The legal fight between Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively<\/a> took another sharp turn this week, with Baldoni\u2019s legal team arguing in court that Lively\u2019s reported career setbacks are tied to her public image\u2014not any alleged smear campaign.<\/p>\n Per Reuters<\/em><\/a>, during a pre-trial hearing ahead of their May 18 court date, attorneys for Baldoni\u2019s company, Wayfarer Studios, pushed back on claims that Lively lost major earnings due to retaliation. Instead, they pointed to what they described as a pattern of behavior and business struggles that they say contributed to her declining opportunities.<\/p>\n COMPLEX SHOP:<\/b> Shop the brands you love, anytime and anywhere. Uncover what’s next. Buy. Collect. Obsess.<\/a><\/p>\n The attorneys also pointed to prior controversies and business setbacks that they argued damaged Lively\u2019s reputation independently of the lawsuit.<\/p>\n Baldoni\u2019s legal team also challenged the scale of Lively\u2019s financial claims. Lively is seeking up to $300 million in damages, with expert estimates discussed in court including as much as $230 million in lost earnings and profits, plus at least $40 million tied to reputational harm.<\/p>\n In response, Baldoni\u2019s attorney Amir Kaltgrad argued that the projection doesn\u2019t align with her recent work history, describing it in court as \u201cscattered\u201d and suggesting she has not consistently worked at a level that would support that figure.<\/p>\n The defense also referenced specific moments that drew public attention, including Lively\u2019s social media post during the 2024 photo-editing controversy involving Kate Middleton<\/a>. Lively later apologized for the post, calling it \u201ca silly post around the \u2018photoshop fails\u2019 frenzy\u201d and saying she was \u201cmortified\u201d after the broader context became clear.<\/p>\n Baldoni\u2019s attorneys cited the incident as part of a broader argument about reputational impact arising outside the lawsuit.<\/p>\n These arguments arrive just weeks after a significant ruling in the case. Earlier this month, Judge Lewis J. Liman dismissed 10 of the 13 claims Lively filed against Baldoni, including allegations of sexual harassment and defamation.<\/a> The remaining claims\u2014focused on retaliation, breach of contract, and related issues\u2014are still set to be heard at trial.<\/p>\n Lively\u2019s legal team has maintained that the case is now centered on what happened after she raised concerns during the production of It Ends with Us<\/em>. Her attorney, Sigrid McCawley, said outside court that Lively is \u201cexpecting to take the stand\u201d and is focused on telling her version of events.<\/p>\n \u201cBlake\u2019s hope is to be able to have her voice heard in that courtroom,\u201d McCawley said.<\/p>\n The dispute traces back to late 2024, when Lively sued Baldoni over alleged misconduct during filming and claimed she faced retaliation after speaking up. Baldoni denied those allegations and previously filed a $400 million countersuit against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, which was dismissed in 2025.<\/a><\/p>\n <\/a> Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni Fail to Reach Settlement in Federal Court<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n <\/a> New Blake Lively Texts Show Her Calling Justin Baldoni a \u2018Rabid Pig\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n <\/a> Blake Lively Still Plans to Testify After Judge Tosses Most Claims Against Justin Baldoni<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Lana Del Rey\u2019s Ex Clayton Johnson Says Her New Marriage \u2018Might Sting a Little Bit\u2019<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n Man Sentenced After Spoiler Site Posted \u2018Godzilla\u2019 Movie Details<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\nRelated News<\/h3>\n
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