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Justin Baldoni Breaks Social Media Silence With Mother’s Day Post Amid Legal Battle With Blake Lively
May
After a five-month hiatus, Justin Baldoni has returned to social media — not to address the ongoing legal storm surrounding It Ends With Us, but to honor the women in his life on Mother’s Day.
On Sunday, the actor-director shared a touching Instagram post featuring a candid photo of his family. “My mom gave us faith. My wife is the definition of it. Our children are growing up in the fortress of that love,” he wrote. “Happy Mother’s Day to all.”
The image — showing Baldoni holding hands with his wife, Emily Baldoni, and standing beside his mother, Sharon, while his two children embraced the group — quickly went viral, amassing over 50,000 likes and more than 10,000 comments. Although Baldoni made no direct mention of the highly publicized legal battle with his It Ends With Us co-star Blake Lively, many commenters offered words of support referencing the controversy.
“You are a true example of integrity and dedication. We’re standing by you,” one fan wrote. Another commented, “Your day will come when you can just enjoy the world again. We stand with you JB.”
The Legal Fallout
Baldoni’s post marks his first public statement — albeit indirect — since December 2024, when Lively filed a formal complaint with the California Civil Rights Department. The actress accused Baldoni, who directed and co-starred with her in It Ends With Us, of repeated sexual harassment and unprofessional conduct on set. Her claims included allegations of inappropriate physical contact, unsolicited sexual comments, and body-shaming remarks, among others. Lively later filed a federal lawsuit in New York against Baldoni, his company Wayfarer Studios, and producer Jamey Heath.
According to Lively’s legal filing, Baldoni also allegedly orchestrated a preemptive smear campaign before the film’s release — hiring a crisis PR firm to manage fallout if the allegations became public.
Baldoni has categorically denied all claims. His attorney, Bryan Freedman, issued a statement calling the accusations “completely false, outrageous, and intentionally salacious.”
“It is shameful that Ms. Lively and her representatives would make such serious and categorically false accusations,” Freedman said, arguing that the suit was an attempt to “fix” Lively’s public image after unfavorable press during the film’s promotional campaign.
Baldoni’s Counterclaims
In January 2025, Baldoni filed a countersuit seeking $400 million in damages. His suit accuses Lively of defamation, breach of contract, civil extortion, and reputational harm — and also names her husband, Ryan Reynolds. Baldoni alleges Reynolds sought to influence the film’s creative direction and damage Baldoni’s professional standing.
Freedman described the countersuit as “based on an overwhelming amount of untampered evidence” that allegedly documents what he called “Blake Lively and her team’s duplicitous attempt to destroy Justin Baldoni.”
Lively’s Response
Lively’s legal team swiftly issued a rebuttal, invoking the DARVO framework — a psychological term used to describe the tactic of “Deny, Attack, and Reverse Victim and Offender.”
“This is an age-old story: A woman speaks up with concrete evidence of sexual harassment and retaliation, and the abuser attempts to turn the tables,” the statement read.
Looking Ahead
While the emotional Instagram post didn’t touch on the legal proceedings, it comes at a significant moment in Baldoni’s public image restoration — as his supporters rally online and his critics remain vocal. The lawsuit is scheduled to go to trial on March 9, 2026, where both sides are expected to present what they claim is substantial evidence.
