The legal feud between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni has taken a significant turn, with Lively seeking to depose a key figure involved in an alleged smear campaign orchestrated by Baldoni’s team. The actress filed a petition in Texas state court on January 21, requesting a deposition of Jed Wallace, a crisis management specialist who allegedly played a role in a public relations effort to damage her reputation. This move is part of Lively’s ongoing legal battle following accusations of harassment and defamation related to the production and release of It Ends With Us.
Lively claims that Wallace, along with veteran crisis PR executive Melissa Nathan, was instrumental in an online campaign designed to manipulate public perception against her. According to her lawsuit, Wallace’s firm, Street Relations, worked with Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer, to spread negative narratives about her across social media platforms and online forums. The allegations include seeding misleading content, which was later picked up by journalists and amplified to create public backlash against Lively.
A Legal Tug-of-War
Amidst this escalating battle, a New York federal judge has accelerated a pretrial hearing, moving it up to February 3 from its original date of February 11. The change was made after Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, requested an intervention to stop Baldoni’s legal team from making public statements that could potentially bias the jury. Their legal counsel has accused Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, of attempting to try the case in the media rather than in court.
In a recent filing, Lively’s attorneys claimed that Baldoni’s defense is being funded by billionaire Steve Sarowitz, who has allegedly committed $100 million to efforts aimed at tarnishing Lively’s career. They argue that Freedman’s media strategy is designed to create a negative narrative against Lively ahead of the trial, necessitating court intervention to prevent further damage.
Counterclaims and Retaliation
Baldoni, who directed and starred alongside Lively in It Ends With Us, has countered with a lawsuit of his own, seeking at least $400 million in damages. He alleges that Lively’s accusations have severely impacted his career and the financial stability of his production company. His legal team has pushed back against Lively’s claims, arguing that her lawsuit is a baseless attempt to discredit him and that the backlash against her is a result of her own actions rather than any orchestrated campaign.
Adding to the complexity, Baldoni’s defense team has announced plans to launch a website that will feature video evidence, text messages, and email exchanges to support his claims. Lively’s lawyers have strongly opposed this move, arguing that such a platform would selectively release information, omitting key details while influencing public perception before the case goes to trial.
The Court’s Decision and Upcoming Trial
The court has decided to consolidate the separate lawsuits into a single case, with a trial date set for March 9, 2026. This move is intended to streamline proceedings and prevent conflicting rulings from multiple cases.
Meanwhile, the legal dispute has drawn widespread media attention, with both sides presenting dramatically different narratives. Lively maintains that she was subjected to harassment and a smear campaign, while Baldoni insists that he is the victim of false accusations that have damaged his reputation.
With depositions, media strategies, and public statements fueling the controversy, this case is poised to be one of Hollywood’s most high-profile legal battles in recent years. As both sides prepare for trial, the entertainment industry will be watching closely to see how this complex and contentious case unfolds.
