June 7, 2025: Blake Lively has spoken out strongly against her It Ends With Her co-star Justin Baldoni, accusing him of betraying his public persona as a women’s rights advocate. The ongoing legal battle between the two actors took a sharp turn after Blake’s team released a statement on June 5, condemning Baldoni for challenging the credibility of multiple women’s advocacy groups that have supported her claims.
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“19 leading survivors and organisations devoted to women’s rights, children’s rights and domestic violence have now signed onto four separate amicus briefs,” said Lively’s team in a statement to Us Weekly. These organisations include NOW (National Organization for Women), Women’s Justice NOW, and the National Network to End Domestic Violence — all opposing Baldoni’s alleged efforts to undermine a law designed to protect women who come forward with accusations.
Blake’s team accused Baldoni of abandoning the message he once championed in his widely praised TED Talks, YouTube series, and interviews encouraging men to “listen to the women in your life… even if what they’re saying is against you.” They also alleged that Baldoni was using DARVO tactics — Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim and Offender — to silence voices beyond this case.
Court Ruling Fuels the Fire
This update follows a recent court ruling in the Southern District of New York, where Judge Lewis J. Liman denied Blake Lively’s motion to dismiss Justin’s emotional distress claims. His team has also requested access to Lively’s medical records, claiming she is retracting her initial allegations — a claim she denies.
Lively’s legal representatives, Esra Hudson and Mike Gottlieb, clarified that Blake will voluntarily drop two of her 15 claims because “they are no longer necessary,” but she will continue to pursue damages for emotional distress, citing sexual harassment and retaliation as part of her lawsuit.
Background of the Case
The high-profile legal battle began in December 2024, when Lively filed a complaint accusing Baldoni of sexual harassment and orchestrating a smear campaign. In response, Baldoni hit back with a $400 million defamation lawsuit against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and her publicist Leslie Sloane. The case is currently scheduled to go to trial in March 2026.
As the drama unfolds, the public scrutiny on Baldoni — once seen as a progressive voice in Hollywood — intensifies, with many questioning how his actions align with his long-standing advocacy for gender equity and safe spaces for women.