Justin Baldoni’s lawyers blame Blake Lively’s reputation for business struggles

The legal dispute between Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively has intensified, with Baldoni’s team arguing her business setbacks are due to her public image, not any alleged misconduct.

During a pretrial hearing on Tuesday, Baldoni’s attorneys pushed back against Lively’s claims that her professional and financial losses were caused by reputational harm linked to the case. Instead, they argued that her entrepreneurial ventures, including beverage brand Betty Buzz and haircare line Blake Brown, struggled due to limited public appeal and inconsistent business performance.

According to court arguments reported by TMZ, the defence claimed that Lively’s business record reflects broader challenges in sustaining consumer brands, suggesting that public perception has played a role in their performance. They also questioned projected earnings figures cited by Lively’s legal team, arguing that her estimated $132 million future income claim is unrealistic based on her working patterns.

The legal team further referenced past public controversies involving Lively, including criticism over a social media post referencing Kate Middleton, which she later apologised for. They argued such incidents contributed to reputational challenges affecting her brand image.

Lively’s lawyers, meanwhile, maintain that her business ventures were negatively impacted following alleged retaliation tied to the dispute, including claims that industry relationships and potential opportunities were disrupted. They also pointed to internal studio tensions surrounding potential sequel discussions for It Ends With Us, the 2024 film at the centre of the legal conflict.

With the trial scheduled to begin in the coming weeks, the case continues to escalate, drawing significant attention across Hollywood due to its high-profile nature and the sharp public exchange between both parties.