The ‘novel’ of Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively could be resolved sooner than expected. The lawyer for the actor and director, Bryan Freedman, has commented on predictions that his client’s legal battle with Lively could be resolved before the trial.
Baldoni’s life has been under the spotlight since Lively, 37, filed a lawsuit against him in December 2024, accusing him of sexual harassment during the filming of their movie “It Ends With Us”. The actress also alleged that Baldoni, 41, tried to launch a smear campaign against her during the promotion of the film.
What did Justin Baldoni’s lawyer say about the legal battle against Blake Lively?
During his appearance on the podcast “The Town” this past March 12, the host and former lawyer Matthew Belloni asked Freedman how long the case could last. “I don’t think there will be a trial in this case,” predicted Belloni, who is a founding member of the Puck newsletter. “I just think the potential for a circus and the damage to both parties here will ultimately prevail and you will reach a settlement. So, if that’s the case, why not just reach a settlement now? What’s the number? What would it take for this to go away?"
From Freedman’s perspective, he is not sure if “circus” is the right word to describe the case: “You keep referring to this as a circus and I understand. You see many cases. You see many things, but the reality is that this is not a circus when you go through an experience like this,” he explained. “I have represented many people in the worst moments of their careers, the worst moments of their lives. Justin has been destroyed by this.”
Freedman said that the accusations are “something really serious” and it is important that the truth be revealed. "In these times, the only way you can truly recover [your reputation] is by proving your innocence and that is what we are actively working on," he shared. "That can only be done in a court of law."
In response to Lively’s accusations, Baldoni denied them and also filed his own lawsuit against the former Gossip Girl actress, her publicist, and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, in January.
Before the Baldoni and Lively trial is expected to begin in May 2026, Baldoni and his team launched a website with the URL “thelawsuitinfo.com” to allow the public access to an “Amended Complaint” and a “Timeline of Relevant Events.”
“The website is actually a culmination of public allegations that are publicly accessible and have been submitted and are easily accessible,” Freedman shared with Belloni. “It’s a place where you can find things.”