Justin Baldoni Lawyer Reacts to Blake Lively’s Settlement “Victory”

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Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni disagree about who won their lengthy legal dispute.

Following the recent settlement between the stars of It Ends With Us, the legal team for the Gossip Girl actor released a statement regarding the agreement.

Blake Lively’s lawyers, Michael Gottlieb and Esra Hudson, announced on May 7th that the settlement was a significant win for their client. They stated that Justin Baldoni and all other defendants, by agreeing to the settlement and giving up any right to appeal, are now personally responsible for having misused the legal system to try and silence and scare Ms. Lively.

By acknowledging that Blake Lively’s concerns were valid, the defendants have definitively proven that she did not make up the allegations of sexual harassment and retaliation. Lively’s lawyers stated that her goal in suing Baldoni and his colleagues was to reveal and hold accountable those who use damaging rumors and lawsuits to scare and silence people who have experienced harassment – and she intends to continue pursuing that goal.

But Baldoni’s lawyer disagreed with the idea that the settlement favored Lively’s side.

Okay, so listen, this is HUGE! Baldoni totally won, like, completely! His lawyer, Bryan Freedman, said it himself – the court basically threw out almost everything Lively tried to accuse him of. Seriously, ten out of thirteen claims GONE – all the really nasty stuff about harassment and ruining his name? Dismissed! And get this – she dropped the rest herself! It’s a total victory for Baldoni and the Wayfarer parties, I knew he was being unfairly targeted! This proves everything!

According to Freeman, the defendants settled because they were likely to lose the case in court. The only remaining matter is a request for legal fees related to a minor point, which has been under consideration since September 2025.

Lively is planning to sue for damages. Court documents filed last year and reviewed by TopMob News show her lawyers are seeking reimbursement for legal fees, as well as triple the amount of any proven damages, and additional punitive damages.

TopMob obtained a settlement document showing that Lively and Baldoni’s Wayfarer Studios have resolved almost all issues in their legal dispute, with the exception of a motion filed in September. As part of the agreement, both parties have waived their right to appeal the decision.

The lawsuit between Lively and Baldoni was settled just weeks before it was scheduled to go to court. Lively initially filed the suit in 2024, claiming Baldoni sexually harassed her and created a difficult work atmosphere during the filming of the movie based on the book by Colleen Hoover. She also stated that Baldoni and those working with him retaliated after she reported the issues.

Baldoni refuted the claims made against him and, in January 2025, sued Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, alleging they deliberately damaged his reputation. However, the lawsuit was dismissed in June 2025 when the judge ruled that Baldoni hadn’t provided enough evidence to support his claims of defamation.

In April, a judge dismissed most of Lively’s accusations against Baldoni, including the claim of sexual harassment. However, Lively’s lawyers stated they still planned to proceed with a jury trial regarding claims of retaliation, assisting in retaliation, and a breach of contract.

For a full breakdown of Lively and Baldoni’s entire legal battle, keep reading.

Four months after the movie version of Colleen Hoover’s novel It Ends With Us came out, Blake Lively filed a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department (CRD) on December 20th, as reported by The New York Times. The complaint alleges misconduct by her co-star Justin Baldoni and several people connected to his production company, Wayfarer Studios.

The complaint, obtained by TopMob News, names Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios, its CEO Jamey Heath, cofounder Steve Sarowitz, Baldoni’s publicist Jennifer Abel and her company RWA Communications, crisis communications specialist Melissa Nathan and her company The Agency Group PR LLC (TAG), contractor Jed Wallace, and his company Street Relations Inc. as defendants.

Lively claims that Baldoni and his associates launched a coordinated public relations campaign to retaliate against her after she raised concerns about inappropriate behavior on set. She states that she and other members of the cast and crew experienced behavior from Baldoni and Heath that was invasive, unwelcome, unprofessional, and sexually inappropriate.

The actress asserts that this alleged campaign caused significant personal and professional damage.

The complaint details accusations of sexual harassment, retaliation, failure to address harassment, aiding and abetting harassment, breach of contract, intentional emotional distress, negligence, invasion of privacy, and interference with her career opportunities.

The following day, The New York Times reported on what it described as a campaign to discredit Lively, allegedly orchestrated by Baldoni and those working with him. The report referenced Lively’s complaint to the California Civil Rights Department (CRD) and included quotes from messages sent by Baldoni, his publicist Abel, and crisis communications specialist Nathan, all of which were part of the complaint. The New York Times also made the full court documents available on its website. Lively told the newspaper she hoped her lawsuit would expose these harmful tactics used against those who report wrongdoing, and protect others who might be targeted.

