Blake Lively Seeks to Block Negative Media in Upcoming Trial
Actress Blake Lively is vigorously objecting to news articles that depict her in an unfavorable light being presented to the jury in her forthcoming trial against Justin Baldoni. According to court filings obtained by the Daily Mail, Lively contends that allowing these articles would cause jurors to "draw adverse conclusions about her character." The documents reveal her concern that the selected media pieces deliberately paint her as a "bully" and a "mean girl," potentially prejudicing the case.
Controversial Articles and Witness Testimony Under Scrutiny
The disputed articles include a 2009 piece where Lively used the term "tranny" and a 2014 report about her controversial wedding to Ryan Reynolds on a southern plantation. Additionally, Lively's legal team is opposing Baldoni's plan to call Norwegian journalist Kjersti Flaa as a witness. Flaa would recount her infamous 2016 interview with Lively, which resurfaced during the 2024 controversy surrounding the movie It Ends With Us. Lively's lawyers argue that Flaa's testimony would inevitably echo her public statements describing Lively as "rude" and exuding "mean girl energy," thereby unfairly advancing a negative narrative.
Legal Battle Over Retaliation Claims
The trial, scheduled for May 18th at federal court in New York, centers on Lively's allegations that Baldoni retaliated against her with a "smear campaign" after she complained about him sexually harassing her on set. While a judge recently dismissed 10 of Lively's 13 claims, including all sexual harassment allegations, the retaliation matters will proceed before a jury. Over the weekend, Lively's attorneys filed numerous documents seeking to exclude evidence they deem irrelevant, including what they label as "Gossip Articles" aimed at proving Lively was a "mean girl" or "bully." They assert this amounts to "character assassination" designed to portray Baldoni as the victim.
Wealth and Film References Also Disputed
Lively's legal team also aims to prevent any discussion of her husband Ryan Reynolds' wealth, estimated at up to $400 million, arguing it is not relevant to the case. A proposed jury question hints at their concern: "Would you have any difficulty awarding damages to a person who already has money if you find they have suffered harm?" Additionally, they seek to exclude references to the "Nicepool" character from Reynolds' movie Deadpool and Wolverine, released in July 2024. In the film, Reynolds portrayed Nicepool as a caricature of a "woke" feminist before being killed by "Ladypool," voiced by Lively. Lively claims these scenes, filmed after a tense January 2024 meeting where Reynolds confronted Baldoni, are irrelevant and intended to cast Baldoni as the victim.
Taylor Swift's Involvement and Key Witnesses
Taylor Swift has been subpoenaed by Baldoni's team, dragging her reluctantly into the case. While she will not testify in person, the jury is likely to see already-public texts between Swift and Lively. These messages include Swift telling Lively, "No one. Should ever. Get into a war of wills with you," and commenting that Baldoni's "misogyny runs so deep he thinks women are incapable of winning chess matches or making long game power plays." The texts also reveal a soured friendship amid the controversy, with Lively questioning a "shift" in their relationship in December 2024.
Among those testifying for Lively will be Ryan Reynolds in person, along with Lively herself. Actress Jenny Slate, who starred as Lively's friend in the movie, and Isabella Ferrer, who played a young version of Lively's character, are also set to testify in her defense. The legal filings underscore Lively's determination to prevent what she views as prejudicial and irrelevant evidence from influencing the jury's decision in this high-profile trial.
