Blake Lively's Legal Battle: New Allegations Surface Against Justin Baldoni

Blake Lively is currently embroiled in a high-profile legal battle with actor Justin Baldoni, as she seeks to recover millions in attorneys’ fees and costs following her successful defense against Baldoni’s $400 million defamation and extortion lawsuit. Recent court filings by Lively’s legal team have revealed the existence of a new witness who has made serious allegations against Baldoni, describing him as “verbally abusive” and claiming he was banned from another project’s set.

The witness, whose identity remains undisclosed, provided a declaration indicating that they had multiple negative interactions with Baldoni, including instances of verbal abuse. This individual asserted that their concerns led to a request for Baldoni to be excluded from the set during most of the production period. The declaration was signed last week and filed on September 8, 2025.

This new testimony aligns with Lively’s ongoing harassment claims against Baldoni. The actress previously filed a lawsuit alleging she experienced “disturbing” sexual harassment during the filming of “It Ends With Us” and later became a target of a smear campaign intended to silence her. A trial for Lively’s claims is scheduled for March 2026 in federal court in Manhattan, while Baldoni’s counter-defamation lawsuit against Lively was dismissed in June.

According to sources, the declarant is expected to testify at the upcoming trial. They have claimed that they specifically requested Baldoni not to participate in marketing or public relations for the other project in question. Their declaration also mentions a meeting with Steve Sarowitz, the co-founder of Wayfarer Studios, during which Sarowitz allegedly made a threatening remark about Lively. Lively’s legal team argues that this statement reveals an intent to retaliate against her and warrants severe penalties, including triple and punitive damages.

In the motion filed by Lively’s attorneys, they cite Sarowitz’s purported confession during the meeting, where he allegedly stated that he would go after Lively and her husband, actor Ryan Reynolds, if they “ever cross the line.” His comments were described as threatening and included a chilling metaphor about protecting the studio at all costs. Lively’s lawyers claim that such remarks instilled fear for Lively’s safety and that of her family.

The legal proceedings have drawn attention to the broader issue of retaliatory defamation lawsuits against individuals who speak out about workplace harassment. Lively’s spokesperson referenced a recent California law designed to protect survivors of sexual assault, harassment, and discrimination from such lawsuits, stating that Lively is entitled to pursue triple and punitive damages for what they deemed a “frivolous” complaint.

In Baldoni’s failed defamation lawsuit, he alleged that he was the victim of false accusations aimed at destroying his career. He claimed that Lively used fabricated stories to undermine him and accused her and Reynolds of making him a scapegoat following negative press surrounding the film’s premiere in August 2024.

As this legal saga unfolds, it highlights the complexities and challenges faced by individuals who come forward with allegations of harassment in the entertainment industry. With Lively’s trial approaching, the implications of these allegations and the potential consequences for all parties involved remain to be seen.