James Johnson
Legal tensions escalate as Baldoni accuses Lively of leveraging celebrity influence while Lively cites fears of media spectacle and harassment ahead of July 17 deposition
The legal battle between actors Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni is intensifying as Baldoni formally responds to Lively’s recent motion requesting a protective order regarding her upcoming deposition.
On Friday, July 11, Blake Lively’s legal team filed a motion requesting Judge Lewis J. Liman to issue a protective order that would restrict the location of her scheduled July 17 deposition to a confidential venue and mandate pre-approval of all attendees. Her counsel argued that such protections were necessary to prevent the event from being turned into what they described as a “harassing publicity stunt.”\
Two days later, on July 13, Baldoni’s legal team responded with a strongly worded letter opposing the motion. The letter claimed that Lively, 37, was leveraging her “celebrity status” to control the deposition proceedings and to dictate terms typically reserved for defendants, not plaintiffs. “Lively is a plaintiff who has hurled serious allegations of misconduct against the Wayfarer Parties,” the letter stated. “Like all defendants, the Wayfarer Parties are entitled to depose Lively to develop evidence crucial to their defense.”
The legal dispute stems from a larger case involving Lively’s claims of sexual harassment and retaliation, in which she is expected to testify when the trial begins in March 2026 in New York City.
Lively’s motion argued that Baldoni’s team had refused to address concerns about potential media involvement or the inclusion of unauthorized attendees, including influencers or paparazzi. “Defendants have used even the prospect of Ms. Lively’s deposition to generate press interest,” her filing alleged, suggesting a pattern of behavior designed to exploit the case for publicity.
Tensions escalated further when Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, previously proposed hosting the deposition at Madison Square Garden, suggesting it be ticketed or streamed with proceeds benefiting domestic abuse charities. Lively’s camp characterized that proposal as evidence of efforts to create a media circus, rather than respect the legal gravity of the proceedings.
Representatives for Lively emphasized her willingness to participate in the deposition. “Blake Lively is looking forward to her deposition next week, and it should follow the same rules as every other witness in this case,” her team stated. They added, “This is a serious matter of sexual harassment and retaliation and it deserves to be treated as such.”
The trial, set to begin in early 2026, is expected to feature both Lively and Baldoni as key witnesses. The deposition conflict underscores the broader legal and public relations battle between the two high-profile figures, as each side attempts to frame the narrative ahead of what is shaping up to be a high-stakes courtroom showdown.
