Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni are set to face off in federal court on May 18 over retaliation claims, following a judge's dismissal of 10 of Lively's 13 allegations, including sexual harassment. The trial will focus on Lively's remaining claims of breach of contract, retaliation, and aiding and abetting in retaliation, stemming from her accusations of harassment on the set of It Ends With Us, which Baldoni directed and starred in alongside Lively.
Lively has objected to the inclusion of certain articles in the trial, arguing they portray her negatively and could influence the jury's perception of her character. The articles in question include a 2009 piece where Lively used the term 'tranny' and a 2014 report about her wedding on a southern plantation. She also opposes the testimony of Norwegian journalist Kjersti Flaa, who previously described Lively as 'rude' and exhibiting 'mean girl energy' during a 2016 interview.
Baldoni, meanwhile, has sought to block evidence from co-star Jenny Slate and author Colleen Hoover, arguing that their testimonies about alleged misconduct are irrelevant to the case. He claims the evidence consists of 'awkward comments, minor confrontations, and perceived slights.' Slate had previously complained about Baldoni's behavior but later received an apology and reported no further issues.
Lively has added her husband, Ryan Reynolds, to her witness list, along with her sister, Robyn Lively, and other associates of Baldoni, including his former podcast co-host, Liz Plank, and his former publicist, Stephanie Jones. The trial is expected to delve into production and promotion issues, as well as the alleged retaliation and damages Lively claims to have suffered.