Blake Lively & Ryan Reynolds Have Called Out Baldoni For Continuing Smear Campaign, Seek Gag Order

lake Lively and Ryan Reynolds have made strong accusations against Justin Baldoni and his team, alleging that a smear campaign against Lively, which started during the filming of It Ends With Us, is still ongoing.

The couple is doubling down on their request for a gag order to curb what they call “extrajudicial statements” from Baldoni’s lead lawyer, Bryan Freedman.

In a letter filed Friday with Judge Lewis J. Liman, their lawyer Esra Hudson from Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, argued that the gag order is necessary to ensure the court proceedings are fair and not prejudiced by public statements.

Hudson stated, “Requiring counsel to heed the ethical rules that bind them is not a gag order; it is a mechanism that would ensure the proceedings in this Court are not prejudiced by counsel’s conduct outside of the courtroom.”

The letter further claimed that Baldoni’s team, including his PR representatives, has engaged in “tactical gamesmanship,” which could have long-term consequences beyond this case. “

The Wayfarer Parties are attempting to draw a dangerous false equivalence that may have profound consequences not just for this case, but for other women who are sexually harassed in the workplace given the high profile of this matter,” Hudson added.

Background of the Legal Disputes

This legal battle stems from multiple lawsuits involving Baldoni, Lively, and Reynolds. Baldoni has filed a $400 million defamation and extortion lawsuit against Lively, Reynolds, and their publicist Leslie Sloane, along with a $250 million defamation suit against The New York Times.

In turn, Lively has accused Baldoni and his team of sexual harassment and an online smear campaign, spearheaded by PR representatives Melissa Nathan and Jennifer Abel.

The animosity between the parties intensified after Lively filed her harassment claims. Baldoni's team alleges that the resulting public backlash has cost him professional relationships, including being dropped by WME, while also tarnishing his reputation.

Hudson referenced this fallout in the letter, stating, “The results have been utterly calamitous for Mr. Baldoni and the other Wayfarer Parties, who instantly became objects of public scorn and contempt.”

Calls for a Protective Order

Lively and Reynolds have requested an expedited hearing to address the conduct of counsel and seek a protective order for future proceedings. Their lawyer expressed urgency, stating, “The Lively-Reynolds Parties intend to seek an appropriate protective order to govern further proceedings in this case, but given the imminent harm caused by Mr. Freedman’s misleading and selective statements and leaks, we respectfully request that this Court schedule a hearing as soon as possible.”

Baldoni’s Allegations

In his filings, Baldoni claimed that Lively’s accusations led to a “scorched earth media campaign” that has caused his projects to be scrapped, his career opportunities to vanish, and his reputation to plummet.

“Already, the Wayfarer Parties have been exiled from polite society and suffered damages totaling hundreds of millions due to Ms. Lively’s scorched earth media campaign,” Baldoni’s team alleged in their response.

Moving Forward

While Judge Liman has suggested combining the lawsuits filed by both parties to expedite the process, a hearing date for the protective order has yet to be set.

The legal drama, which has drawn significant public attention, continues to unfold, with no clear resolution in sight.