Justin Baldoni’s lawyers deny blame for Blake Lively’s losses, call her ‘bully’ at pre-trial hearing
MANHATTAN, NEW YORK CITY: At a recent pre-trial hearing, legal representatives for actor Justin Baldoni strongly pushed back against claims made by his 'It Ends With Us' co-star Blake Lively regarding her alleged professional losses.
The dispute is part of an ongoing legal battle connected to their film project, with the recent courtroom exchange shedding light on both sides’ arguments ahead of trial. The federal civil case is set to begin on Monday, May 18, with jury selection scheduled to take place in a Manhattan federal court.
Justin Baldoni’s legal team accuses Blake Lively of misconduct in court
During the pre-trial hearing, attorneys representing Baldoni’s production company argued that Lively’s reported career setbacks were not caused by any alleged smear campaign but were instead a result of her own actions.
They described her as a “bully” and pointed to what they characterized as a pattern of problematic behavior. Wayfarer’s legal team also cited Lively’s public remarks about Catherine, Princess of Wales, as indicative of her conduct, arguing that it reflected a broader pattern of behavior predating the release of the 2024 film.
They referenced an incident in March 2024, when she appeared to mock the Princess of Wales following the release of a family photograph that was later found to have been digitally altered, drawing widespread global attention.
A few days later, Catherine, disclosed that she had been diagnosed with cancer, prompting Lively to issue a public apology. Meanwhile, the judge is considering whether to unseal key pieces of evidence currently not accessible to the public, as well as whether to impose time limits on the trial, which is now only weeks away.
Another Wayfarer attorney, Fabien Manohar Thayamballi, challenged Lively’s assertion that online comments labeling her a “bully” were entirely the result of digital manipulation. He argued that such perceptions were not unfounded, pointing to instances of her own conduct, including what he described as “bullying” directed at Catherine in 2024.
Justin Baldoni’s legal team challenges Blake Lively’s damage claims
Lively’s legal team has argued that she incurred losses amounting to tens of millions in endorsements, in addition to nine-figure declines in earnings and profits, figures that Wayfarer’s lawyers have strongly disputed as exaggerated.
Attorney Amir Kaltgrad described the estimates as “pie in the sky,” outlining claims of $143 million in lost profits, $132 million in lost earnings, and several million more tied to endorsement losses. He further contended that the calculations presented by her experts were speculative.
Kaltgrad further argued that one of Lively’s experts relied on what he described as an “unrealistic assumption” regarding the volume of work she would undertake following 'It Ends With Us.' He told the court that Lively had earned $21 million from four film projects over the eight years leading up to the 2024 release.
In contrast, Lively’s expert, entertainment lawyer Richard Marks, projected that she would earn $142 million from acting alone in the five years after the film. Kaltgrad challenged this estimate, arguing that it was inconsistent with her past earnings and professional trajectory.
He described Lively’s work history as “scattered” and claimed there was evidence suggesting she did not intend to work full-time. “Yet Mr Marks has opined she’s going to be working day and night,” Kaltgrad said, adding that the projection represented a 600 percent increase from her previous earnings.
Kaltgrad also maintained that certain financial setbacks were the result of Lively’s own business decisions rather than any actions by the defendants. He cited her non-alcoholic beverage brand, 'Betty Buzz,' stating that its lack of success was unrelated to the case, and noted that her accountant, Jeffrey Kinrich, had acknowledged the same.
