Courtroom Cleared For 'Privilege Paper' Review In Perez Hilton, Blake Lively Showdown

Perez Hilton made a scene in more ways than one this afternoon, stepping into the courtroom amid Blake Lively’s bitter legal feud with Justin Baldoni. The longtime celebrity blogger, whose real name is Mario Lavandeira, turned heads in a bold floral blazer with a silky pink lining before walking into the packed federal courthouse in Las Vegas. The hearing is currently taking place today, Tuesday, September 2, inside the Federal Courthouse in Las Vegas, and The Blast is on site.

Hilton was dragged into the courtroom battle after Lively accused him of using his “sizable digital platform” to assist Baldoni in what she claims was a coordinated smear campaign against her. According to Lively, Hilton’s coverage crossed the line from independent reporting into something more strategic. She cited his past ties to Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, who has also represented Hilton in the past, as evidence of blurred boundaries.

Last Thursday’s hearing focused on whether Perez Hilton could be forced to comply with a subpoena in Blake Lively’s ongoing "It Ends With Us" lawsuit. Lively’s team claimed Hilton was one of several “Content Creators” allegedly used to seed social media content that benefited Justin Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios, and pushed to have him turn over related communications.

Hilton, representing himself, fought back by arguing the New York court had no authority over him since he lives in Nevada. Judge Lewis J. Liman agreed, ruling that the court lacked personal jurisdiction to enforce the subpoena. The judge also noted Hilton’s status as a pro se litigant, emphasizing that courts are required to give special consideration to those representing themselves.

In the end, Lively’s motion was denied without prejudice, meaning the fight continues in the Nevada federal court. Hilton told The Blast he was “in shock,” admitting he expected the court to “for sure rule against him.” However, the legal battle isn't over yet.

Hilton returned to court today, though the session started later than expected, with proceedings not getting underway until 2:15 p.m. PST. Shortly after, the judge made the rare move of clearing the courtroom so he could privately review what’s known as a “privilege paper.” Only Perez Hilton and the judge remained inside, with one attorney present in the gallery, noting it could take 30 minutes or more.

In legal terms, a privilege paper is a document one side argues should remain confidential because it’s protected by legal privilege, such as attorney-client communications or litigation strategies prepared by lawyers. To protect that confidentiality, the judge conducts an in-camera review behind closed doors, examining the document to decide whether it should stay sealed or be handed over to the other side.

For Hilton, the outcome could be pivotal. If the judge upholds the claim of privilege, the material will remain confidential and cannot be used by Blake Lively’s legal team. If the judge rejects it, the contents could be admitted into the record, potentially strengthening her case.

The Blast is on site and watched the courtroom clear. We will provide updates as new details emerge in Hilton’s high-stakes showdown with Lively.

At the heart of the case is Blake Lively’s lawsuit against her "It Ends With Us" co-star and director Justin Baldoni. Lively has accused Baldoni of sexual harassment and retaliation, claiming he sought to damage her reputation as their working and personal relationship deteriorated.

Baldoni has firmly denied the allegations and fired back with a staggering $400 million countersuit. In his filing, the actor-director argues that Lively tried to wrest creative control of the film from him, escalating what began as an on-set dispute into one of the most explosive legal clashes Hollywood has seen in years.

While Perez Hilton’s courtroom appearances and headline-grabbing outfits have kept him in the spotlight, he insists the fight is about far more than just him. Speaking exclusively to The Blast, Hilton explained that the outcome could have ripple effects across the entire media landscape. “This fight has emboldened me because it’s not just about me. It’s about all journalists,” he said.

Hilton has repeatedly stressed that the case is about press freedom and whether celebrities can use the courts to strip digital reporters of the same protections traditionally afforded to legacy media outlets.

The Blast will continue bringing readers the latest developments as this legal battle unfolds.