Hi my lovelies! I am back with a bang! I decided that Fashionista Era is going to be more than just about fashion! It will also cover a lot of Entertainment news because I have so many opinions of whats happening and the blog is a great way of sharing that! Today I come back with this new post about the Justin Baldoni lawsuit situation!! Lets dive right in!
The legal battle between Justin Baldoni, Blake Lively, and others tied to the production of "It Ends With Us" has become one of the most talked-about Hollywood controversies of 2025. What started as a dispute over alleged misconduct on set has spiraled into a complex web of lawsuits, countersuits, and public relations maneuvers. As of March 25, 2025, the case remains unresolved, with a trial date set for March 2026. Amid the chaos, Baldoni has taken several calculated steps that stand out as particularly smart, blending legal strategy with efforts to sway public opinion. Here’s a deep dive into the five sharpest moves he’s made so far, based on legal filings, media coverage, and how people are reacting online.
1. Creating a Website to Share His Side of the Story
One of the standout decisions Baldoni made was launching a dedicated website, thelawsuitinfo.com, on February 1, 2025. This wasn’t just a random move—it was a deliberate way to get his version of events out there without relying on news outlets or social media platforms that might twist his words. The site is packed with a detailed timeline of what happened during the making of "It Ends With Us," along with text messages, emails, and even video clips from the set. For example, there’s a 10-minute video of a slow-dance scene that Lively pointed to in her lawsuit as evidence of harassment. Baldoni’s team says it shows nothing of the sort—just a professional exchange.
This approach is smart for a few reasons. First, it cuts through the noise. Instead of letting reporters or commentators cherry-pick details, he’s giving people raw, unfiltered materials to judge for themselves. Legal analysts quoted in Business Insider have noted that this could help him in the court of public opinion, even if it doesn’t directly sway a judge. Second, it’s a preemptive strike. By putting this stuff out early, he’s setting the stage for what might come up in discovery—the part of a lawsuit where both sides swap evidence. If Lively’s team tries to spin those same texts or videos later, he can say, “Look, I already showed everyone the full context.” The website also keeps him from being at the mercy of someone else’s narrative. Lively’s initial lawsuit, filed on December 20, 2024, painted him as a controlling figure who harassed her and tried to ruin her reputation. Baldoni’s site counters that with specifics, like messages showing he wasn’t the aggressor. It’s a gamble—some might see it as desperate—but it’s a clever way to stay in control of his story.
2. Filing a $400 Million Countersuit Against Lively and Reynolds
On January 16, 2025, Baldoni didn’t just sit back and take Lively’s accusations. He hit back with a massive $400 million lawsuit against her, Ryan Reynolds, and several others involved with the film. The claims? Civil extortion, defamation, and invasion of privacy. This wasn’t a small, defensive move—it was a full-on offensive play that flipped the entire dispute on its head. What makes this smart is how it changes the game. Lively’s original complaint said Baldoni harassed her on set and then orchestrated a smear campaign when she called him out. Baldoni’s countersuit says the real story is the opposite: Lively and Reynolds tried to muscle him out of his own project because they wanted more control over "It Ends With Us." By naming big players like Reynolds, who wasn’t even directly involved in the movie’s production, Baldoni raised the stakes. It’s a signal that he’s not backing down and might even be open to dragging this out until someone blinks.
The sheer size of the $400 million figure also grabs attention. Sure, he might not get anywhere close to that if he wins, but it’s a loud statement. It suggests he’s got evidence—or at least confidence—that could make life uncomfortable for Lively and Reynolds. Legal observers have speculated this could push the other side toward a settlement, especially since high-profile figures often prefer to avoid long, messy trials. Even if it doesn’t settle, the countersuit widens the focus beyond just harassment, forcing everyone to argue over bigger issues like power dynamics in Hollywood.
3. Taking The New York Times to Court
Another sharp move came on December 31, 2024, when Baldoni and his team sued The New York Times for $250 million over an article published on December 21. The piece, titled “‘We Can Bury Anyone’: Inside a Hollywood Smear Machine,” leaned heavily on Lively’s lawsuit and included text messages that Baldoni says were taken out of context to make him look bad. His libel claim argues the newspaper didn’t just report the story—it actively sided with Lively by editing the facts to fit her narrative.
This is a bold play, and here’s why it’s clever. Suing a major outlet like The New York Times is tough—First Amendment protections give the press a lot of leeway, and Business Insider quoted media lawyers saying Baldoni’s odds are slim. But winning isn’t the only goal. The lawsuit keeps his side of the story alive and kicking. Every time the case gets an update—like when Judge Lewis Liman said on March 4, 2025, that there were “substantial grounds” to dismiss it but let it move forward anyway—it’s another headline reminding people he’s fighting back. Plus, the discovery process could be a goldmine. If the case gets far enough, Baldoni might get access to the Times’ notes, sources, or internal discussions about how they wrote the article. That could turn up something useful for his other lawsuits, like proof the texts were manipulated. Even if he loses, it’s a strategic way to keep the pressure on and poke holes in the idea that Lively’s claims are undisputed truth.
4. Releasing Video Evidence to Challenge Lively’s Claims
On January 21, 2025, Baldoni’s team dropped a bombshell by releasing outtakes from the "It Ends With Us" set. One key clip was that slow-dance scene Lively cited in her lawsuit, where she said Baldoni made her uncomfortable by lingering too long and acting unprofessionally. The footage, though, shows a different picture: Lively joking about spray tan while they work through the scene, with no obvious tension. Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, told Forbes this proves there was mutual respect, not harassment.