Following Blake Lively’s public complaint, Bryan Freedman, the lawyer representing Antonio Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios, strongly refuted her claims. In a statement to The New York Times, Freedman called Lively’s accusations “shameful” and “categorically false,” arguing they were a desperate attempt to repair her reputation after her own public statements and actions during the film’s promotion sparked negative online reactions. He described the claims as intentionally sensational and designed to harm Baldoni and Wayfarer.

Freedman also defended Wayfarer’s decision to hire a crisis manager, explaining that this happened before the film’s marketing campaign even began. He further stated that Wayfarer only responded to media inquiries and monitored social media to ensure accurate reporting, and that any internal discussions about potential scenarios were standard practice for public relations professionals. He emphasized that there was no evidence of any proactive attempts to retaliate or influence the narrative.

As a lifestyle and industry insider, I’ve been following the situation with director Justin Baldoni and it’s become quite public. Following the publication of a recent article, William Morris Endeavor (WME) decided to end their relationship with him, a move confirmed by Endeavor’s CEO, Ari Emanuel. There were rumors swirling that Blake Lively’s husband, Ryan Reynolds, played a part in this decision, which Baldoni later claimed in a lawsuit against The New York Times. However, WME has strongly denied those claims. They stated that Baldoni’s assertion that Reynolds pressured his agent at the Deadpool & Wolverine premiere is simply not true. In fact, his former representative wasn’t even at the premiere, and neither Reynolds nor Lively ever put any pressure on the agency to drop Baldoni as a client. It’s a messy situation, and it highlights how quickly things can change in this industry.

Following Blake Lively’s defamation lawsuit and a New York Times article detailing the allegations, several well-known figures publicly expressed their support. Colleen Hoover, author of “It Ends With Us,” shared a message on Instagram thanking Lively for her honesty, kindness, and patience, and encouraging others to read the Times article. Jenny Slate, who played a sister to Lively’s character, stated she stood with Lively, praising her as a leader and loyal friend. Slate described the reported attack on Lively as “terribly dark, disturbing, and wholly threatening,” and commended her bravery. Brandon Sklenar, who played a love interest in the film, shared the complaint from The New York Times with a plea for people to read it. Additionally, Lively’s “Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” co-stars – America Ferrera, Alexis Bledel, and Amber Tamblyn – announced their solidarity with her.

On December 23rd, Liz Plank announced she was leaving The Man Enough Podcast, which she co-hosted with Justin Baldoni and Heath. In an Instagram post, Plank thanked listeners for their trust and support, expressing her love for the community they built together over the past four years. While she didn’t state a reason for her departure, it followed accusations made against Baldoni and his colleagues by actress Florence Lively. Plank affirmed her commitment to the values the podcast represented and said she would share more information later. She concluded by stating her continued support for those who speak out against injustice and hold others accountable.

Stephanie Jones, a former publicist for actor Baldoni, and her agency, Jonesworks LLC, are suing Baldoni, his company Wayfarer, and current publicists Abel and Nathan in New York. The lawsuit, obtained by NBC News, claims Abel and Nathan secretly worked together for months to damage Jones and Jonesworks’ reputation, break contracts, and steal clients. According to the suit, they coordinated with Baldoni and Wayfarer to launch a negative media campaign against Baldoni’s co-star, then falsely blamed Jones for the campaign after using the crisis to create conflict between Jones and Baldoni. Abel previously worked at Jonesworks until last summer. The lawsuit further alleges that Abel and Nathan are now trying to deflect blame onto Jones as their own actions come to light, and are continuing to harm her professional reputation. Baldoni and Wayfarer, who are no longer clients of Jonesworks, are accused of breaking their contractual obligations and refusing to resolve the dispute through private arbitration. TopMob News has reached out to those named in the suit for comment.

According to a December 23rd report in Variety, Lively’s lawyers received the text messages published in The New York Times through a legal request to Jonesworks. Freedman, who represents Nathan, Abel, Baldoni, and those connected to Wayfarer, stated that none of his clients were asked to provide information in this case. He also plans to sue Jones for sharing messages from Abel’s phone with Lively’s legal team.

On December 31st, Baldoni, Wayfarer, Heath, Sarowitz, Nathan, TAG, Abel, RWA Communications, and Street Relations filed a $250 million lawsuit against The New York Times. The suit claims the newspaper falsely reported on their actions, alleging libel, invasion of privacy, fraud, and breach of contract.

