Trending Now - Blake Lively Alleges Smear Campaign Linked to Depp Case

WHO:

The Blast - Blake Lively alleges that Justin Baldoni used the same crisis PR operative as Johnny Depp.

The Blast - Ryan Reynolds expressed his pride in Blake Lively during an April 19 appearance on Today’s “Sunday Sitdown.”

The Blast - Taylor Swift's name appeared in jury selection materials for the trial.

The Blast - Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni, Ryan Reynolds, Taylor Swift

ABC News - Judge Lewis Liman, California Civil Rights Department

WHAT:

The Blast - Lively's legal team claims she missed out on the opportunity to make up to $35 million due to the ongoing legal battle with Baldoni.

ABC News - A court-ordered settlement conference took place earlier this month.

ABC News - A judge dismissed 10 of Lively's 13 claims earlier this month.

The Blast - Lively's legal team claims she missed out on the opportunity to make up to $35 million due to the ongoing legal battle with Baldoni.

The Blast - Lively's legal team claims she faced a "torrent of online hatred" during the 2024 release of “It Ends With Us.”

ABC News - Baldoni's legal team is seeking to introduce prior media coverage from 2024 to show Lively's reputation was already impacted before the alleged incidents.

The Blast - Lively's legal team is seeking to introduce testimony from multiple women who experienced or witnessed inappropriate behavior on the set of "It Ends With Us."

ABC News - Potential jurors will be asked whether they personally know Taylor Swift, Ryan Reynolds, and a long list of other celebrities.

The Blast - Blake Lively is planning to bring elements of the Johnny Depp v. Amber Heard trial into her case against Justin Baldoni.

The Blast - Lively alleges Baldoni used the same crisis PR operative as Johnny Depp, coinciding with a “torrent of online hatred” during the 2024 release of “It Ends With Us.”

The Blast - Lively is seeking $500 million in damages from Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios.

ABC News - Baldoni filed a $400 million countersuit against Lively, Ryan Reynolds, and their publicist for extortion and defamation.

ABC News - A federal judge dismissed Baldoni's countersuit last June, and the counterclaim was formally ended in October after Baldoni did not refile an amended complaint.

ABC News - Much of Lively's case against Baldoni, including sexual harassment claims, was dismissed, but she can pursue certain claims of retaliation against Baldoni's PR team.

WHERE:

The Blast - The trial is set to unfold in New York.

ABC News - Jury selection is scheduled to take place in New York Southern District Court.

WHEN:

ABC News - Jury selection is scheduled to begin on May 18, with opening statements potentially occurring the same day.

The Blast - The trial is scheduled to begin on May 18 and could last up to four weeks.

ABC News - Jury selection is scheduled to begin on May 18, with opening statements potentially occurring the same day.

ABC News - Lively filed a complaint against Baldoni with the California Civil Rights Department in December 2024.

ABC News - A court-ordered settlement conference took place earlier this month.

WHY:

The Blast - Lively's legal team argues that the connection to the Depp-Heard trial shaped her understanding of the alleged smear campaign.

The Blast - Lively claims she faced a coordinated retaliation campaign that damaged her reputation.

ABC News - Lively accuses Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios of engaging in a "social manipulation" campaign to "destroy" her reputation.

HOW:

NBC News - Lawyers for Baldoni and Lively continued to hash out key pretrial issues Tuesday before a federal judge.

TMZ - Baldoni's lawyers argued that Lively's businesses failed because she is "not a marvelous mogul."

Rolling Stone - Attorneys argued over the admissibility of expert witness testimony regarding Lively's reputational damage and economic losses during a pre-trial conference.

TMZ - Baldoni's lawyers argued that Lively's businesses failed because she is "not a marvelous mogul."

The Blast - Lively's legal team argues that the connection to the Depp-Heard trial shaped her understanding of the alleged smear campaign.

ABC News - The legal teams will meet with Judge Lewis Liman to discuss trial details, including witness sequestration and evidence presentation.

(UPDATED April 29, 2026 09:36 UTC)

Lively's legal team argues that she lost the chance to earn up to $35 million due to her ongoing legal battle with Baldoni, which has seen a judge dismiss ten of her thirteen claims. Earlier this month, a court-ordered settlement conference took place, and jury selection is set to begin on May 18, with opening statements possibly happening the same day. Meanwhile, lawyers for both parties are still negotiating important pretrial issues before a federal judge.

(UPDATED April 29, 2026 07:42 UTC)

Lively's legal team is asserting that she lost the chance to earn as much as $35 million because of her ongoing legal dispute with Baldoni. In response, Baldoni's lawyers have claimed that Lively's businesses have struggled due to her being "not a marvelous mogul." This legal battle continues to unfold as both sides present their arguments.

(UPDATED April 29, 2026 04:12 UTC)

Blake Lively has alleged that Justin Baldoni used the same crisis PR operative as Johnny Depp, while her legal team claims she faced a "torrent of online hatred" during the 2024 release of her film “It Ends With Us.” Ryan Reynolds expressed his pride in Lively during an April 19 appearance on Today’s “Sunday Sitdown,” and jury selection for the case is set to begin on May 18, with opening statements potentially occurring the same day. Lively's attorneys are arguing over the admissibility of expert witness testimony regarding her reputational damage and economic losses, as they contend that the connection to the Depp-Heard trial shaped her understanding of the alleged smear campaign.

(UPDATED April 28, 2026 23:18 UTC)

In a notable development, Taylor Swift's name has surfaced in jury selection materials for an ongoing trial involving Blake Lively. Lively's legal team is looking to bring in testimony from several women who have experienced or witnessed inappropriate behavior on the set of "It Ends With Us," while potential jurors will be questioned about their personal connections to celebrities like Swift and Ryan Reynolds. Additionally, during a pre-trial conference, attorneys debated the admissibility of expert witness testimony concerning Lively's reputational damage and economic losses, with Baldoni's lawyers claiming her businesses failed because she is "not a marvelous mogul."

(UPDATED April 28, 2026 21:22 UTC)

Blake Lively is preparing to bring elements from the Johnny Depp v. Amber Heard trial into her case against Justin Baldoni, alleging that he used the same crisis PR operative during a wave of online hatred related to the 2024 release of "It Ends With Us." Lively is seeking $500 million in damages, while Baldoni has countersued for $400 million, although a federal judge dismissed his countersuit last June. The trial is set to begin on May 18 in New York, where jury selection will also take place, and Lively's legal team argues that the connection to the Depp-Heard trial has influenced her understanding of the alleged smear campaign against her.