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

The legendary comedian and filmmaker took the stage at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, using his opening monologue to poke fun at one of Hollywood’s most talked-about legal battles—Blake Lively versus Justin Baldoni.

“I loved Wicked. I saw it four times in the first four days.

It was the highest-grossing movie musical of all time. Do you know that?” the 57-year-old quipped to the industry crowd.

“Usually, to make that much money, you have to sue Blake Lively.”

The joke landed with a roar of laughter, but it was just the beginning of his commentary on the bitter lawsuit that has shaken Hollywood.

Blake Lively’s Controversial Takeover of It Ends with Us

Lively, best known for her role in Gossip Girl, found herself at the center of a major controversy over the big-screen adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s 2016 novel It Ends with Us.

Despite never having read the book, she took over significant aspects of the film’s production, including costume decisions with a $600,000 budget.

With the backing of her powerful husband, Ryan Reynolds, and support from Columbia and Sony Pictures, Lively’s influence reshaped the film—though not for the better.

The final product received a disappointing 55% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, yet still managed to rake in $351 million at the global box office. However, the box office success didn’t prevent the behind-the-scenes drama from spiraling into a full-scale legal war.

Lawsuits, Accusations, and Retaliation

The legal battle kicked off on December 20 when Lively filed a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department, accusing Baldoni of sexual harassment and workplace retaliation during the film’s production.

She later detailed her allegations in an explosive interview with The New York Times.

Baldoni, best known for his role in Jane the Virgin, quickly responded with a $250 million libel lawsuit against The New York Times, claiming the article was part of a “vicious smear campaign.”

Lively fired back on December 31 with another lawsuit against Baldoni and his PR team, accusing them of a coordinated effort to ruin her reputation.

The stakes got even higher on January 16 when Baldoni escalated the fight, filing a second lawsuit—this time for $400 million—against Lively, Ryan Reynolds, and their publicist, Leslie Sloan.

The allegations? Civil extortion, defamation, and invasion of privacy.

Judge Warns Against Public Statements

As the lawsuits pile up, a Manhattan U.S. District Judge, Lewis J. Liman, stepped in during a pre-trial conference, warning both legal teams to stop making public statements that could influence the case.

While no gag order has been issued, Liman made it clear that if the media circus continues, the trial—originally scheduled for March 2026—could be moved up.

Baldoni Faces Career Fallout

The legal drama has already had real consequences for Baldoni’s career.

His attorney, Bryan Freedman, revealed in an interview that Baldoni has lost four major job opportunities since the lawsuits began, including a planned big-screen adaptation of Pac-Man that had been in development since 2022.

Despite the setbacks, Baldoni’s production company, Wayfarer Studios, still has several projects in the pipeline.

One of the most anticipated is Eleanor the Great, the directorial debut of Scarlett Johansson, which will be released later this year by TriStar Pictures and Sony Pictures Classics.

Interestingly, Johansson was once married to Ryan Reynolds before his relationship with Lively.

Ryan Reynolds Joins the Feud with a Subtle Dig

Reynolds, never one to shy away from a feud, seemingly took a shot at Baldoni in his upcoming MCU sequel, Deadpool & Wolverine.

In the film, Reynolds’ character reportedly takes down a man-bun-wearing villain named Nicepool—a character that many speculate is a not-so-subtle jab at Baldoni. Whether intentional or not, the move has only added fuel to the fire.

Public Backlash and Industry Reaction

Lively has also come under scrutiny for her handling of the situation, particularly her treatment of journalists. She has been criticized for sarcastically brushing off questions about domestic violence in It Ends with Us and for promoting the film with a floral-filled, Barbie-style campaign that directly ties into her personal beauty and alcohol brands.

Meanwhile, Baldoni is set to share his perspective in a pre-taped interview for the Gent’s Talk podcast.

The episode, recorded in November, is scheduled to air on Monday at 2 PM ET, and will reportedly feature Baldoni becoming emotional as he reflects on what he describes as an “intense year.”

DGA Awards Winners Shine Amidst the Drama

While the night was filled with tension and controversy, the Directors Guild of America Awards still managed to celebrate some of the best talents in filmmaking.

Here are some of the big winners:

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film – Sean Baker (Anora)
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series – Frederick E.O. Toye (Shogun, “Crimson Sky”)
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series – Lucia Aniello (Hacks, “Bulletproof”)
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary – Brendan Bellomo & Slava Leontyev (Porcelain War)
Lifetime Achievement Award – Ang Lee

Despite Apatow’s jabs and the ongoing legal drama, the DGA Awards still managed to highlight some of the best achievements in the industry.

But with the Lively-Baldoni saga far from over, it’s safe to say this won’t be the last we hear about Hollywood’s latest courtroom showdown.

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

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