face trial with Baldoni next year in March – seemed to joke about the situation as they made their return to the limelight.

During a part of the show where celebrities asked questions, Ryan, aged 48, subtly referred to the ongoing legal disputes. Tina Fey and Amy Poehler initiated the conversation by inquiring, “How are things going for you?

‘Terrific. What’s the news you’re sharing?’ The Deadpool actor replied anxiously, rubbing his hands together.

Later, insiders shared with DailyMail.com that certain guests at the SNL anniversary event felt ‘nervous’ or ‘uneasy’ about conversing with the high-profile duo.

On Thursday as well, Leslie Sloane, the publicist for both Blake and Ryan, requested to be taken out of Baldoni’s $400 million lawsuit.

In court records acquired by DailyMail.com, Sigrid McCawley, her attorney, submitted a request to throw out the case in the state of New York.

McCawley argued that Sloane was drawn unwillingly into the legal dispute, which served as a deceptive tactic or smokescreen meant to divert attention away from their own instances of sexual harassment and systematic retribution.

The declaration further clarified that there is no factual support for accusations suggesting that Sloane initiated a negative campaign against Baldoni, or deliberately spread malicious tales about the actor.

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2025-02-22 02:04

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