Attorney Justin Baldoni slams Blake Lively after judge awards attorney’s fees
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Justin Baldoni’s attorney released a heated statement after a judge ruled that Blake Lively is entitled to recover attorney’s fees and court costs.
Judge Lewis J. Liman said in a written decision that Lively could recover legal fees and expenses related to her defense in the lawsuit Baldoni filed against her after she sued him in December 2024. The judge rejected her requests for treble or any punitive damages.
On Friday, Bryan Freedman shared a statement with Fox News Digital, saying Lively “failed” in her attempt to sue Baldoni for sexual assault.
“We fought and won against a concerted effort built on allegations of sexual harassment, retaliation, and a smear campaign that never happened. Ms. Lively sought more than $300 million in compensatory and punitive damages, had 10 of her 13 claims dismissed, then chose to settle and got nothing,” Freedman said.
Justin Baldoni’s legal team sued Blake Lively after a judge ruled that she was entitled to certain attorney’s and trial fees. (Getty Images)
“Despite all of her sexual harassment and defamation claims being thrown out by the court, Ms. Lively then tried to exploit a California statute designed to protect actual victims in what appeared to be a fruitless effort to obtain damages. Again, she failed,” he continued.
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Freedman said Baldoni’s legal team was successful in uncovering the truth and “justice prevailed.”
“Again, he failed.”
“Ms. Lively was awarded a limited attorney’s fee for one claim as part of a trial that lasted only months, nothing more. Throughout this process, innocent people were unfairly defamed. There was no sexual harassment,” he continued. “There was no retaliation. There was no smear campaign. The court recognized that, the record shows it, and we have maintained it from the beginning.”
“We wouldn’t hesitate to stand up for the truth again,” Freedman concluded.
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Lively’s legal team shared a statement with People. “Bryan Freedman and his clients turned to DARVO [Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim and Offender] a false statement,” the statement began.
Attorney Bryan Freedman represented Justin Baldoni. (Mike Blake/Reuters)
“A few weeks ago, they said Blake Lively’s claims ‘deserve to be heard.’ Now it seems that Justin Baldoni thinks that women who bring claims of sexual harassment and retaliation in good faith, without malice, should be jailed to forget,” it continued.
Lively’s legal team concluded: “Thankfully, there is a law against that, and the Court applied it today. People who did nothing wrong don’t have to pay millions of dollars, which is where it’s headed now.”
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The legal dispute between the cast of “It Ends With Us” began in late 2024 after Lively filed a complaint and later filed a lawsuit alleging that Baldoni sexually harassed her during the production of the film and that she and her co-stars participated in a campaign to damage her reputation after she raised her concerns. Baldoni dismissed the allegations and maintains that Lively’s claims are false.
Blake Lively sought millions of dollars after settling her lawsuit with Justin Baldoni. (Photos by XNY/Star Max/GC)
In January 2025, Baldoni responded by suing Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and others, accusing Lively of fraud, racketeering, and other defamation, defamation, and related claims. He also took legal action against the New York Times for its reporting on the controversy.
However, in June 2025, a federal judge overruled Baldoni’s objections, ruling that many of the statements in question were legally protected and that the claims did not meet the legal standards necessary to proceed.
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In May 2026, the parties reached an agreement that ended most of the remaining cases. Terms have not been shared publicly. (Photos by XNY/Star Max/GC)
The lawsuits continued until 2025 until 2026, with both sides seeking victory in different stages. Several of Lively’s original claims were reduced or dismissed before trial, while other issues related to retaliation remained part of the lawsuit.
In May 2026, the parties reached an agreement that ended most of the remaining cases without publicly disclosing the terms.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
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