Justin Baldoni breaks silence after Blake Lively row: Lot of trauma, so much to say
Justin Baldoni and his wife Emily have spoken publicly for the first time about their legal battle with Blake Lively. They said the two-year ordeal had been traumatic for their family and that they are now focused on healing.
After remaining silent for nearly two years, actor-director Justin Baldoni has finally spoken about his prolonged legal battle with It Ends With Us co-star Blake Lively, saying he and his family are still recovering from the "trauma" of the ordeal. In a video shared on Instagram on Wednesday, Baldoni appeared alongside his wife, Emily Baldoni, as the couple reflected on the emotional toll the legal dispute had taken on their family.
"We have not spoken publicly for the better part of the last two years, and it's not because we haven't had anything to say," Justin said, adding, "Every time we wanted to speak, it just didn't feel like the right time. We wanted to let the justice system run its course."
Emily described the past two years as deeply painful, saying the family had struggled to process what had happened.
"We've had to wrestle with so many things and try to understand how something like this could even happen, let alone be disguised as a fight for women. There's been a lot of trauma for us to move through as a family, which also makes it hard to speak," she said.
Justin added that the couple deliberately chose not to respond publicly despite the accusations against him. "There have been so many painful things spoken into existence over the last couple of years. It created so much noise, and we didn't want to add to it," he said. The couple credited their faith, family and supporters for helping them through the difficult period.
"We are healing. And if you've ever been through something traumatic, you know healing isn't linear. We've had to rethink what really matters. It's our children, our family, our friends, our community and our faith," Justin said. Thanking those who stood by him, he added, "When we didn't have a voice, so many of you became our voice. Thank you doesn't feel like enough."
Emily said the couple would speak about the controversy in greater detail when the time felt right. "There's so much more to say. That time will come. But for now, we're focused on healing, spending time with our children and enjoying life," she said.
The legal battle
Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively have been locked in a highly publicised legal dispute stemming from the production of It Ends With Us, the 2024 adaptation of Colleen Hoover's bestselling novel. Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment and retaliation, allegations he has denied.
A federal judge dismissed 10 of Blake Lively's 13 claims against Justin Baldoni, including allegations of sexual harassment, defamation and conspiracy. The court ruled that several claims could not proceed because Lively was working as an independent contractor, meaning certain protections under California employment law did not apply to the New Jersey production.
Last month, a federal judge dismissed Baldoni's countersuit against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds. The court also ruled that Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios, are liable for Lively's legal fees related to the dismissed claims, with the amount sought exceeding $8 million.
According to court filings, Baldoni's legal team has until July 13 to either accept the fee request or formally challenge it. Neither Baldoni nor Wayfarer Studios has publicly commented on the latest filing.
After remaining silent for nearly two years, actor-director Justin Baldoni has finally spoken about his prolonged legal battle with It Ends With Us co-star Blake Lively, saying he and his family are still recovering from the "trauma" of the ordeal. In a video shared on Instagram on Wednesday, Baldoni appeared alongside his wife, Emily Baldoni, as the couple reflected on the emotional toll the legal dispute had taken on their family.
"We have not spoken publicly for the better part of the last two years, and it's not because we haven't had anything to say," Justin said, adding, "Every time we wanted to speak, it just didn't feel like the right time. We wanted to let the justice system run its course."
Emily described the past two years as deeply painful, saying the family had struggled to process what had happened.
"We've had to wrestle with so many things and try to understand how something like this could even happen, let alone be disguised as a fight for women. There's been a lot of trauma for us to move through as a family, which also makes it hard to speak," she said.
Justin added that the couple deliberately chose not to respond publicly despite the accusations against him. "There have been so many painful things spoken into existence over the last couple of years. It created so much noise, and we didn't want to add to it," he said. The couple credited their faith, family and supporters for helping them through the difficult period.
"We are healing. And if you've ever been through something traumatic, you know healing isn't linear. We've had to rethink what really matters. It's our children, our family, our friends, our community and our faith," Justin said. Thanking those who stood by him, he added, "When we didn't have a voice, so many of you became our voice. Thank you doesn't feel like enough."
Emily said the couple would speak about the controversy in greater detail when the time felt right. "There's so much more to say. That time will come. But for now, we're focused on healing, spending time with our children and enjoying life," she said.
The legal battle
Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively have been locked in a highly publicised legal dispute stemming from the production of It Ends With Us, the 2024 adaptation of Colleen Hoover's bestselling novel. Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment and retaliation, allegations he has denied.
A federal judge dismissed 10 of Blake Lively's 13 claims against Justin Baldoni, including allegations of sexual harassment, defamation and conspiracy. The court ruled that several claims could not proceed because Lively was working as an independent contractor, meaning certain protections under California employment law did not apply to the New Jersey production.
Last month, a federal judge dismissed Baldoni's countersuit against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds. The court also ruled that Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios, are liable for Lively's legal fees related to the dismissed claims, with the amount sought exceeding $8 million.
According to court filings, Baldoni's legal team has until July 13 to either accept the fee request or formally challenge it. Neither Baldoni nor Wayfarer Studios has publicly commented on the latest filing.
