Blake Lively’s hidden motives revealed in resurfaced clip as legal war escalates
Blake Lively’s secret agenda exposed in resurfaced 2022 clip — revealing she hid her push for 'authorship' from directors until after signing on, a key issue in her legal battle with 'It Ends With Us' director Justin Baldoni.
Though his countersuit against Blake Lively was dismissed on Monday, Justin Baldoni refused to back down from his legal battle.
After Lively publicly responded to the dismissal on social media, Baldoni's attorney, Bryan Freedman, said the actress' "predictable declaration of victory is false."
"Ms. Lively and her team’s predictable declaration of victory is false, so let us be clear about the latest ruling," Freedman said in a statement obtained by Fox News Digital. "While the Court dismissed the defamation related claims, the Court has invited us to amend four out of the seven claims against Ms. Lively, which will showcase additional evidence and refined allegations. This case is about false accusations of sexual harassment and retaliation and a nonexistent smear campaign, which Ms. Lively’s own team conveniently describes as ‘untraceable’ because they cannot prove what never happened."
"Most importantly, Ms. Lively’s own claims are no truer today than they were yesterday, and with the facts on our side, we march forward with the same confidence that we had when Ms. Lively and her cohorts initiated this battle and look forward to her forthcoming deposition, which I will be taking. We are grateful for the organic show of support from the public and for the dedication of the Internet sleuth community who continue to cover the case with discernment and integrity."
JUSTIN BALDONI'S $400M LAWSUIT AGAINST BLAKE LIVELY DISMISSED
Blake Lively, who was all smiles at a New York event the same day a judge dismissed Justin Baldoni's countersuit against her, said she has felt the "pain of a retaliatory lawsuit." (Getty Images)
Shortly after the dismissal on Monday, Lively opened up about the "pain" and "manufactured shame" she has experienced due to the lawsuits.
"Like so many others, I've felt the pain of a retaliatory lawsuit, including the manufactured shame that tries to break us," the actress wrote on her Instagram Stories. "While the suit against me was defeated, so many don't have the resources to fight back."
"I'm more resolved than ever to continue to stand for every woman's right to have a voice in protecting themselves, including their safety, their integrity, their dignity and their story," she continued.
"With love and gratitude for the many who stood by me, many of you I know. Many of you I don't. But I will never stop appreciating or advocating for you," she added.
Lively shared a long list of organizations and resources, including the National Network to End Domestic Violence, National Organization for Women, Women's Equal Justice, and more.
BLAKE LIVELY VS. JUSTIN BALDONI: EVERYTHING TO KNOW
Justin Baldoni's defamation lawsuit against Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively was dismissed Monday. (Getty Images)
Baldoni will likely re-file his claim against Lively, multiple legal experts told Fox News Digital. The "Jane the Virgin" star does have "a shot at winning," entertainment lawyer Tre Lovell explained.
"He will re-file, but he can only do so on the other causes of action," the attorney, who works with The Lovell Firm, said. "He can’t refile on the defamation and extortion claims, but I do fully expect him to appeal this judge’s ruling. If he does re-file, he’ll have a shot at winning, but the causes of action he would be allowed to go forward with are significantly reduced."
While Baldoni can re-file certain claims, he can also appeal the judge's decision.
"Baldoni can appeal the decision to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, but things are looking really bad for Baldoni in the courtroom because now he is playing defense and not offense, even though he seems to have won over the court of public opinion," former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani shared.
The judge's ruling hindered Baldoni's possibility of a settlement with Lively that could benefit the actor.
"Baldoni is likely to file his remaining claims again to maintain any minimum settlement advantage he may have left, although the bulk of his claims and alleged damages have been thrown out," Ethan Krasnoo, a partner at Reavis Page Jump LLP, told Fox News Digital. "It should be noted that the loss of the affirmative suit by Baldoni does not mean that he cannot prevail as a defendant in the claims against him by Lively, but it does hinder his abilities for a positive global settlement with her."
Blake Lively starred as Lily Bloom in "It Ends With Us," directed by Justin Baldoni. (Gotham)
BLAKE LIVELY WITHDRAWS EMOTIONAL DISTRESS CLAIMS AGAINST JUSTIN BALDONI
In a statement to Fox News Digital after news broke of the dismissal of Baldoni's countersuit, Lively's lawyers, Esra Hudson and Mike Gottlieb, said, "Today's opinion is a total victory and a complete vindication for Blake Lively, along with those that Justin Baldoni and the Wayfarer Parties dragged into their retaliatory lawsuit, including Ryan Reynolds, Leslie Sloane and The New York Times. As we have said from day one, this ‘$400 million’ lawsuit was a sham, and the Court saw right through it."
"We look forward to the next round, which is seeking attorneys' fees, treble damages and punitive damages against Baldoni, Sarowitz, Nathan, and the other Wayfarer Parties who perpetrated this abusive litigation."
Lively originally filed her lawsuit against Baldoni and "It Ends With Us" film producer Jamey Heath for sexual harassment, retaliation and emotional distress. She first filed a complaint with the California Civil Rights department and later filed one in federal court in December.
Blake Lively first filed her lawsuit against Justin Baldoni and "It Ends With Us" film producer Jamey Heath for sexual harassment, retaliation and emotional distress in December. (Getty Images)
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In response, Baldoni filed the $400 million lawsuit against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, accusing them of civil extortion and defamation.
On Monday, a judge dismissed his complaint against Lively and Reynolds.
"The Wayfarer Parties have not alleged that Lively is responsible for any statements other than the statements in her CRD complaint, which are privileged," Judge Lewis Liman wrote in an opinion and order obtained by Fox News Digital. "The Wayfarer Parties have alleged that Reynolds and [publicist Leslie] Sloane made additional statements accusing Baldoni of sexual misconduct and that the Times made additional statements accusing the Wayfarer Parties of engaging in a smear campaign. But the Wayfarer Parties have not alleged that Reynolds, Sloane or the Times would have seriously doubted these statements were true based on the information available to them, as is required for them to be liable for defamation under applicable law."
Justin Baldoni filed a $400 million lawsuit against Blake Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, accusing them of civil extortion and defamation. (Getty Images)
In addition to releasing a website detailing the timeline of events that allegedly occurred, Baldoni's team had also shared unedited footage from the set of "It Ends With Us." Both Lively and Baldoni have claimed the footage bolsters their respective claims.
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After the release, Lively's legal team demanded a gag order be issued against Freedman.
On Jan. 23, Baldoni's lawyers filed a response, calling Lively's gag order attempt an "intimidation tactic" and "tactical gamesmanship."
WATCH: WHAT IS GOING ON BETWEEN BLAKE LIVELY AND JUSTIN BALDONI?
A judge later ordered that both sides follow the New York Rules of Professional Conduct, which limit speaking to the press.
Baldoni and Lively previously indicated they were not willing to settle the legal battle outside the courtroom. In a letter filed in February, legal teams for both Baldoni and Lively noted that "the parties agree that mediation and the Discovery Protocols… are inappropriate for this case."
The legal conflict is currently set to head to trial before a New York court in March 2026.
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