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The legal battle between "It Ends With Us" co-stars Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni isn't cooling down anytime soon. If anything, it's heating up. Baldoni's lawyer, Bryan Freedman, made it clear on "The Town" podcast with Matthew Belloni that a settlement isn't exactly on the table, at least, not from his client's side.
The response was far from hopeful when Belloni floated the idea of Baldoni settling Lively's lawsuit against him. "What is the number?" Belloni asked, cutting straight to the chase about what it would take to end this drama. But Freedman? He wasn't biting. Instead, he sidestepped the question, insisting that this isn't just some media frenzy but a deeply serious matter for Baldoni.
© AFP via Getty Images"Justin has been destroyed by this," Freedman said, claiming that the only way to clear his name is in court. He also emphasized that "in this day and age, the only way that you can truly get back is to prove your innocence." Translation? Baldoni seems ready to go the distance.
The Legal Back-and-Forth
Lively, 36, sued Baldoni in December 2024, accusing him of sexual harassment on the set of "It Ends With Us." Baldoni, 40, fired back with not one but two defamation lawsuits, one against Lively, her publicist, and Ryan Reynolds for $400 million, and another against The New York Times for $250 million. The Times, by the way, has denied all of Baldoni's claims and requested that the case be dismissed.
And now, Lively is upping the stakes. She recently amended her lawsuit, alleging others have corroborated her on set who also felt uncomfortable around Baldoni. According to her attorneys, "other women confided in Blake about their discomfort," which could make things even messier for the star.
The Website Controversy
Adding fuel to the fire, Baldoni created a website packed with documents meant to refute Lively's claims. Naturally, that move raised some eyebrows. But according to Freedman, it's all above board. "The website is actually a culmination of public pleadings that are publicly accessible," he explained. "It's a place where you can find things."
© GC ImagesHe claims Baldoni had no choice but to fight back publicly since Lively's accusations gained traction after The New York Times article. "The court of public opinion was against him," Freedman stated, adding that Baldoni needed to set the record straight.
More Lawsuits, More Problems
If this wasn't already a legal soap opera, Lively's latest move makes it even juicier. In addition to doubling down on her claims against Baldoni, she's now suing Jed Wallace, a crisis PR executive, and his firm, Street Relations, Inc. Lively alleges that Wallace played a role in smearing her reputation, though he has denied any involvement and has even sued her for $7 million in response.
© GC ImagesWith a trial date set for March 2026 and both parties refusing mediation, this legal fight is nowhere near over. For now, both sides are digging in, and the courtroom is the only place where they'll settle the score.
