The drama between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni is getting more and more serious, but this time, the "Gossip Girl" actress has taken an important point before giving her testimony.
A judge ruled that Lively can testify at her attorney's office and not on Baldoni's "territory," as the opposing side had requested. The decision comes after the actress' legal team raised concerns about the possibility of a "media trap" and undue attention being focused on Baldoni's lawyers.
According to court documents obtained by Page Six, Baldoni's team must also submit a list of names of those who will participate in the interrogation by noon Tuesday.
Recall that Blake has filed a lawsuit for sexual harassment and professional retaliation against Baldoni, with whom she worked on the filming of the film "It Ends With Us." She claims that the director and co-producer of the film attempted to tarnish her reputation after she raised concerns about his behavior on set.
Baldoni's side, on the other hand, has denied the allegations, and in January filed a defamation and attempted extortion lawsuit against Blake and her husband, Ryan Reynolds. That lawsuit was dismissed by the court in June.
But things don't stop there.
Baldoni's attorney, Bryan Freedman, claimed that Blake is using her "celebrity status" to manipulate the process and even accused her legal team of "legally inappropriate" behavior. "The fact that she has been able to control the film does not give her the right to do the same to the court," their lawsuit states.
Meanwhile, Lively's representatives have not been silent. In a statement to People, they called the whole thing "a shameful public spectacle" led by Baldoni's lawyer. They also reiterated that this is "a serious matter of harassment and retaliation" that deserves to be treated seriously and not as a show.
Lively's testimony will take place on Thursday and is expected to be crucial in the process that has already taken on public proportions, so much so that fans are following every detail with intensity as if they were watching a new season of "Gossip Girl."
Sources: Page Six, TMZ
