Perez Hilton Warns Blake Lively’s Subpoena Fight Could Stretch Into 2026

Perez Hilton says Blake Lively’s push to subpoena him could drag out for years, warning reporters outside a Nevada courthouse on Tuesday that the legal wrangling may stretch all the way into 2026 if the actress refuses to withdraw her demands. The longtime celebrity blogger, whose real name is Mario Lavandeira, has become an unexpected figure in Lively’s ongoing $250 million lawsuit against her "It Ends with Us" co-star and director Justin Baldoni. At the heart of the fight is whether Perez Hilton should be forced to turn over communications and unpublished materials that Blake Lively’s team claims could tie him to an alleged smear campaign on behalf of Justin Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios.

Hilton, representing himself pro se, told reporters, including The Blast, that the court made clear on Tuesday that the road ahead won’t be quick or easy. “If Blake Lively wants to continue with this awful subpoena requesting my privileged and protected information of me and you, it’s going to be a very long process,” he explained. “That’s basically what the judge said today. It’s not gonna be something quick.”

According to Hilton, the judge has already ordered him to gather quotes from three forensic experts and a paralegal by Monday as part of a preliminary review of what’s known as a privilege log. “The judge will then assess the fairness of those estimates and force Blake Lively to pay for them if she wants this privilege log,” he added. “And even just that is not quick. The estimate is by Monday, then compiling the privilege logs might take weeks or over a month.”

Hilton insists his coverage of the Lively–Baldoni feud was based on his own opinions, not part of any orchestrated campaign. He has argued the subpoena violates Nevada’s journalist shield laws, which protect reporters from being forced to disclose sources or unpublished material.

“I want to be done with this. I’m tired,” Hilton admitted. “But I’m willing to keep fighting and keep the process going because it’s the right thing to do for journalists, and to not be intimidated by this woman and her husband [Ryan Reynolds] using their money to get things they know they’re not entitled to.”

Hilton also took aim at Lively’s legal team, claiming the judge has shown little patience for their arguments. “Oh my God, the judge was not feeling Blake’s lawyer on Thursday of last week. Today, even less so,” Hilton said. “And she was not happy. She’s leaving the court dejected, not giving her client the outcome that she wanted.”

Although he admitted the battle is ongoing, Hilton called Tuesday’s developments a small victory. “I know that today’s outcome has hurt Blake Lively,” he said. “And it’s a win for journalists, and it’s a win for me.”

Representing himself has made Hilton feel like an underdog against Lively’s high-powered legal team. “I’m representing myself pro se,” he said. “You’re not representing yourself pro se, you have a lawyer helping you. So, you know, she’ll be required to pay for the extraction or this or that or the other, but she’s not required to pay your legal fees. Which sucks, because I truly believe there are two justices in this world. One for regular folks, and then there’s a justice system for the wealthy.”

He even joked that preparing for these hearings has put him in his “Elle Woods era.” As he previously told The Blast, “I feel like Kim Kardashian studying to become a lawyer. Hiring my high-priced legal team would have already cost me more than $50,000.”

The broader lawsuit remains one of Hollywood’s most explosive battles. Filed in December 2024, Lively accuses Baldoni of sexual harassment and retaliation, seeking $250 million in damages. Baldoni filed a $400 million countersuit that was later dismissed, but Lively’s case remains on track for trial in March 2026.

For now, Hilton remains a side player turned central witness in the unfolding drama, and he doesn’t expect things to wrap up anytime soon. “It’s going to be a long process for me and for you,” he told reporters. “This could go into 2026 if Blake Lively doesn’t just withdraw the subpoena.”