Blake Lively has intensified her legal action against Justin Baldoni by demanding full access to his financial documents in their ongoing celebrity legal drama stemming from the set of It Ends With Us.
This latest move comes after Baldoni filed a jaw-dropping $400 million countersuit in response to Lively’s sexual harassment lawsuit. In a sharp legal twist, Lively’s team is now pressing for financial transparency to challenge the staggering damages claimed by her former co-star and director.
Blake Lively Targets $400M Justin Baldoni Countersuit with Financial Disclosure Request
According to reports from TMZ, the Blake Lively lawsuit has entered a new phase as her attorneys have issued formal demands for Justin Baldoni’s complete financial records. The goal? To determine whether Baldoni’s claim of $400 million in damages is factually and financially substantiated.
Baldoni’s countersuit—filed shortly after Lively accused him of creating a toxic work environment and sexually harassing her during production—alleges defamation by Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds. The suit also claims they conspired to wrest creative control of It Ends With Us away from Baldoni.
Lively’s lawyers argue that they’ve been denied critical documentation. So far, Baldoni has only supplied “non-privileged documents concerning their damages,” which Lively’s team insists is insufficient. The financial records, they argue, are vital to justify the staggering amount at the center of this Hollywood defamation case.
Taylor Swift Subpoena Sparks Backlash in It Ends With Us Legal Battle
Tensions in the It Ends With Us legal battle escalated further when Baldoni’s legal team subpoenaed global pop icon—and Lively’s close friend—Taylor Swift as a witness. The subpoena prompted swift condemnation from Lively’s representatives, who accused Baldoni of turning the serious sexual harassment lawsuit into tabloid fodder.
Adding fuel to the fire, Baldoni’s lawyer reportedly floated the idea of hosting Lively’s deposition at Madison Square Garden, with ticket proceeds benefiting victims of domestic abuse. Lively’s camp slammed the proposal as a “public spectacle” that trivializes the gravity of her accusations.
“Mr. Baldoni and his legal team continue to treat this as entertainment rather than a serious legal matter,” said a spokesperson for Lively. “Subpoenaing Taylor Swift and suggesting ticket sales for a deposition reduces this important issue to a media circus.”
Blake Lively Accuses Justin Baldoni of Bullying in High-Profile Hollywood Case
In a broader criticism, Lively’s team accused Baldoni of using intimidation tactics to shame his former co-star. They claim the actor and his co-defendants are attempting to dismantle important victim protection laws—specifically targeting California’s Protecting Survivors from Weaponized Defamation Lawsuits Act.
The act, passed in 2023, is meant to shield survivors from retaliatory lawsuits after reporting misconduct. Lively’s team invoked this law in a bid to dismiss Baldoni’s defamation countersuit, while his attorneys argued it could undermine First Amendment protections and set a dangerous legal precedent.
Lively’s spokesperson added, “These disturbing actions by men who branded themselves as ‘female allies’ expose the hypocrisy at play.”
Justin Baldoni’s Legal Team Defends Public Deposition Proposal
Responding to the backlash, Baldoni’s attorney Bryan Freedman maintained that the suggestion to stream Blake Lively’s deposition was made to support a good cause. He told People Magazine, “Since Ms. Lively is prepared to testify, let’s use the moment for good—sell tickets, raise funds, and help victims.”
The trial, expected to attract massive media attention, is slated to begin on March 9, 2026. Both Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni are set to testify in what is shaping up to be one of the most explosive celebrity legal battles in recent memory.
As the Blake Lively vs. Justin Baldoni legal fight heats up, the spotlight intensifies not only on the stars involved but on how Hollywood handles sexual harassment lawsuits and retaliatory defamation claims in the post-#MeToo era
