Blake Lively vs. Justin Baldoni: Legal Battle Heats Up for 2025 Deposition

Introduction

The drama surrounding It Ends With Us isn’t just on-screen. Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, co-stars and key players in the 2024 blockbuster, are locked in a messy legal battle that’s spilling into 2025.

 Lively, 37, accuses Baldoni, 41, of sexual harassment and retaliation during filming, while Baldoni counters that Lively’s team orchestrated a smear campaign to tank his reputation (People, Jun 9, 2025).With Lively’s deposition set for July 17, 2025, this case is far from over, and it’s gripping Hollywood like a soap opera (Forbes, Jun 5, 2025).

 Why does this matter? The film grossed $350 million worldwide, but the off-screen feud exposes the darker side of Hollywood power struggles (Business Insider, Jun 10, 2025). Fans on X, like @drugproblem (Jan 4, 2025), are dissecting every move. Let’s break down the allegations, timeline, legal stakes, and what this means for both stars.

The Allegations: What Started This Feud?

Lively’s December 2024 complaint to the California Civil Rights Department accused Baldoni of sexual harassment on the It Ends With Us set, alleging he and producer Jamey Heath created a hostile work environment (ABC News, Jun 20, 2025). She claims Baldoni’s team launched a retaliatory smear campaign, leaking old interviews to paint her as unprofessional (The New York Times, Jun 9, 2025).

 Baldoni denies this, calling her claims “false” and filing a $400 million countersuit against Lively, Ryan Reynolds, and their publicist Leslie Sloane for defamation and extortion (Variety, Jun 10, 2025). Judge Lewis Liman dismissed Baldoni’s suit in June 2025, but Lively’s case heads to trial in March 2026 (Forbes, Jun 5, 2025).

• Why It Matters: Allegations of harassment and retaliation expose workplace issues in Hollywood, where power dynamics can silence complaints. The film’s domestic violence theme makes the accusations especially charged (BBC, Jun 10, 2025).

• How It’s Done: Lively’s team filed detailed complaints, citing texts and emails as evidence. Baldoni’s team responded with a website, thelawsuitinfo.com, sharing their “timeline of events” (The Cut, Jun 13, 2025).

• Mistake to Avoid: Publicly litigating via media, as both sides have done, risks jury bias. Judge Liman warned against this, citing the “Empire State rule” (Deadline, Jun 21, 2025).

• Consequences: Continued media leaks could derail the case or damage both stars’ careers, as seen with past Hollywood scandals like Harvey Weinstein’s (Vulture, Jun 19, 2025).

The Deposition: What’s Coming in July 2025?

Lively’s deposition is scheduled for July 17, 2025, where Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, plans to grill her under oath (People, Jul 8, 2025). Freedman says he’ll use texts, emails, and set footage to test her claims’ consistency (Forbes, Jun 5, 2025). 

Lively’s lawyer, Mike Gottlieb, insists she’s ready to testify, emphasizing her allegations are backed by “concrete facts” (Variety, Jan 7, 2025). This deposition could make or break either side’s case before the 2026 trial.

• Why It Matters: Depositions lock in testimony, and inconsistencies could weaken Lively’s claims or Baldoni’s defense. Public interest is high, with X posts like @JoshTBoswell (Apr 18, 2025) fueling speculation (Forbes, May 10, 2025).

• How It’s Done: Lively will answer questions under penalty of perjury, with Baldoni’s team presenting evidence like texts allegedly showing her team’s smear tactics (The Cut, Jun 13, 2025).

• Mistake to Avoid: Exaggerating or misrepresenting facts could discredit either party, as seen in Shattered Glass’s fabrication scandal (IMDb, 2003).

• Consequences: A weak deposition could lead to settlement pressure or public backlash, impacting their careers like Johnny Depp’s defamation case did (BBC, Jun 10, 2025).

Timeline of the Feud: How Did We Get Here?

The feud kicked off during It Ends With Us’s 2023 production. Lively, also an executive producer, clashed with Baldoni over creative control, with sources saying she rewrote scenes, like a rooftop sequence (Vulture, Jun 19, 2025).

Tensions boiled over during the August 2024 press tour, where Baldoni promoted solo, and Lively’s “tone-deaf” floral-themed marketing drew criticism (The Independent, Mar 21, 2025). By December 2024, Lively filed her harassment complaint, and Baldoni countered with lawsuits, including one against The New York Times, dismissed in June 2025 (ABC News, Jun 20, 2025).

• Why It Matters: The timeline shows escalating personal and professional conflicts, mirroring real-world Hollywood disputes like The Insider’s depiction of CBS’s tobacco exposé (IMDb, 1999).

• How It’s Done: Both sides use legal filings and media to shape narratives, with Baldoni’s team releasing a 168-page timeline (The Cut, Jun 13, 2025).

• Mistake to Avoid: Leaking selective evidence, like texts, can backfire if context is missing, as seen in Baldoni’s dismissed suit (MSNBC, Jun 10, 2025).

• Consequences: Missteps could sway public opinion, as with Lively’s criticized 2016 interview resurfacing (BBC, Jun 10, 2025).

