July 16, 2025: Actress Blake Lively has been granted a protective order by a federal judge amid her escalating legal battle with actor-director Justin Baldoni regarding the controversial production of It Ends With Us, according to E! News.
The order, issued by Judge Lewis J. Liman on July 14, comes just days after Lively requested stricter deposition terms, including a mandate that Baldoni’s legal team identify all individuals who will attend her upcoming deposition, scheduled for July 17.
Protective Measures Enforced
Under the judge’s ruling, Baldoni and his team must notify Lively in advance about anyone attending the deposition. Lively, in turn, is expected to provide access to a dedicated computer and printing facilities for opposing counsel during the session.
Lively’s legal team argued the order was necessary to prevent Baldoni from turning the deposition into a “harassing publicity stunt”, with concerns that paparazzi or unauthorized attendees, including media or influencers, might be invited.
“Defendants have not denied that their intent is to manufacture a harassing publicity stunt,” her legal team stated, citing previous refusals by Baldoni’s counsel to coordinate logistics and security cooperatively.
The Taylor Swift Connection
A focal point in the ongoing legal drama has been the involvement—however minimal—of Taylor Swift. In June, the same federal judge allowed Baldoni limited access to messages between Lively and Swift, despite Lively’s attempts to block the move, arguing Baldoni was trying to “drag Swift into the spotlight” for media attention.
Judge Liman ruled that while public opinion does shape high-profile litigation, the messages might provide critical insights into Lively’s claims of harassment on the set. However, the protective order ensures that these communications cannot be released to the press.
Legal History and Countersuits
Lively filed a lawsuit in December 2024, accusing Baldoni and his team of spreading false narratives in retaliation for her speaking out about alleged sexual harassment during production. Baldoni fired back with a countersuit, accusing Lively of defamation and career sabotage, but his case was dismissed last week.
Baldoni’s team continues to deny any wrongdoing and rejected Lively’s claims in a July 13 court filing, calling her accusations “unsupported” and the protective motion “legally baseless.”
“Lively does not present a single fact to support her allegations of a ‘plot’ to use the deposition as a ‘publicity stunt’,” Baldoni’s lawyers argued.
What’s Next?
With depositions set to begin this week, the tension between the two parties is palpable. Legal experts say the outcome of Lively’s testimony—now protected from potential media interference—could determine the direction of this high-stakes legal battle.
Both stars were attached to the highly anticipated film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel, but production has been mired in controversy since late 2024.