During a pre-trial conference on Monday concerning gag orders, Justin Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, offered a glimpse into Baldoni’s mindset amid his escalating legal battle with It Ends with Us co-star Blake Lively. Freedman addressed Manhattan US District Judge Lewis J. Liman, revealing that his clients—including Baldoni and his Wayfarer Studios co-founders, Jamey Heath and Steve Sarowitz—are “devastated financially and emotionally” due to the ongoing dispute.
Freedman remarked, “Not to sound like a four-year-old fighting a four-year-old with ‘they started it,’” highlighting the strain and frustration his clients are experiencing. The statement, reported by People, underscores the intense impact the legal conflict is having on both the personal and professional lives of those involved.
Judge Lewis J. Liman cautioned both legal teams on Monday to avoid making public statements that could sway a jury ahead of the scheduled March 2026 trial. During the pre-trial conference, Justin Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, expressed frustration over the nature of such high-profile legal battles, stating, “Once someone says something, it becomes fact—there’s no way to fight against it.”
Freedman had previously argued in a letter to the court that Baldoni and his Wayfarer Studios associates had been “exiled from polite society” and suffered financial damages amounting to “hundreds of millions of dollars” following Blake Lively’s complaint. The dispute continues to escalate, with significant reputational and financial consequences at stake for both parties.
Justin Baldoni’s legal and professional troubles continue to mount, with sources telling The Hollywood Reporter that he has lost three jobs and “hundreds of millions of dollars,” including a planned Pac-Man film adaptation, which had been in development since 2022. However, insiders suggest the project could move forward once the controversy subsides.
Despite these setbacks, Baldoni’s Wayfarer Studios still has several projects lined up for release, including Eleanor the Great, the directorial debut of Scarlett Johansson, set for distribution by TriStar Pictures and Sony Pictures Classics later this year. His production company is also behind A Nice Indian Boy, The Senior, and Code 3.
The ongoing dispute stems from Blake Lively’s December 20 complaint to the California Civil Rights Department, alleging sexual harassment and retaliation on the set of It Ends with Us. Baldoni retaliated by filing a $250 million libel lawsuit against The New York Times, accusing the outlet of biased coverage in what he calls Lively’s “vicious smear campaign.” Lively responded with her own lawsuit on December 31, accusing Baldoni and his PR team of attempting to damage her reputation in retaliation.
Despite the controversy and poor critical reception, It Ends with Us managed to earn $351 million globally against its $25 million budget, likely securing a profit for Baldoni.#newsafro_
