Judd Apatow didn’t hold back while hosting the 77th Directors Guild of America Awards last Saturday.

The comedian took full advantage of the spotlight to poke fun at Hollywood’s biggest ongoing legal feud—Blake Lively versus Justin Baldoni.

A Wickedly Sharp Joke

Apatow kicked off his monologue by gushing about the success of Wicked, joking that he had seen it four times in its opening days.

Then, with impeccable timing, he landed his punchline: “Usually, to make that much money, you have to sue Blake Lively.”

The audience erupted in laughter, making it one of the biggest hits of the night.

His remark was a nod to the mounting legal war between Lively and Baldoni, which has been making headlines for months.

The dispute stems from their collaboration on the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s It Ends with Us, which despite harsh critical reviews, managed to rake in $351 million at the global box office.

Power Struggles Behind the Scenes

Lively, who reportedly never read the novel, allegedly took control of the production, including its $600,000 costume budget, with backing from her husband Ryan Reynolds and major Hollywood players like Columbia and Sony Pictures.

Things took a serious turn on December 20, when she filed a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department, accusing Baldoni of sexual harassment and retaliation on set.

Baldoni wasted no time fighting back.

He responded by filing a $250 million libel lawsuit against The New York Times, accusing the outlet of siding with Lively in what he called a “vicious smear campaign.”

Then, on December 31, Lively countersued Baldoni and his PR team, claiming they were actively trying to destroy her reputation in retaliation.

By January 16, the battle escalated further when Baldoni filed a second lawsuit—this time for $400 million—against Lively, Reynolds, and their publicist Leslie Sloan.

His claims included civil extortion, defamation, and invasion of privacy.

Legal Chaos and Industry Fallout

With the trial set for March 2026, Manhattan US District Judge Lewis J. Liman recently warned both parties against making public statements that could jeopardize the case.

However, without an official gag order, both sides have continued to make headlines.

The legal drama has already impacted Baldoni’s career.

According to his attorney Bryan Freedman, Baldoni has lost four major projects, including a much-anticipated Pac-Man adaptation that had been in development since 2022.

Despite the turmoil, Baldoni’s production company, Wayfarer Studios, still has projects in the pipeline, including Eleanor the Great, the directorial debut of Scarlett Johansson.

The film is set for release later this year under TriStar Pictures and Sony Pictures Classics.

Interestingly, Johansson was once married to Reynolds before their divorce in 2011—the same year Reynolds co-starred with Lively in Green Lantern.

Deadpool’s Revenge?

Reynolds appears to have taken a subtle dig at Baldoni through his upcoming MCU blockbuster, Deadpool & Wolverine.

The film reportedly features a character named “Nicepool,” a manbun-wearing figure who gets shot down by Lively’s character, Ladypool.

Fans have speculated this is a playful jab at Baldoni, further fueling tensions between the two camps.

Meanwhile, Lively has faced backlash for her handling of the media, particularly her sarcastic responses to questions about domestic violence in the film.

Additionally, her floral-themed promotional campaign—closely tied to her haircare and alcohol brands—has been met with criticism.

Baldoni Speaks Out

For those looking to hear Baldoni’s perspective, he will be appearing on the Gent’s Talk podcast this Monday at 2 PM ET.

The episode, which was recorded in November, reportedly features him getting emotional while discussing what he describes as an “intense year.”

DGA Awards 2025 Winners

While Apatow’s roast stole the show, the night was ultimately about celebrating the industry’s top directing achievements.

Here’s a rundown of the winners:

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film

Sean Baker – Anora

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series

Frederick E.O. Toye – Shogun, “Crimson Sky” (FX)

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television and Limited Series

Steven Zaillian – Ripley (Netflix)

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Specials

Beth McCarthy-Miller – The Greatest Roast of All Time: Tom Brady (Netflix)

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Children’s Programs

Amber Sealey – Out of My Mind (Disney+)

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary

Brendan Bellomo & Slava Leontyev – Porcelain War (Picturehouse)

Michael Apted Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in First-Time Theatrical Feature Film

Ramell Ross – Nickel Boys

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series

Lucia Aniello – Hacks, “Bulletproof” (Max)

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Regularly Scheduled Programming

Liz Patrick – Saturday Night Live, “John Mulaney/Chappell Roan” (NBC)

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Reality Programs

Neil DeGroot – Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted, “The Cliffs of Ireland” (National Geographic Channel)

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Commercials

Andreas Nilsson – Biscuit Filmworks

Lifetime Achievement & Service Award Recipients

Ang Lee – Lifetime Achievement Award
Mary Rae Thewlis – Robert B. Aldrich Service Award
Thomas J. Whelan – Frank Capra Achievement Award

What’s Next?

With no resolution in sight, the Lively-Baldoni legal feud will likely continue to dominate entertainment news.

Whether the upcoming podcast appearance sheds new light on the situation or adds more fuel to the fire remains to be seen.

Either way, Hollywood is watching—and so is Judd Apatow, ready with his next punchline.

This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!

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