February 9, 2025: Actor and director Justin Baldoni recently shared an emotional preview of an upcoming interview where he opened up about the intense struggles he faced in the past year, largely due to a public and legal battle with his former co-star, Blake Lively. In the emotional teaser clip, Baldoni, best known for his role in Jane the Virgin, fought back tears as he discussed the toll this legal dispute has taken on him, admitting, “I had an intense year” and revealing that it triggered anxiety.
The full interview, scheduled to air on February 10, delves deeper into Baldoni’s emotional journey. The legal battle, stemming from accusations Lively made against Baldoni in her lawsuit, has been highly publicized. Lively has accused him of sexual harassment and claims that he orchestrated a smear campaign against her. These allegations were made public in a complaint filed with the California Civil Rights Department, escalating to a formal lawsuit.
Baldoni, in response, has denied the accusations vehemently. He filed a defamation lawsuit against the New York Times for its coverage of the case, and on January 16, he filed a USD 400 million lawsuit against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and their publicist.
Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, shared that the emotional and financial toll of the ongoing legal drama has been devastating for Baldoni. The nature of the case, combined with its public spotlight, has made it even more challenging for Baldoni to defend his name effectively.
As part of his defense, Baldoni has taken to releasing raw footage from the It Ends With Us film set and launched a website with text message exchanges between him and Lively to shed light on his perspective. Despite his efforts, the impact of the accusations has been far-reaching, with Freedman emphasizing the difficulty in clearing his name once such claims are made public.
The trial between Baldoni and Lively is set for May 2026, leaving fans and the public awaiting further developments in this high-profile case.