Blake Lively seeks strict privacy order in lawsuit against Justin Baldoni over press leak concerns

Blake Lively pushes for a confidentiality order in her lawsuit against Justin Baldoni.

Blake Lively’s legal team is seeking a strict confidentiality order in her lawsuit against It Ends With Us co-star Justin Baldoni, arguing that without it, sensitive information could leak to the press and harm her reputation. During a court hearing on Thursday, Lively’s attorney, Meryl Governski, emphasized that a standard protective order would be insufficient given the involvement of publicists with media connections.

Lively has accused Baldoni, who also directed the film, of sexual harassment and launching a smear campaign against her. In response, Baldoni has filed a defamation lawsuit against both Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds. As the case progresses, both parties are disputing the level of confidentiality required in the discovery process.

Governski contended that highly sensitive information, particularly regarding high-profile individuals, should be limited to “attorneys’ eyes only” to prevent it from being leaked to tabloids. She also argued that confidential business details such as marketing strategies, client lists, and other proprietary information should not be shared outside legal teams.

Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, countered that the additional confidentiality measures were excessive, arguing that standard protective orders are sufficient and that imposing stricter limitations would only complicate the legal process. He dismissed the claim that his side would leak information, calling the suggestion “rather offensive.”

Presiding Judge Lewis Liman acknowledged the publicity risks but noted that high-profile lawsuits inherently attract media attention. “If you sue a high-profile person in this industry, it’s going to get picked up by the press,” he said. With both sides locked in a legal battle over privacy concerns, Liman stated he would issue a ruling on the confidentiality order “soon,” a decision that could significantly impact how much information becomes public.