Justin Baldoni Is Digging Into Blake Lively’s Past — Here’s Why

Blake Lively vs. Justin Baldoni is not calming down. The legal fight around It Ends with Us has shifted from who did what on set to who is doing what in depositions, and it is getting messy. There are sanctions requests, a court-ordered settlement sit-down on the calendar, and a trial date creeping closer. And yes, the potential witness list includes a couple of very famous names.

The latest flare-up: Lively wants sanctions over deposition behavior

Lively's attorneys have asked the court to penalize Baldoni's legal team, saying they dragged out depositions by laughing, grandstanding, and generally slow-rolling the process. The flashpoint: questions about Lively's sexual and romantic history. Her side says those topics have zero relevance to this harassment and retaliation case and should be off-limits.

"Ms. Lively's sexual and/or romantic history has no bearing on the matters at issue in this case and we will not tolerate such examination."

Her lawyers also invoked the rape shield law, which limits digging into a claimant's sexual past. While that protection is most commonly discussed in criminal matters, the point they are making is simple: this line of questioning doesn't belong here.

Tensions reportedly spiked during the deposition of defense expert Nicole Alexander, which Lively's team says was bogged down by repeated objections from Baldoni attorneys Bryan Freedman and Kevin Fritz. Baldoni's camp denies the harassment claims, has pushed to get the case tossed, and has accused Lively of misconduct — but so far they haven't put a clear justification on the record for asking about her sexual history.

For context that is not actually relevant to the lawsuit (which is precisely Lively's point): she met Ryan Reynolds on Green Lantern in 2010, they married in 2012, and they have four kids.

Settlement talks are scheduled, but no one expects a kumbaya moment

The court has ordered both sides to attend a settlement conference on February 11, and Magistrate Judge Sarah Cave wants them in the room. A source close to the case summed up the vibe:

"This is a mix of going through the motions, fulfilling Judge Lewis Liman's order and putting the best foot forward. Don't be fooled. Everyone is preparing for the trial."

Lively is seeking roughly $500 million in damages. Baldoni and his company Wayfarer Studios are signaling they intend to fight. The trial, which had been slated for March, was pushed to May 18 by Judge Lewis Liman due to court scheduling pressures.

Meanwhile, Baldoni's team is asking for summary judgment, calling Lively's claims a 'litany of minor grievances.' Lively's response: he is dodging responsibility for what she describes as a hostile set. If this does go to trial, expect witness lists to stretch beyond the two stars — Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, and other high-profile figures connected to the production and fallout may be called.

How we got here

This all tracks back to the 2024 shoot of It Ends with Us, the Colleen Hoover adaptation. Lively filed a complaint in December 2024 alleging sexual harassment and retaliation, saying Baldoni's conduct caused emotional distress. In January 2025, Baldoni countersued for $400 million, accusing Lively and Reynolds of defamation and extortion via a coordinated media push. Lively alleges unwanted physical contact and personal sexual discussions; Baldoni claims Lively overstepped on creative calls — script, wardrobe, even editing — without having the authority. Both sides say the other ran a press strategy that damaged their reputations.

Key timeline

• Dec 2024: Lively files her harassment and retaliation complaint
• Jan 2025: Baldoni files a $400 million countersuit
• Feb 2025: Lively amends her complaint with additional evidence
• Jun 2025: Baldoni's countersuit is dismissed
• Dec 2025: Trial delayed; no settlement reached

Where it stands now

Lively's claims are headed toward trial unless the February session works a miracle. The depositions are contentious, the money at stake is enormous, and neither side is blinking.

If you want to rewatch the movie at the center of all this, It Ends with Us is streaming on Netflix in the US.

So what happens next — a last-minute deal or a full courtroom showdown in May? Tell me your read in the comments.