Justin Baldoni’s ongoing legal battle with his “It Ends With Us” co-star Blake Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, has allegedly taken its toll.
During a pre-trial conference on Monday, Baldoni’s attorney Bryan Freedman claimed the actor-director has suffered hardships due to the litigation.
Freedman said that the “Jane the Virgin” alum and his other clients “are devastated financially and emotionally,” per People.
Along with Baldoni, Freedman is representing Baldoni’s production company, Wayfarer Studios, “It Ends With Us” producers Jamey Heath and Steve Sarowitz and publicists Melissa Nathan and Jennifer Abel.
“Not to sound like a 4-year-old fighting a 4-year-old with ‘they started it,’ but in these kinds of cases, once someone says something it becomes fact,” the attorney added, referring to Lively’s sexual harassment allegations.
“There’s no way to fight against it.”
Meanwhile, Lively’s attorney Michael Gottlieb claimed Baldoni’s alleged “retaliation campaign” against the “Gossip Girl” actress has been “devastating” for her, per CNN.
While Judge Lewis Liman denied Lively and Reynolds’ gag order request, he told both sides to avoid making public statements about the case because it could interfere with a fair trial, which has been scheduled for March 2026.
Liman also recommended that Baldoni, 41, and Lively, 37, consider an earlier trial date.
Lively’s attorneys Gottlieb and Esra Hudson were “pleased with the result of today’s hearing,” telling Page Six in a statement that they are “eager to move forward immediately with discovery in this case.”
“The Court granted our request that all attorneys in the matter actually follow the rule of law and not make any statements that could prejudice a jury.”
“This case deals with serious allegations of sexual harassment and retaliation. We will hold the defendants accountable, and we are confident that once all the evidence is submitted in this matter, Ms. Lively will prevail,” they added.
Reps for Baldoni weren’t immediately available to Page Six for comment.
Lively filed a sexual harassment complaint — which was published by the New York Times — against the “Five Feet Apart” director on Dec. 21, 2024.
Baldoni denied the allegations before filing a defamation lawsuit against the Times, shortly before Lively filed a formal lawsuit against him.
Baldoni later responded by filing a $400 million lawsuit against Lively and Reynolds, 48, on Jan. 16.
Baldoni has continued to make public attempts to refute Lively’s claims by releasing raw footage from the “It Ends With Us” set and launching a website with alleged correspondence regarding the film production.
