Latest news with #Lively
Egypt Independent
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Egypt Independent
Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively's legal fight isn't over
While Justin Baldoni's suit against Blake Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds has been dismissed, she isn't done fighting her claims against her 'It Ends With Us' director and co-star – and Baldoni isn't done fighting back. Michael Gottlieb, the attorney representing Lively in her civil sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit against Baldoni, told CNN the actress intends to continue pursuing her lawsuit against Baldoni. In a conversation with Jake Tapper on Monday, Gottlieb said Lively is 'determined to see her claims through and to pursue them to have a full public accountability of what she's alleged happened to her.' His statement came the same day a judge dismissed Baldoni's $400 million lawsuit against Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds, as well as their publicist. He also dismissed a separate claim from Baldoni against the New York Times, who first reported Lively's allegations. Gottlieb added that the power couple feels 'vindicated' by the ruling, as well as 'grateful to the individuals and organizations that have stood by Ms. Lively as she's pursued these claims.' 'I think that today is a message that these kind of retaliatory lawsuits that are really designed to silence and punish people who speak up won't work. They are not going to work. They won't be tolerated by our justice system and they will not be successful,' Gottlieb added. 'And I think that's an important message for those who want to speak up against the mistreatment that they may face in their workplaces.' Baldoni's attorney, Bryan Freedman, responded with a statement provided to CNN on Tuesday. 'Ms. Lively and her team's predictable declaration of victory is false, so let us be clear about the latest ruling,' he said. 'The Court has invited us to amend four out of the seven claims against Ms. Lively, which will showcase additional evidence and refined allegations. This case is about false accusations of sexual harassment and retaliation and a nonexistent smear campaign,' the statement continued. 'With the facts on our side, we march forward with the same confidence that we had when Ms. Lively and her cohorts initiated this battle and look forward to her forthcoming deposition, which I will be taking. Freedman ended his statement by thanking 'the Internet sleuth community who continue to cover the case with discernment and integrity.' It was yet another chapter in a nearly year-long legal feud between Lively and Baldoni, which grew to include Reynolds, the couple's publicist, Leslie Sloan, and the New York Times. Lively filed a civil rights complaint in December 2024 claiming that she was sexually harassed by Baldoni during production of the film and then was retaliated against for speaking up about her alleged mistreatment. He quickly denied her claims, fling suit against her and Reynolds in January 2025 alleging that the superstar couple sought to 'destroy' him and his career, after hijacking his film, 'It Ends With Us.' Baldoni also sued the New York Times as the first to report on Lively's allegations of sexual harassment alleging that the newspaper published an article 'rife with inaccuracies, misrepresentations, and omissions' that relied on Lively's 'self-serving narrative.' Motions to dismiss filed by Lively, Reynolds, Sloan and the New York Times were all granted on Monday. 'We are grateful to the court for seeing the lawsuit for what it was: a meritless attempt to stifle honest reporting,' a spokesperson for the New York Times said on Monday. 'Our journalists went out and covered carefully and fairly a story of public importance, and the court recognized that the law is designed to protect just that sort of journalism. We will continue to stand up in court for our journalism and for our journalists when their work comes under attack.' In his ruling Monday, the judge held that Baldoni can file an amended complaint on the allegations of tortious interference with contract, relating to Reynolds and Lively, and breach of implied covenant, relating to Lively, by June 23. Gottlieb acknowledged that the judge's ruling allowed for Baldoni to file an amended complaint relating to what he called 'ancillary or side claims,' but he underscored that the core defamation allegations are 'gone from the case.' CNN's Elizabeth Wagmeister contributed to this report.
