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Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds are seeking additional protections amid their ongoing litigation with Justin Baldoni. The couple, currently engaged in a complex legal dispute with Lively’s *It Ends With Us* co-star and director, have requested the implementation of confidentiality rules governing the handling of sensitive information leading up to Lively’s sexual harassment lawsuit and Baldoni’s extortion countersuit, according to a proposal filed on Thursday.
The request for a protective order, submitted to the presiding judge, emphasizes concerns over the safety of Lively, her family, co-stars, and witnesses, citing violent, profane, and sexist threats they have allegedly received. Her legal team contends that one witness supporting her publicly was threatened in writing, warning that his family would be harmed unless he agreed to provide a statement.
If granted, the order would apply to all parties involved in the litigation, including attorneys and third parties, allowing certain information to be designated as confidential or restricted to “Attorneys’ Eyes Only,” though such classifications could be challenged.
This motion follows months of public disputes, including the release of private text messages and behind-the-scenes footage by Baldoni. In response, Lively’s attorneys filed a gag order request, accusing Baldoni and his legal team of engaging in a campaign of harassment and retaliation through frequent public statements and disclosures.
Background of the Litigation
Baldoni initially filed suit against Lively and Reynolds following Lively’s public allegations of sexual harassment and claims that Baldoni participated in a coordinated effort to damage her reputation. He contends that Lively fabricated these allegations and used her influence to interfere with the film’s production. His amended lawsuit expands on claims of extortion, invasion of privacy, and defamation.
In her lawsuit, Lively alleges that Baldoni sexually harassed her on set, introduced unapproved intimate scenes into the script, disclosed unsolicited details about his personal life, questioned her about her own, and entered her dressing room without permission while she was breastfeeding. She also accuses Baldoni and the crisis public relations firm he retained of orchestrating an online campaign to generate hostility toward her in an effort to insulate him from potential harassment claims.
The trial is currently scheduled to begin on March 9, 2026.
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