Blake Lively has publicly urged people not to be "distracted by the digital soap opera" surrounding her legal case against co-star and director Justin Baldoni. She blasted the media's framing of the lawsuit as mere "celebrity drama," calling it irresponsible.
The actress filed a federal lawsuit in December 2024. A recent court ruling allowed three of her 13 claims, including breach of contract and retaliation, to proceed to trial next month. In an Instagram statement, Lively expressed gratitude for the chance to tell her full story in court.
Lively stated she brought the case due to "pervasive retaliation" for advocating a safe work environment. She warned that packaging the lawsuit as drama is "by design" to distract from the serious issues of digital violence and retaliation, which she called a widespread abuse affecting many.
Her statement followed a judge dismissing 10 claims, including defamation and harassment. Lively's legal team emphasized the case remains focused on retaliation for speaking up about safety. Baldoni's lawyers denied all allegations of sexual harassment, stating the ruling confirmed their clients' position.