A New York judge has set a trial date for Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively for March 2026, as the public spat between the two co-stars continues to escalate. The judge asked both sides to be ready for trial on March 9, 2026. He also set a meeting for next week, inviting the respective attorneys to discuss the case before trial.
On the other hand, Blake Lively accused Justin Baldoni's lawyer of trying to influence judges by selectively publishing documents and communications via a website, which she claimed was intended to destroy her career.
For his part, Baldoni's lawyer, Brian Friedman, said that "Lively is afraid of the truth" and demanded the release of evidence, such as messages and videos, which he said refutes her claims. In a letter to the judge, another of Baldoni's lawyers, Kevin Fritz, accused Lively of a defamatory campaign that has caused serious harm, claiming that the defendants have suffered "social boycotts" and hundreds of millions of dollars in losses.
Meanwhile, Blake Lively has called on expert witness Jed Wallace to testify, accusing him of manipulating negative social media comments that hurt her public image. Wallace is said to have worked with Baldoni's PR people. The lawsuits between the two parties include allegations of sexual harassment and defamation by Lively and counter-claims by Baldoni, who is seeking $400 million in damages. The judge could consolidate the cases into one trial.
The film "It Ends With Us," based on the novel by Colleen Hoover, was released in August to an impressive $50 million in promotion, despite rumors of tension between the lead actors.
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