The lawsuit stems from an article about accusations that the plaintiffs ran a smear campaign against someone after she raised concerns about potential misconduct. The plaintiffs deny these accusations, stating the Times based its reporting on unverified claims and selectively used messages, taking them out of context. They argue the Times relied heavily on the accuser’s version of events and ignored evidence that contradicted her claims.

The plaintiffs claim the accuser, not them, was the one who engaged in a calculated smear campaign. The New York Times stated it will strongly defend the lawsuit, asserting its reporting was thorough, responsible, and based on a review of thousands of documents, including accurately quoted text messages and emails.

That day, Lively filed a lawsuit in New York against Justin Baldoni, Wayfarer Entertainment, Heath, Sarowitz, the production company It Ends With Us Movie LLC, Nathan, Nathan’s company TAG, and Abel.

The lawsuit, details of which were obtained by TopMob News, alleges sexual harassment, retaliation, and a failure to address harassment. It also includes claims of breach of contract, intentional and negligent emotional distress, and invasion of privacy.

These allegations were initially outlined in a complaint Lively filed with the California Civil Rights Department (CRD) earlier in the month.

Regarding a lawsuit Baldoni and his colleagues filed against The New York Times (which did not name Lively as a defendant), Lively’s lawyers stated to TopMob that her claims remain unchanged. They argued that Baldoni’s lawsuit falsely suggests Lively’s CRD complaint was a tactic to avoid suing him directly, and that she never intended to pursue legal action. They pointed to the federal complaint she filed that same day as proof that this claim is inaccurate.

The plaintiffs in the lawsuit against The New York Times, led by Baldoni, have indicated they intend to pursue further legal action. Court documents reveal they believe others were also involved and that this won’t be their only lawsuit. In a January 2nd interview with NBC News, Baldoni and his attorney, Freedman, confirmed they definitely plan to sue Lively as well.

The controversy surrounding Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni continued to unfold online. Some social media users theorized that Lively’s husband, Ryan Reynolds, subtly referenced Baldoni in his upcoming film, Deadpool & Wolverine, through the character Nicepool.

Reynolds hasn’t addressed these rumors publicly, but Baldoni’s attorney, Freedman, did share his thoughts.

“If your wife experiences sexual harassment,” Freedman stated on The Megyn Kelly Show (posted on YouTube January 7th), “you don’t make jokes about it, especially not directed at the person involved. You take it seriously, file complaints through the proper channels, and follow legal procedures. You certainly don’t mock the situation or turn it into a joke.”

Lively’s legal team reports a continued stream of negative attacks against her since she filed her lawsuit. In a statement released on January 7th, they emphasized that the case, which involves serious allegations of sexual harassment and retaliation, is supported by solid evidence. They clarified it’s not a simple disagreement or a matter of differing opinions, but rather a case of unlawful retaliation against Lively for attempting to ensure a safe work environment on a film set. They claim Wayfarer and its associates are attempting to discredit her through coordinated attacks.

The lawyers also cautioned against common tactics used to deflect blame in cases of misconduct, such as blaming the victim or portraying the offender as the victim. They stressed that these methods downplay the seriousness of the allegations and that media statements won’t shield those responsible. They intend to fully pursue Lively’s claims through the legal process, reminding everyone that sexual harassment and retaliation are illegal in all workplaces.

Responding to Blake Lively’s accusations, Justin Baldoni’s lawyer, Freedman, stated to TopMob that it’s ironic Lively is claiming Baldoni misused the media, considering her team sent heavily edited documents to the New York Times before even filing the complaint. He further explained they are releasing evidence showing a pattern of bullying and threats aimed at taking control of the film, and that Lively has a history of using others to deliver threats and get her way. He claims they have proof to support these statements.

On January 16th, Heath Baldoni, Wayfarer, publicist Abel, crisis communication specialist Nathan, and the production company It Ends With Us Movie LLC filed a lawsuit against Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, Lively’s publicist Leslie Sloane, and Sloane’s firm, Vision PR.

The suit, obtained by TopMob News, alleges civil extortion, defamation, and invasion of privacy. Lively is specifically accused of violating an implied agreement to act in good faith, while both Lively and Reynolds are accused of interfering with business contracts and harming economic opportunities.

The plaintiffs deny Lively’s claims of sexual harassment and a retaliatory campaign against her. They claim Lively took control of the It Ends With Us movie promotion and, with the help of Reynolds, Sloane, and others, attempted to damage their reputations in the press following criticism of the film’s marketing. Lively maintains she followed Sony’s marketing plan.

