celebrity couples

Justin Baldoni's wife breaks her silence amid legal battle with Blake Lively

The family-centric post marks Emily's first public acknowledgment of Justin since Lively filed a lawsuit against him

Senior Writer

JANUARY 27, 2025 12:47 PM ESTJAN 27, 2025, 12:47 PM EST

Emily Baldoni shows unwavering support for her husband, Justin Baldoni, amid his ongoing legal battle with Blake Lively. In a heartfelt tribute shared on Instagram for the "It Ends With Us" director's 41st birthday, Emily expressed her love and admiration for her partner of more than a decade.

"Happy birthday, my love," Emily wrote on January 24, alongside a candid photo of the couple kissing by the ocean, their children Maiya, 9, and Maxwell, 7, in tow. "Celebrating the man, husband, and father that you are. I'd choose you again and again."

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 06: Justin Baldoni and Emily Baldoni attend the 'It Ends With Us' premiere at the AMC Lincoln Square Theater on August 06, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Robert Kamau/GC Images)

The family-centric post marks Emily's first public acknowledgment of Justin since Lively filed a lawsuit against him in December, alleging sexual harassment and retaliation during the production of "It Ends With Us."

A Family United

Days before the birthday tribute, Emily and Justin were spotted with their children at LAX en route to a family getaway. In a video captured by TMZ, Justin expressed gratitude, saying he was "thankful to be with the family." Paparazzi later photographed the director in Hawaii, surfboard in hand, appearing to take a momentary reprieve from the ongoing legal drama.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 10: Justin Baldoni and Emily Baldoni are seen outside "ABC Studio"on December 10, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Raymond Hall/GC Images)

The Legal Backdrop

Blake Lively's lawsuit, filed after a near-identical complaint with the California Civil Rights Department, alleges that she and other cast and crew members endured "invasive, unwelcome, unprofessional, and sexually inappropriate behavior" by Justin on the "It Ends With Us" set. The "Gossip Girl" star also claims Justin retaliated by launching a PR campaign to tarnish her reputation.

JERSEY CITY, NJ - JANUARY 12: Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively are seen on the set of "It Ends with Us" on January 12, 2024 in Jersey City, New Jersey. (Photo by Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)

Through his lawyer, Justin has vehemently denied the allegations, calling them "categorically false." In a countersuit filed in January, he is seeking $400 million in damages, accusing Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, of orchestrating "a vile smear campaign" against him.

In a statement obtained by E! News, Lively's attorneys described Justin's lawsuit as "another chapter in the abuser playbook," labeling his actions as retaliatory against her harassment allegations.

Adding Taylor to the Mix

Taylor Swift, one of Blake Lively's closest and most famous friends, is now involved in the notorious case. New documentation supplied by Baldoni's legal team alleges that Lively relied on her celebrity friends and connections to ensure that her film version made it to the final cut.

The filing included screenshots of messages between Baldoni and Lively in which the name "Taylor" was mentioned. While the lawsuit doesn't specifically say it's Taylor Swift, Baldoni's team confirmed that she's the "Taylor" mentioned in the messages.

The filing alleges that Lively rewrote the "rooftop" scene. Baldoni claims Lively summoned him for a meeting with Reynolds at their New York penthouse, with a "megacelebrity," presumed to be Swift, arriving unexpectedly and praising Lively's scene. "Baldoni understood the subtext: he needed to comply with Lively's direction for the script," states the filing.