This move is brilliant for a couple of reasons. First, it’s concrete. Words can be argued over forever, but video is harder to dismiss. By putting it out there, Baldoni forces people to question Lively’s version of events. Her team has since doubled down, saying the footage actually backs her up because it shows her deflecting discomfort with humor. But the fact that there’s debate at all is a win for Baldoni—it muddies the water and makes her claims less black-and-white. Second, it’s proactive. Instead of waiting for a courtroom showdown, he’s shaping the narrative now. Forbes and other outlets picked up the story, and online discussions on platforms like X show people rethinking who’s telling the truth. It’s a risky strategy—Lively could counter with her own evidence—but by getting ahead of it, Baldoni looks like he’s got nothing to hide. That’s a strong position to be in, especially when public opinion can influence how a case plays out.
5. Suing His Former Publicist to Shift the Blame
The fifth smart move came on March 21, 2025, when Baldoni and his current publicist, Jennifer Abel, sued his former publicist, Stephanie Jones. They claim Jones “maliciously” leaked those damaging text messages to Lively’s team, kicking off the whole scandal. Reported by Variety, this was the sixth lawsuit in the saga, and it’s a slick way to redirect the heat. Here’s why this works. By pointing the finger at Jones, Baldoni paints himself as a victim of someone else’s scheming rather than the mastermind of a smear campaign. His story goes like this: he trusted Jones, she betrayed him, and Lively’s team pounced on the fallout. It’s a tidy explanation that doesn’t contradict his other defenses—it just adds a new layer. If he can convince a judge or the public that the leaked texts were part of a setup, it weakens Lively’s case by suggesting her evidence isn’t as clean as it seems.
This lawsuit also keeps the legal pressure on multiple fronts. Lively’s team has to deal with not just Baldoni’s $400 million suit and the Times case, but now this side battle too. It’s a divide-and-conquer approach—make the other side fight on too many fronts to focus. Variety noted this could complicate discovery, as Jones might have to hand over her own records, potentially revealing more about how the texts got out. Even if it’s a long shot, it’s a crafty way to keep the spotlight off Baldoni’s direct actions and onto someone else.
Why These Moves Matter?
Taken together, these five steps show Baldoni isn’t just reacting—he’s playing offense. The website gives him a direct line to the public, the $400 million countersuit ups the ante, the Times lawsuit keeps his narrative in the news, the video release challenges Lively head-on, and the publicist suit shifts blame. Each move is about control: control of the story, the evidence, and the stakes. Of course, none of this guarantees he’ll win. Lively filed a motion to dismiss his defamation suit on March 20, 2025, using California’s anti-SLAPP law, which protects against lawsuits meant to silence free speech. If that succeeds, his $400 million claim could fizzle. The Times case faces steep legal hurdles too, and public opinion is still split—some see him as a fighter, others as a bully. X posts range from “Baldoni’s receipts are everything” to “This guy’s just digging a deeper hole.”
But winning in court isn’t the only measure of success here. Baldoni’s moves have kept him relevant and in the conversation, which matters in a Hollywood where reputation can make or break a career. The trial’s a year away, and between now and then, he’s got time to build on these plays. Whether it’s enough to turn the tide depends on what comes next—more evidence, more filings, more public twists. For now, though, these five decisions stand out as the sharpest arrows in his quiver.
The Bigger Picture
This whole saga isn’t just about Baldoni and Lively—it’s a window into how Hollywood handles conflict in 2025. Lawsuits like this used to stay behind closed doors, but now they’re fought in real-time, with websites, videos, and million-dollar claims. Baldoni’s approach leans into that shift, using every tool at his disposal to push back. It’s a high-stakes game, and he’s playing it hard. The website, for instance, isn’t just a legal tactic—it’s a sign of how much the internet matters now. People don’t wait for a judge to tell them who’s right; they scroll X, watch clips, and decide for themselves. Baldoni’s betting on that, hoping his evidence sways enough minds to make the courtroom part easier. The countersuit and Times case, meanwhile, show he’s not afraid to take on giants—Lively, Reynolds, and a legacy newspaper—which could either make him look fearless or reckless, depending on how it shakes out.
The video release and publicist suit are more personal, aimed at dismantling Lively’s story piece by piece. They’re less about grand strategy and more about survival—proving he’s not the villain she says he is. Together, these moves paint a picture of someone who’s thought this through, not just lashing out. Whether that’s enough to win, or even settle, is anyone’s guess.
Current Situation:
As of March 25, 2025, the legal fight is still heating up. Lively’s anti-SLAPP motion could knock out Baldoni’s big countersuit, but if it fails, discovery will ramp up, and more documents could hit thelawsuitinfo.com. The Times case might drag on too, keeping the story alive. And with a trial date set for March 9, 2026, there’s plenty of time for new wrinkles—maybe more videos, maybe a surprise witness.
Baldoni’s smartest moves so far have kept him in the game, but they’ve also locked him into a long haul. He’s got the tools to fight, but so does Lively, backed by Reynolds’ clout and a team that’s already landed punches. The public’s watching, the lawyers are billing, and the stakes keep climbing. For now, these five plays—website, countersuit, Times suit, video drop, and publicist angle—show Baldoni’s not going down quietly.
How it ends is anyone’s guess, but he’s made sure it won’t be boring.