The legal battle between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni continues to escalate, with subpoenas issued and defamation lawsuits filed. Lively's legal team is seeking phone records and internet data from Baldoni and others involved, aiming to uncover evidence of an alleged smear campaign against the actress. They believe these records will provide "irrefutable evidence" of Baldoni's efforts to damage Lively's reputation.
Baldoni's lawyer has criticized the move as a "fishing expedition," arguing that Lively's team is desperately searching for any basis for their claims. He maintains that the subpoenas are overly broad and seek irrelevant information.
Lively's team has also subpoenaed records from Jed Wallace, whom they accuse of assisting Baldoni in the alleged smear campaign. They claim internal messages will reveal Wallace's involvement in shifting the narrative against Lively. In response, Wallace and his firm have filed a defamation lawsuit against Lively, seeking $6 million in damages. They argue that Lively's initial complaint, although not including them in the formal lawsuit, caused significant reputational harm.
Lively's legal team has dismissed the defamation suit as retaliatory and vowed to hold Wallace accountable. The actress's original complaint against Baldoni includes allegations of sexual harassment, retaliation, and emotional distress. Baldoni, in turn, has filed his own lawsuit, claiming Lively's accusations are false and intended to repair her reputation following issues surrounding the film's press tour.
Both Lively and Baldoni deny each other's allegations, setting the stage for a protracted legal battle.
