Blake Lively Vs. Justin Baldoni: 5 Shocking Revelations Behind The Sealed Transcript Dispute

The legal battle between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, co-stars of the highly anticipated film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s *It Ends With Us*, has escalated into one of Hollywood’s most contentious and complex disputes. As of December 2025, the central focus of the drama has shifted to a crucial courtroom victory for Lively: the successful motion to seal and strike her sensitive deposition transcript from the public record. This move highlights the intense, high-stakes nature of the ongoing litigation, which involves explosive allegations of sexual harassment, a hostile work environment, and a multi-million dollar defamation countersuit. This article provides an in-depth breakdown of the entire legal timeline, focusing on the recent transcript controversy and the current status of the lawsuits that have entangled the lead actors, their publicists, and even Lively’s husband, Ryan Reynolds. The fresh information reveals a narrative far more dramatic than any on-screen performance, with the future of both careers hanging in the balance.

Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni: A Dual Biography and the *It Ends With Us* Context

The legal drama stems directly from the production of the film *It Ends With Us*, based on the best-selling novel by Colleen Hoover. The project paired two established Hollywood figures in roles that demanded intense emotional chemistry, which has since been overshadowed by their off-screen feud.

• Blake Lively (Lily Bloom): An American actress, known for her breakout role as Serena van der Woodsen in *Gossip Girl* and film successes like *The Age of Adaline* and *A Simple Favor*. Lively is a prominent figure in the industry, married to actor Ryan Reynolds. Her lawsuit alleges sexual harassment and a hostile work environment on the set of *It Ends With Us*.
• Justin Baldoni (Ryle Kincaid/Director): An American actor, director, and filmmaker, best known for his role as Rafael Solano in *Jane the Virgin*. Baldoni served as both the lead actor and the director for *It Ends With Us* under his production company, Wayfarer Studios. He has vehemently denied Lively’s allegations and filed a massive countersuit for defamation.
• The Film: *It Ends With Us* is a highly anticipated adaptation that addresses themes of domestic abuse and generational trauma. The production itself was subject to scrutiny even before the legal battles, particularly regarding costume choices and the casting of the lead actors.

The Core Allegations: Sexual Harassment and the Smear Campaign

The initial legal action was filed by Blake Lively, who accused Justin Baldoni of sexual misconduct and creating a hostile work environment during the filming of the movie. Lively’s complaint was not limited to the alleged harassment itself. It also included a claim that Baldoni and his associates, specifically the Chief Executive Officer of Wayfarer Studios, Jamey Heath, launched a calculated "smear campaign" to destroy her reputation after she raised her complaints. This alleged retaliation is a key component of her lawsuit, suggesting a coordinated effort to silence her and tarnish her public image following the film’s press tour fallout. Baldoni, through his legal team, has consistently and vehemently denied all of Lively’s accusations, framing them as false and baseless attempts to repair her own reputation. This exchange of allegations established the foundation for the protracted and expensive legal war that continues to unfold in federal court.

The Sealed Transcript Controversy: Lively’s Courtroom Victory

The "transcript dispute" became the most recent and public flashpoint in the legal battle. This specific controversy centered on the rough draft transcript of Blake Lively’s deposition, a formal, sworn testimony given as part of the discovery process in the lawsuit. The key events are as follows:

The Filing: Baldoni’s legal team, representing him and Wayfarer Studios (referred to as the "Wayfarer Parties"), filed the 292-page rough draft transcript of Lively’s deposition with the court record.

Lively’s Motion to Strike: Lively’s attorneys immediately moved to strike the transcript, arguing that there was "no conceivable legal purpose" for filing the entire document. They contended that the transcript was an unreviewed, uncorrected rough draft and that its filing was a deliberate tactic.

The Judge’s Ruling: A federal judge sided with Lively, granting her motion to strike and seal the deposition transcript. The judge issued a strong rebuke to the Wayfarer Parties, stating that the conclusion was "inescapable" that they had filed "gratuitous amounts of irrelevant pages" in a clear attempt to force Lively to move for continued sealing. This ruling was a significant courtroom victory for Lively, preventing the immediate public release of potentially sensitive testimony regarding the alleged sexual harassment and smear campaign.

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The judge’s order effectively sealed the most intimate details of Lively’s testimony, allowing her original lawsuit to proceed without the immediate risk of public exposure and media spectacle that the unsealed transcript would have created.

The $400 Million Defamation Countersuit and Its Conclusion

In a dramatic counter-move, Justin Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios filed a massive $400 million defamation lawsuit against Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, their publicist, and *The New York Times*.

The Claim: Baldoni’s 179-page complaint accused Lively and her co-defendants of civil extortion, defamation, and invasion of privacy. He alleged that they had engaged in a "scorched earth" attack aimed at destroying his reputation.

The Defendants: The inclusion of Ryan Reynolds and *The New York Times* elevated the case to a major media event. Baldoni claimed that Reynolds was involved in the alleged smear campaign and that the newspaper published defamatory statements.

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The Crucial Update: In a major legal development, a judge formally ended Justin Baldoni’s $400 million defamation countersuit against Blake Lively and her co-defendants. While the exact reasons for the dismissal are complex, the conclusion of the countersuit means that Baldoni’s attempt to seek damages for libel and defamation has been closed. This leaves Blake Lively’s original lawsuit—the one alleging sexual harassment and a hostile work environment—as the sole active litigation between the two stars.

The Long-Term Impact on Careers and the *It Ends With Us* Release

The legal feud has had a profound and lasting impact on the careers of both Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, as well as the commercial prospects of *It Ends With Us*. The ongoing litigation ensures that the film will forever be associated with the acrimonious relationship between its two leads. The initial production was already under fire for its visual choices and the casting of older actors to play younger characters from the book, and the legal drama has only intensified the public's scrutiny. For Lively, the courtroom victory in sealing her deposition transcript is a critical step in controlling the narrative and protecting the sensitive nature of her testimony. For Baldoni, the dismissal of his $400 million countersuit is a significant setback, though his vehement denials of the original allegations remain firm. As the legal proceedings continue, the original lawsuit filed by Lively against Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios remains active. The case is a stark reminder of the challenges faced by high-profile productions and the complexities of power dynamics on a film set. The world awaits the final resolution, which will undoubtedly shape the public perception of both stars and the legacy of the *It Ends With Us* adaptation.