The lawsuit alleges the defendants collaborated with The New York Times to publish a damaging and false news report, though the outlet defends its reporting.

In a statement to TopMob, Freedman stated that Blake Lively was either misinformed by her team or deliberately misrepresented the truth.

Lively’s lawyers have responded to a lawsuit filed against her, calling it a common tactic used by abusers. They claim Baldoni is attempting to portray Lively as the problem, alleging she took over creative control and caused issues with the cast – a strategy they identify as DARVO: Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim Offender.

According to Lively’s team, the evidence will demonstrate that others also had negative experiences with Baldoni and the production company, Wayfarer. They also state that Sony specifically asked Lively to oversee the final cut of the film, which ultimately proved successful.

Lively’s lawyers strongly criticized Baldoni’s reaction to her harassment allegations, accusing him of blaming her and focusing on her actions instead of addressing the abuse. They assert that this strategy is a desperate attempt to discredit her claims and will ultimately fail.

Lawyers for actor Justin Baldoni have released footage from the filming of It Ends With Us, arguing it proves he did not behave inappropriately, as claimed by his co-star, Blake Lively. They state the scene was meant to portray a developing romance and that both actors maintained a professional and respectful demeanor.

However, Lively’s lawyers disagree, asserting the video actually supports her claims. They say Baldoni’s actions were unscripted and taken without her prior consent or discussion. They point out that the video shows Lively visibly pulling away and requesting the actors simply have a conversation, and that her discomfort would be recognizable to anyone who has experienced inappropriate workplace conduct.

The couple asked the judge handling their case to restrict what Freedman—the lead lawyer for the opposing side—could say publicly, hoping to prevent unfair or inappropriate actions during the legal battle.

A seven-minute voice memo reportedly sent by director Baldoni to actress Lively during the filming of It Ends With Us was made public. In the memo, Baldoni seemed to discuss a rooftop scene Lively had revised and how those changes were brought to him in a meeting with Lively’s husband, Ryan Reynolds, and singer Taylor Swift. He told Lively, “We should all have friends like that, especially considering how incredibly creative you three are together.” Baldoni also appeared to apologize for not initially being enthusiastic about her script, admitting, “I messed up. I’m someone who will own up to and apologize for my mistakes.”

According to documents obtained by TopMob News, Stephen Baldoni has updated his legal claim filed in U.S. District Court. The original claim, filed on January 16th, was against Diana Lively, her colleagues Reynolds and Sloane, and Sloane’s public relations firm, Vision PR, Inc. The updated filing now also includes The New York Times.

Baldoni alleges that Lively and her team spent months working together to spread false information to The New York Times.

The filing claims the newspaper selectively presented and changed communications, removing important context and deliberately editing them to be misleading.

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve been following this case closely, and it’s become clear that transparency is a major focus for one side. Recently, the plaintiff launched a website to share details of the legal battle, including the official complaint and a breakdown of key events. Interestingly, this site also included what they claim are screenshots of text conversations between all parties involved. This move came shortly after their legal team announced plans to release all text messages related to the case. Their attorney told me in an interview that their goal is simple: to present all the evidence and let the public decide what really happened. It’s all about letting the ‘receipts’ – the actual evidence – speak for themselves.

Lively’s lawyers updated her lawsuit, stating that two other women who worked on the movie It Ends With Us also felt uneasy about Baldoni’s behavior on set.

The lawsuit, which TopMob News obtained, asserts that Lively wasn’t the only one to complain about Baldoni. It claims that these complaints, along with Lively’s, were recorded as they happened, starting in May 2023. Crucially, the lawsuit states that Baldoni admitted to receiving these complaints in writing at the time and was aware other women were also uncomfortable with his actions.

The updated lawsuit didn’t reveal the names of these two women, citing a hostile environment of threats and intimidation created by the defendants’ response to Lively’s claims.

Baldoni’s attorney, Freedman, responded by calling the lawsuit full of unreliable hearsay and suggested the unnamed women are now unwilling to support Lively’s allegations.

Following accusations by Baldoni that Sloane spread false and damaging rumors painting him as a “sexual predator,” and that Sloane organized a negative campaign at Lively’s behest, Sloane requested the lawsuit be dismissed.

According to documents obtained by TopMob News, Sloane’s lawyer claims the accusations against her are unfounded and that she was included in the lawsuit only to divert attention from the claims made by Lively.

Lively hired Nick Shapiro, a former Deputy Chief of Staff for the CIA, to help with the legal strategy for the sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit happening in New York, according to a member of her legal team at Willkie Farr & Gallagher. This was reported by Variety on February 28th.

