Actor Justin Baldoni and his wife, Emily, have spoken publicly for the first time in nearly two years about their contentious legal battle with co-star Blake Lively, describing the experience as a source of significant family trauma.
In May, Lively and Baldoni settled a lawsuit stemming from the 2024 movie "It Ends With Us," concluding a period marked by accusations. The suit had alleged that Baldoni sexually harassed Lively on set and subsequently engaged in a retaliatory smear campaign. Baldoni's counter-lawsuit accused Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, of defamation and extortion.
"There have been so many painful things that have been spoken into existence over the last couple years," Justin Baldoni stated in a video released on Instagram this past Wednesday. His wife added, "There has been a lot of trauma for us to move through as a family, which also makes it hard to speak."
The couple indicated that the resolution of the case felt like the appropriate moment to address the situation. "The truth and the facts have spoken for themselves and here we are," Emily Baldoni said, reflecting on the legal process. "We've had to wrestle with so many things and try to understand so many things, like how could something like this even happen? Let alone disguised as a fight for women."
A judge had previously dismissed Lively's harassment claims, and the parties settled her retaliation allegations. Lively has stated that the case underscored the importance of respectful treatment on set. The Baldonis, who appeared to be smiling and interacting amiably in the video, noted they had refrained from public comment for an extended period, not due to a lack of things to say, but because of the emotional toll.
Lively initially filed the lawsuit against Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios, in December 2024. Baldoni's counter-lawsuit sought $400 million in damages.