Extra.ie
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
Taylor Swift and Blake Lively texts CAN be used in court case
A US judge has granted Justin Baldoni's legal team access to text messages between Taylor Swift and Blake Lively, despite Lively asking the judge to keep the texts private. Afraid that the texts might leak to the press, Lively argued that Baldoni was using Taylor Swift to 'prop up a public relations narrative outside of court'. Today's top videos STORY CONTINUES BELOW Swift contributed her song 'My Tears Ricochet' from 2020 to the It Ends With Us soundtrack. Lively's legal team argued that the singer had no further connection to the film. However, Judge Lewis Liman deemed the messages relevant to the case and issued a protective order to prevent the communications from entering the press. 'Given that Lively has represented that Swift had knowledge of complaints or discussions about the working environment on the film, among other issues, the requests for messages with Swift regarding the film and this action are reasonably tailored to discover information that would prove or disprove Livelys harassment and retaliation claims, Liman's court filing read. Baldonis team had previously summoned Swift and her attorneys to court but withdrew the request after the singer's legal team objected. The incident is the most recent in a string of court decisions pertaining to the It Ends With Us controversy. In December 2024 Lively filed a complaint against Baldoni, accusing him of sexual assault on set. Days later, the actress formalised her complaint and filed a lawsuit in New York. Baldoni denied the allegations and filed a countersuit against Lively, Ryan Reynolds, and their publicist Leslie Sloane for extortion and defamation in January 2025. His $400 million (349 million) lawsuit against Lively and others was dismissed by Judge Liman on June 9. A trial is set for March 2026, with Judge Liman overseeing the case.
Time of India
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Taylor Swift's texts exposed in Blake Lively court loss — will this strain the popstar's relationship with Travis Kelce?
In a dramatic legal twist involving the upcoming film It Ends With Us, a judge has denied 's motion to keep her private messages with pop icon out of reach from 's legal team. The decision, handed down by Judge Lewis J. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Liman on June 18, 2025, underscores how deeply celebrity communications are becoming entangled in this high-profile legal showdown. Judge rejects Blake Lively's request to keep Taylor Swift texts private in explosive 'It Ends With Us' legal battle While Justin Baldoni initially subpoenaed Taylor Swift in connection with the harassment and retaliation lawsuit surrounding the production, the subpoena was later withdrawn. However, his team continued pressing for access to Blake Lively's conversations with Swift, arguing they were vital to understanding the environment on set and could potentially validate or refute Lively's allegations. Judge Liman ruled against both Lively's protective order and Baldoni's own cross-motion, stating, 'Lively's motion is rooted in the broader concern that the Wayfarer Parties are using demands for communications with Swift not 'to obtain information relevant to claims and defenses in court, but to prop up a public relations narrative outside of court.'' Lively's representative issued a strongly worded statement in response: 'We will continue to call out Baldoni's relentless efforts to exploit Ms. Swift's popularity, which from day one has been nothing more than a distraction from the serious sexual harassment and retaliation accusations he and the Wayfarer parties are facing.' The same representative pointed to earlier attempts by Baldoni's team to manipulate Swift's massive fan base, referencing a crisis PR strategy document that allegedly called her a 'bully' and encouraged a plan to sway public opinion by weaponizing her image. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Despite the judge's rejection of both motions, the legal tension remains high. The court acknowledged that Lively had represented Swift as having knowledge of conversations around the film's work environment, making the request for messages 'reasonably tailored.' Also Read: Swift, who contributed her song 'My Tears Ricochet' to the film's soundtrack but held no production role, has yet to comment on the controversy. What began as a literary adaptation has now evolved into a legal drama of its own—one involving pop royalty, Hollywood power players, and a courtroom spotlight none of them likely anticipated.
