Blake Lively requests judge to strengthen protective order in lawsuit against Justin Baldoni over ‘violent and threatening communications’

Blake Lively has requested that the judge overseeing her lawsuit against her It Ends With Us co-star, Justin Baldoni, strengthen the protective order regarding confidential filings, citing threats and harassment she has faced since the case was initiated.

In a letter submitted on Thursday evening and reviewed by Rolling Stone, Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, asked for the modification of the current protective order. They proposed the addition of a ‘For Attorney’s Eyes Only’ category to safeguard documents that are ‘highly confidential and personal’, suggesting that their release could cause various types of harm, including competitive, commercial, financial, or personal injury.

Blake Lively requests judge for protective order against Justin Baldoni

Lively’s attorneys detailed in the letter that one witness supporting Lively in the case had received a disturbing message, threatening that their family “would be sexually assaulted and killed unless the witness agreed to ‘make a statement and give the truth.’” They also highlighted severe ‘pornographic trolling’, so vicious that Meta, the parent company of Facebook, condemned it publicly, referencing an article from TMZ.

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In a response to Variety, Baldoni’s representatives stated that he and his co-defendants had also received anonymous threats. They emphasised, “We do not condone dangerous rhetoric targeted toward anyone no matter the situation.”

Lively filed her lawsuit against Baldoni in December, alongside the film’s producer James Heath, the production company Wayfarer, co-founder Steve Sarowitz, and publicists Melissa Nathan and Jennifer Abel. She accused Baldoni of sexual harassment on set, claiming that Baldoni and the other defendants engaged in a smear campaign to damage her credibility. The defendants have denied the allegations, with Baldoni counter-suing Lively and Reynolds for $400 million, accusing them of orchestrating their own smear campaign. He also filed a lawsuit against The New York Times, which reported on Lively’s legal action.

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Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, stated in January, “Blake Lively was either severely misled by her team or intentionally and knowingly misrepresented the truth. Ms. Lively will never again be allowed to continue to exploit actual victims of real harassment solely for her personal reputation gain at the expense of those without power.”

Earlier this week, Lively filed an amended complaint, revealing that two other actresses had confided in her about uncomfortable experiences with Baldoni during filming. Additionally, Hollywood Reporter reported on Friday that Jenny Slate had filed a complaint against Heath for comments about motherhood that made her uncomfortable.

The case is expected to go to trial next year.

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