Public Reaction and Media’s Role

Fans and media are eating this up. X posts, like @drugproblem’s thread (Jan 4, 2025), back Lively, while @estherckrakue (Feb 2, 2025) slams her as “a piece of work” (Forbes, Jun 5, 2025). The New York Times’ December 2024 article, “We Can Bury Anyone,” sparked Baldoni’s libel suit, dismissed for lack of evidence (NYT, Jun 9, 2025). Lively’s team subpoenaed publicists like Perez Hilton to prove Baldoni’s smear campaign (People, Jul 8, 2025). This public battle shapes perceptions, much like Spotlight showed the press’s power in exposing truth (IMDb, 2015).

• Why It Matters: Public sentiment drives celebrity careers. Lively’s 19 women’s rights group supporters boosted her case (Forbes, Jun 10, 2025).

• How It’s Done: Both sides use social media and press to rally support, with Baldoni’s website and Lively’s Instagram post (The Cut, Jun 13, 2025).

• Mistake to Avoid: Overplaying victimhood risks alienating fans, as seen with Lively’s backlash over “tone-deaf” comments (BBC, Jun 10, 2025).

• Consequences: Losing public trust could tank future projects, like It Ends With Us’s unlikely sequel (Forbes, Jun 5, 2025).

Legal Stakes: What’s at Risk in 2025?

Lively’s lawsuit alleges harassment, retaliation, and defamation, with a trial set for March 2026 (CNN, Jun 10, 2025). Baldoni’s dismissed $400 million suit leaves him fighting to clear his name, with plans to refile contract-related claims by June 23, 2025 (MSNBC, Jun 10, 2025). The deposition could reveal new evidence, like texts or footage, shaping the trial’s outcome (People, Jul 8, 2025). Hollywood watches closely, as the case tests accountability in high-stakes productions.

• Why It Matters: The outcome could set precedents for workplace harassment cases, like She Said’s Weinstein investigation (IMDb, 2022).

• How It’s Done: Lively’s team builds a fact-based case with witness testimony, while Baldoni’s pushes for transparency via public evidence (Variety, Jun 10, 2025).

• Mistake to Avoid: Ignoring discovery requests, like Lively’s medical records, could weaken her case (Forbes, Jun 5, 2025).

• Consequences: A loss could damage their reputations or finances, with Baldoni already claiming job losses (The Cut, Jun 13, 2025).

Hollywood’s Broader Impact

This feud highlights Hollywood’s power struggles and workplace issues. Lively’s claims echo #MeToo-era allegations, while Baldoni’s countersuit reflects pushback against accusers (Variety, Jan 25, 2025). The case, like The Bling Ring’s real-life Vanity Fair inspiration, shows how media amplifies drama (IMDb, 2013). X trends, like @FoxNews posts (Feb 2, 2025), keep the story alive, impacting both stars’ careers (Forbes, Jun 10, 2025).

• Why It Matters: High-profile cases shape industry standards, as seen in Spotlight’s impact on journalism ethics (IMDb, 2015).

• How It’s Done: Legal teams leverage media, but courts prioritize evidence, as in All the President’s Men (IMDb, 1976).

• Mistake to Avoid: Public posturing over facts risks legal setbacks, as Baldoni’s dismissed suit shows (NYT, Jun 9, 2025).

• Consequences: Industry-wide, a ruling could push for better set protections or fuel skepticism of harassment claims (The Independent, Mar 21, 2025).

FAQs

1. What did Blake Lively accuse Justin Baldoni of?
Lively claims Baldoni sexually harassed her on the It Ends With Us set and retaliated with a smear campaign after she spoke up (ABC News, Jun 20, 2025). Her 163-page amended complaint cites texts and other women’s concerns (Wikipedia, Jun 27, 2025). Baldoni denies this, calling it a “sham lawsuit” (Deadline, Jun 21, 2025).

2. Why was Baldoni’s lawsuit dismissed?
Judge Liman dismissed Baldoni’s $400 million suit for failing to prove defamation or extortion, citing Lively’s legally protected complaints (MSNBC, Jun 10, 2025). He can refile contract-related claims by June 23, 2025, but defamation claims are dead (NYT, Jun 9, 2025).

3. What’s the significance of Lively’s July 2025 deposition?
Lively’s July 17 deposition lets Baldoni’s team question her under oath, testing her claims with texts and footage (People, Jul 8, 2025). Inconsistencies could weaken her case, as seen in past celebrity trials like Depp’s (BBC, Jun 10, 2025).

4. How has the public reacted to the feud?
X posts show divided fans: @drugproblem supports Lively (Jan 4, 2025), while @estherckrakue backs Baldoni (Feb 2, 2025). Media coverage, like The New York Times’ article, fuels debate, but public opinion sways with each filing (Forbes, Jun 5, 2025).

5. Will this affect It Ends With Us’s legacy?
Likely. The film’s $350 million success is overshadowed by the feud, with no sequel expected (Business Insider, Jun 10, 2025). Author Colleen Hoover’s deleted posts signal distancing (Forbes, Jun 5, 2025).

Conclusion

Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni’s legal battle over It Ends With Us is a Hollywood showdown, with Lively’s July 17, 2025, deposition set to heat things up (People, Jul 8, 2025). From harassment allegations to dismissed countersuits, the case exposes the industry’s underbelly—power struggles, media wars, and workplace ethics (Variety, Jun 10, 2025). Fans are split, X is buzzing, and the March 2026 trial looms large. Will Lively’s testimony hold up, or will Baldoni’s evidence shift the narrative? Share your thoughts below—what’s the truth behind this feud?