Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni lawyers clash over ‘weight’ remarks ahead of studio trial kickoff
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Lawyers for Blake Lively and co-star Justin Baldoni are locked in a legal dispute over whether alleged remarks about Lively’s weight will be shown to jurors in the upcoming trial tied to their 2024 film 'It Ends With Us.'
The disagreement stems from a motion filed by Wayfarer Studios seeking to exclude the comments before trial. Both sides are now arguing over relevance and potential prejudice as the courtroom battle continues after several claims were narrowed. The trial is set to begin on Monday, May 18.
Wayfarer Studios seeks to exclude alleged ‘weight’ remarks ahead of 'It Ends With Us' trial
Attorneys for Wayfarer Studios filed a motion on April 10 before Judge Lewis J. Liman, asking the court to strike the alleged weight-related remarks from being presented to jurors. They argued the comments would “serve only to inflame the jury and cause unfair prejudice.”
The studio’s legal team also noted that the case had already been significantly narrowed after the judge dismissed 10 of 13 claims, including allegations of inappropriate conduct and all claims against Baldoni personally. According to their filing, the alleged remarks are now “irrelevant” to what remains of the case.
Baldoni’s attorneys, Alexandra Shapiro and Jonathan Bach, said they were “very pleased” with the dismissals, calling the case significantly streamlined and stating they were prepared to present a defense.
Earlier filings from Lively alleged that Baldoni made back-channel comments about her body and weight, including asking her to lose weight and contacting her trainer without her consent. Baldoni’s defense has said he reached out to the trainer only to ensure he could safely lift her during a scene due to his own back issues.
Baldoni also told the court that actor Ryan Reynolds confronted him over alleged “fat-shaming” during an April 25 meeting at the couple’s New York City home. In a separate matter, Baldoni initially sought $250 million in damages from The New York Times over a report he claimed was defamatory.
He later expanded the lawsuit to $400 million in January 2025, naming Lively, Reynolds, and publicist Leslie Sloane, but the case was dismissed in June 2025.
Blake Lively argues ‘weight’ remarks provide context in 'It Ends With Us' case
Lively’s legal team opposed the motion on April 17, arguing that the alleged weight-related comments are necessary to understand the broader context of the case. They said the remarks reflect “the same course of conduct” underlying her remaining claims.
According to her attorneys, the comments are relevant because they shaped how Lively experienced Baldoni's behavior. “The weight-related comments form part of the context in which she experienced and assessed Baldoni’s conduct,” the filing stated, adding they are central to evaluating the reasonableness of her claims.
Lively has also alleged reputational and financial harm stemming from what she describes as a coordinated public relations effort linked to Baldoni’s production studio. In earlier filings, she estimated damages of around $40 million, including more than $24 million tied to alleged defamatory reach and impressions.
While 'It Ends With Us' earned $148 million domestically and $350 million globally, the film’s success has since been overshadowed by the ongoing legal battle between its lead stars.
