A U.S. judge cautioned attorneys representing Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively to refrain from discussing the actors’ ongoing civil lawsuits publicly. Lively had accused Baldoni of sexual harassment during the filming of “It Ends With Us.” Lively’s lawyer raised concerns about Baldoni’s attorney accusing Lively of bullying, stating that such statements could bias potential jurors for the trial scheduled in March 2026. The judge enforced a rule prohibiting out-of-court statements that could impact the case, except for protecting clients from detrimental publicity. Both lawyers accepted possible sanctions for any violations. Lively sued Baldoni and his production company, alleging inappropriate behavior during filming, including excessive kissing. In response, Baldoni and his company filed a defamation lawsuit seeking $400 million, denying the harassment claims and accusing Lively of orchestrating unscripted kissing scenes. They also accused Lively of planning to release her own version of the film, sidelining Baldoni in marketing efforts, and using the movie’s promotion to advertise her products. Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios also sued the New York Times for $250 million, claiming defamation for siding with Lively in a December 21 article. The newspaper vowed to vigorously defend against Baldoni’s lawsuit. (Reporting by Luc Cohen; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)