David Shapiro started his career with the CIA from 2013 to 2015 during the Obama administration. He later held leadership positions at Visa, overseeing global security and communications, and at Airbnb, where he managed crisis situations. After three years at Airbnb, he launched his own consulting business, 10th Avenue Consulting LLC.

According to documents obtained by TopMob News, The New York Times has asked a court to dismiss them from the $400 million lawsuit, which also involves Lively, Baldoni, and the company Sloane and Sloane.

In a court filing, the newspaper claimed that Baldoni’s team was presenting a biased story that had attracted significant media attention, but insisted that The Times shouldn’t be involved in the conflict. According to court documents obtained by Deadline, The New York Times’ lawyers also pointed out that Baldoni and his associates at Wayfarer initially sued the paper for $250 million, but that lawsuit was dropped when they expanded the claim to $400 million and included The New York Times as a defendant.

U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman has temporarily paused the exchange of information and documents in a case brought against The New York Times, following the newspaper’s request. According to documents obtained by TopMob News, the judge agreed with The New York Times that they had a strong argument for dismissing the case and that halting discovery wouldn’t harm the opposing side. In his March 4 order, Judge Liman stated the newspaper demonstrated “substantial grounds” for their motion. A New York Times spokesperson told TopMob News they were pleased with the court’s decision, which acknowledges the important First Amendment principles involved and prevents what they consider to be an unfounded case from moving forward.

Following accusations from Baldoni that Lively was using her connection with Taylor Swift to gain more say in the film adaptation of It Ends With Us – and after Baldoni’s lawyers attempted to subpoena Swift – a spokesperson for the singer responded.

A spokesperson confirmed to TopMob News on May 9th that Taylor Swift had no involvement in the movie whatsoever. They stated she wasn’t part of the casting process, didn’t contribute to the music, and never reviewed any version of the film.

Okay, so basically, Taylor let them use ‘My Tears Ricochet’ in the movie, which is AMAZING, but it’s just one song, like 19 other artists contributed too! Honestly, this whole legal thing feels like they’re just trying to use Taylor’s name to get attention, you know? It’s all about headlines and drama instead of what the case is actually about. It’s frustrating because she just wanted to support the film with her music, and now it’s become this whole mess!

Baldoni’s attorneys withdrew their request later that month, per Lively’s legal team.

The judge dismissed the lawsuit against Lively, Reynolds, their publicist Sloane, Sloane’s company Vision PR, and The New York Times. The judge ruled that Baldoni and his lawyers didn’t provide enough evidence to support claims of defamation or civil extortion.

After the lawsuit against her was dropped, Lively shared on Instagram that she, like many others, experienced the emotional distress of being sued in retaliation. She noted that while she was able to successfully defend herself, not everyone has the means to do so.

She expressed her love and thanks to everyone who supported her, both those she knew and those she didn’t. She promised to always be grateful for and fight for them.

Baldoni’s lawyer told TopMob News that Lively’s claim of winning is untrue.

As a longtime supporter of Ms. Lively, I’ve been following this case closely, and it’s incredibly frustrating to see these baseless accusations of sexual harassment thrown around. It’s clear this is all retaliation, and frankly, the other side doesn’t even have a real campaign to point to – they admit it’s ‘untraceable’ because there’s simply no evidence of anything ever happening! It’s a complete fabrication, and they know it.

Lively gave a deposition at her lawyers’ office in New York. Reports in the media described it as a tense confrontation between Lively and Baldoni, but her legal team later protested these claims, stating that the idea she required a large group of witnesses was false.

From what Lively’s lawyer explained, Baldoni was actually in the room with all the other people I’m suing, and their lawyers too. It was pretty shocking to hear, honestly, but that’s what they said happened.

 

According to a court document obtained by TopMob News, Isabela Ferrer – who portrayed a younger Lily in the movie It Ends With Us – claims that Justin Baldoni and people working with him attempted to intimidate, control, and improperly influence her after she received a subpoena related to the ongoing lawsuit.

Lawyers for the actress state she requested Wayfarer Studios cover her legal costs, as outlined in her contract. However, the studio responded by asking her to give them control over how she responded to a subpoena from Lively before they would provide any financial assistance.

According to their court filing, Ms. Ferrer previously addressed inappropriate behavior from Baldoni related to the Lively Subpoena. They claim Baldoni attempted to intimidate her by filing a motion against her.

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2026-05-07 23:20