Justin Baldoni. Janet Mayer/startraksphoto.com
Justin Baldoni’s legal battle with Blake Lively appears to be just beginning.
After Lively, 37, sued her It Ends With Us costar and director for sexual harassment, a high-profile attorney is sharing his perspective about what could happen next.
“He’s gotta lawyer up,” attorney Ron Zambrano, who is not affiliated with the case, exclusively told Us Weekly. “Then he has to respond to the [Civil Rights Department’s] requests to rebut the complaint in whatever way his team deems best.” (Baldoni, 40, is currently being represented by attorney Bryan Freedman.)
According to Zambrano, the rules in the civil rights department investigation are “not as high stakes as in civil claims in that there are no real consequences for being evasive like there is in civil court.”
UPDATE 12/21/24 at 10:30 a.m. ET: TMZ reported in December that Lively sued Baldoni for sexual harassment and “severe emotional distress.” His lawyer, Bryan Freedman, said in a statement to Us Weekly that the allegations are “completely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious.” Us reached out to Lively’s rep for comment at the time. Original story […]
“But if he’s too evasive, the full might of the [Civil Rights Department] may aim its ire at Baldoni, and he wouldn’t want that either,” Zambrano — who also weighed in on Lively’s possible next steps with Us — added. “But there may be a real motivator to keep it out of civil court.”
In the lawsuit, which was filed on Friday, December 20, and obtained by Us Weekly, Lively accused Baldoni of launching a “social manipulation” campaign against her to “destroy” her reputation.
Lively also accused Baldoni of body-shaming her on set and alleged that Baldoni improvised unwanted kissing and discussed his sex life.
Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively in ‘It Ends with Us’. Courtesy of Sony Pictures
Baldoni’s lawyer called Lively’s accusations “completely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious” in a statement to Us, claiming that the actress filed the lawsuit to “fix her negative reputation” and “rehash a narrative” about the film’s production.
While it’s too soon to say if the suit will eventually go to trial, Zambrano predicts the Civil Rights Department may order both parties to mediate.
“Whether they actually settle is up to the parties,” Zambrano explained to Us. “The requirement is only to participate in mediation. It’s always in the benefit of the defendant to resolve the case.”
Justin Baldoni appears to have nothing but positive things to say about his It Ends with Us costar, Blake Lively, as reports of an on set feud continue circulating online. The drama officially hit theaters in August 2024, and Baldoni, who both directed and starred opposite Lively, has heaped praise on his onscreen partner. “Blake […]
Since the lawsuit was filed, Lively has received support from the It Ends With Us book author Colleen Hoover as well as her Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants costars including America Ferrera, Amber Tamblyn and Alexis Bledel.
“As Blake’s friends and sisters for over twenty years, we stand with her in solidarity as she fights back against the reported campaign waged to destroy her reputation,” the trio shared in a joint statement. “Throughout the filming of It Ends with Us, we saw her summon the courage to ask for a safe workplace for herself and colleagues on set, and we are appalled to read the evidence of a premeditated and vindictive effort that ensued to discredit her voice.”
In a statement to The New York Times regarding her lawsuit, Lively said, “I hope that my legal action helps pull back the curtain on these sinister retaliatory tactics to harm people who speak up about misconduct and helps protect others who may be targeted.”
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