Justin Baldoni Comes Face-To-Face With Blake Lively In Courtroom For Her Deposition

Blake Lively’s legal battle with Justin Baldoni just reached a tense new chapter.

The deposition, which had been delayed amid disputes over logistics, is taking place behind closed doors with attorneys from both sides, a court reporter, a videographer, and both Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni present.

Sources told TMZ that the actress sat for her deposition today and found herself staring directly at the man she’s accused of misconduct.

At one point, Baldoni’s legal team reportedly pushed for the deposition to be live-streamed from Madison Square Garden, a move Lively’s camp quickly shot down.

The legal showdown stems from Lively’s claims that Baldoni, who directed and co-starred with her in "It Ends With Us," sexually harassed her on set. In her allegations, Lively accused Baldoni of making inappropriate remarks about her body, openly discussing his sex life, and improvising intimate scenes without consent.

According to court filings, the actress included screenshots of text messages allegedly exchanged between Baldoni and his PR team. Lively asserts those messages show he enlisted crisis PR management in an effort to smear her reputation after she reported the alleged harassment.

Baldoni has fiercely denied the accusations, previously filing a defamation lawsuit against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds. However, that suit was dismissed last month, with Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, confirming they would not attempt to refile. Instead, his team has made it clear their focus will be on fighting Lively’s harassment claims directly.

“It is shameful that Ms. Lively and her representatives would make such serious and categorically false accusations against Mr. Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios and its representatives, as yet another desperate attempt to ‘fix’ her negative reputation which was garnered from her own remarks and actions during the campaign for the film," Freedman said at the time.

He added, "Interviews and press activities that were observed publicly, in real time and unedited, which allowed for the Internet to generate their own views and opinions.”

Lively’s deposition today comes after weeks of back-and-forth over a protective order.

Earlier this month, the actress was granted court approval to set the terms of her testimony after raising concerns about privacy and Baldoni’s alleged attempts to sensationalize the case. U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman signed off on the order on July 14, giving Lively the right to choose the deposition’s location and ensuring she would have access to necessary equipment.

The ruling also required Baldoni’s legal team to provide advance notice of everyone who would be present in the room.

Lively’s attorneys argued the protections were crucial to maintain fairness and avoid unnecessary media spectacle, particularly given the intense public attention surrounding the dispute.

Lively’s complaint also points to concerns raised by other women on the set of "It Ends With Us."

According to the filing, in May 2023 another female cast member reported issues with Baldoni’s “unwelcome behavior,” coming forward despite “considerable reservations” because she felt his conduct was negatively impacting the production. The complaint alleges Baldoni responded in writing, acknowledging the concerns and promising adjustments, though Lively claims conditions on set did not improve.

The actress further noted that a second cast member later confided in her about also feeling uncomfortable around Baldoni.

“All of this occurred, and was documented in writing, almost one year before the editing of the Film began,” the amended complaint stated, suggesting a broader pattern of behavior that extended beyond Lively’s own allegations.

The courtroom showdown also comes just days after the "Gossip Girl" alum informed the court on July 26 that her legal team would no longer pursue subpoenas issued to YouTubers Kassidy O’Connell, McKenzie Folks, and Lauren Neidigh.

Although those requests have now been withdrawn, Lively’s legal team is still pursuing other prominent voices, among them Perez Hilton and Candace Owens, as they continue working to strengthen her case.

Today’s deposition marks the first time the two stars have come face-to-face since the controversy erupted.