Blake Lively to Testify Against Justin Baldoni in Sexual Harassment Trial

Blake Lively is set to testify under oath against Justin Baldoni in a high-profile sexual harassment trial, according to People magazine. The trial, scheduled to take place in a New York court in March 2026, stems from a complaint filed by Lively in December alleging sexual harassment and retaliation by Baldoni, her co-star and director in the upcoming film "It Ends With Us."

The legal battle, which has been brewing for months, is expected to bring forth explosive testimony and potentially damaging revelations about the on-set environment of the film. Lively’s lawyer, Mike Gottlieb, confirmed Thursday that his client will take the stand to share her experiences.

"The ultimate moment for a plaintiff’s story to be told is at trial," Gottlieb stated. "We expect that to be the case here [with Lively]. So we would, of course, expect her to be a witness at her trial. Of course, she’s going to testify."

Gottlieb further indicated that other individuals who witnessed or experienced misconduct relevant to Lively’s claims will also be called to testify. "There are individuals that were witnesses to or experienced misconduct that is relevant to Ms. Lively’s claims. We expect their testimony, particularly about what took place on set, will come out through live witness testimony."

The trial promises to be a contentious affair, with both sides preparing to present their cases vigorously. Gottlieb noted that both parties will have the opportunity to question Lively during the discovery process. He also suggested that Baldoni’s team has been attempting to deflect attention from the core issue of retaliation against Lively for raising concerns about sexual harassment.

"We think there have been a lot of distractions put up to deflect attention from the retaliation campaign that was launched against her," Gottlieb said. "And we expect and hope that in discovery we’ll have an opportunity to really focus on what we believe to be the core part of the case, which is that this retaliation campaign was launched against Ms. Lively for her having raised concerns about sexual harassment."

Baldoni’s legal team has maintained a strong defense, asserting that the truth will ultimately prevail. In a statement provided to Fox News Digital, Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, stated, "Although obviously uncomfortable for the Lively parties, the truth is not a distraction."

Freedman also made a series of allegations against Lively, accusing her of manipulating Baldoni and involving her high-profile friends, including her husband, Ryan Reynolds, in the dispute.

"The truth has been clearly shown through unedited receipts, documents, and real-life footage," Freedman said. "Blake was the one who brought her high-profile friends into this situation without concern for their own personal or public backlash. As the truth shows, she used her Dragons to manipulate Justin at every turn."

The mention of "Dragons" refers to Lively’s description of Reynolds and Taylor Swift as protectors in a text message exchange with Baldoni.

Freedman further questioned Reynolds’ involvement, suggesting that the actor may have used his influence to further a personal grudge. "Ryan’s involvement is very well documented, and we continue to discover more intentional misconduct. Was Disney actually complicit in Ryan using shareholder revenues to further a personal grudge? I would be surprised to learn that this type of corporate waste would not lead to much more exposure for those that have been complicit in affecting shareholder revenue."

The legal dispute between Lively and Baldoni has escalated into a complex web of lawsuits and accusations. In addition to Lively’s initial complaint, Baldoni has filed a $250 million lawsuit against The New York Times for a December article about the alleged smear campaign he attempted to run against his co-star. He also filed a separate $400 million defamation lawsuit against Lively and Reynolds, accusing them of attempting to hijack "It Ends With Us" and create their own narrative.

Baldoni has also released a website detailing the timeline of events and shared unedited footage from the set of "It Ends With Us," claiming that the footage supports his claims. Both Lively and Baldoni have asserted that the footage bolsters their respective arguments.

One specific point of contention revolves around a rooftop scene in "It Ends With Us." Baldoni claims that Lively insisted on rewriting the scene and that she used her friendship with Swift to pressure him into using her version. According to the complaint, Lively invited Baldoni to her New York City home, where he felt pressured by Swift and Reynolds to accept Lively’s rewrite.

Baldoni later texted Lively, stating, "I really love what you did. It really does help a lot. Makes it so much more fun and interesting. (And I would have felt that way without Ryan and Taylor [emoji] You really are a talent across the board. Really excited nd (sic) grateful to do this together."

Lively responded with a lengthy message in which she referred to Swift and Reynolds as "dragons" who protect her.

Lively’s complaint details allegations of sexual harassment, retaliation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence, and more, against Baldoni and lead producer Jamie Heath. The complaint was first filed with the California Civil Rights Department on December 20 and later in federal court on December 31.

The trial is expected to be closely watched by the entertainment industry and the public, as it involves allegations of serious misconduct and raises questions about power dynamics on film sets. With Lively’s testimony and the potential for other witnesses to come forward, the trial could have significant implications for both parties involved and for the broader conversation about sexual harassment in Hollywood. The outcome remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the legal battle between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni is far from over.