Express Tribune
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Judge allows Blake Lively and Taylor Swift texts in Baldoni harassment case
A U.S. judge has ruled that private messages between Blake Lively and Taylor Swift can be included in the ongoing legal battle between Lively and actor-producer Justin Baldoni. According to court documents, U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman determined the communications may be relevant to Lively's claims of sexual harassment and retaliation on the set of It Ends With Us, a film produced by Baldoni's Wayfarer Studios. Lively's legal team previously attempted to block Baldoni from accessing the messages, arguing they were irrelevant. However, the judge stated that because Lively claimed Swift had knowledge of the working environment on set, the messages are 'reasonably tailored' to the case. Baldoni's lawyers had earlier tried to subpoena Swift directly, but dropped the request after her team objected, calling it an 'unwarranted fishing expedition.' Lively's team then sought to prevent access through the normal discovery process but was unsuccessful. Lively originally sued Baldoni in December 2024, accusing him of harassment and a smear campaign. Baldoni countersued for defamation, though that case was dismissed. A spokesperson for Lively criticized the decision, accusing Baldoni's team of exploiting Swift's fame for publicity. They also denied rumors that Lively's representatives threatened Swift regarding public support. Judge Liman rejected the publicity argument, saying it does not override the need for relevant discovery. Taylor Swift's representatives have not commented. The case is scheduled to go to trial in March 2026. This development adds a high-profile twist to an already contentious case involving some of Hollywood's most prominent names.
Los Angeles Times
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Judge shakes off Blake Lively's motion to keep texts with Taylor Swift confidential
Some of Blake Lively's text messages with friend Taylor Swift could play in court, in a recent development of the actor's winding legal battle against her 'It Ends With Us' co-star Justin Baldoni. U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman on Wednesday filed an order denying the 'Gossip Girl' alumna's request to keep her messages with Swift out of litigation, according to legal documents reviewed by The Times. 'Given that Lively has represented that Swift had knowledge of complaints or discussions about the working environment on the film, among other issues, the requests for messages with Swift regarding the film and this action are reasonably tailored to discover information that would prove or disprove Lively's harassment and retaliation claims,' reads the order. Baldoni and his Wayfarer Studios filed a request for production connected to the Lively-Swift texts in February, asking for ''all documents and communications related to or reflecting Lively's communications with Taylor Swift' about their their 2024 romantic drama and subsequent legal proceedings. The 'It Ends With Us' co-stars have engaged in a legal back-and-forth for months after Lively accused director Baldoni of sexual harassment on the set of the film and accused his team of orchestrating a smear campaign against her in December. The allegations first surfaced in a report from the New York Times. She formally sued 'Jane the Virgin' alumnus Baldoni in federal court on Dec. 31. Baldoni and nine other plaintiffs — including his crisis PR team and executives at Wayfarer Studios — hit back that same day with a $400 million countersuit against Lively and her husband, 'Deadpool' star Ryan Reynolds, and a separate defamation complaint against the New York Times. Liman dismissed Baldoni's complaints, which failed to meet legal standards, earlier this month. The judge said in his Wednesday order that 'Lively's motion is rooted in the broader concern that the Wayfarer Parties are using demands for communications with Swift not 'to obtain information relevant to claims and defenses in court, but to prop up a public relations narrative outside of court.'' Wednesday's order also denied Baldoni's cross-motion to compel Lively to produce documents connected to the production. Baldoni's team subpoenaed Swift earlier this year, but eventually withdrew it after the singer and her legal reps dismissed it as an 'unwarranted fishing expedition,' according to Variety. In a statement shared with multiple outlets, a representative for Lively reacted to this week's order, claiming 'Baldoni's desire to drag Taylor Swift into this has been constant dating back to August 2024' and is an effort to influence the singer's fan base. In the past, the devoted league of Swift supporters known as Swifites have banded together to criticize the singer's high-profile exes and in recent years, rallied against Ticketmaster over allegations of fraud, price-fixing and antitrust violations. 'We will continue to call out Baldoni's relentless efforts to exploit Ms. Swift's popularity, which from day one has been nothing more than a distraction from the serious sexual harassment and retaliation accusations he and the Wayfarer parties are facing,' the spokesperson added, according to People. Representatives for Swift and Baldoni did not immediately respond to The Times' request for comment.
