Blake Lively, the actress known for her roles on both the big and small screen, has found herself in a tense legal crossfire.
At the heart of the case is her claim that a smear campaign, allegedly orchestrated by former co-star Justin Baldoni, left her “fearful for her life.”
However, newly unsealed deposition transcripts reveal Lively struggled to back up those claims when pressed by Baldoni’s legal team.
Deposition Reveals Struggles to Pinpoint Evidence
The deposition took place in New York late last month, and parts of the transcript have now been made public.
During questioning, Lively had difficulty citing even a single offensive article tied to Baldoni or his team.
She also described an offhand remark by one of Baldoni’s publicists as a serious threat, highlighting the emotional toll the dispute has taken on her.
Controversial Texts and Alleged Threats
One notable exchange questioned during the deposition involved a text between Melissa Nathan and Jennifer Abel, in which Nathan jokingly said, “We can bury her.”
Lively claimed she interpreted it literally and described the message as “terrifying.”
She also referenced a comment from Steve Sarowitz, co-founder of Wayfarer, who reportedly said there would be “two dead bodies by the time he was done with us.”
Lively admitted she considered the remark potentially literal, explaining that as a mother, she feared anything could happen in those moments.
Challenges in Linking Jed Wallace to the Campaign
Lively is also suing Texas-based social media consultant Jed Wallace, claiming he orchestrated a coordinated smear campaign.
Yet, during questioning, she could not point to any specific offensive content authored or placed by Wallace.
Furthermore, although her $250 million lawsuit cites Californian sexual harassment laws, she conceded that most of It Ends With Us was filmed in New Jersey, potentially complicating jurisdictional issues.
Unsealed Documents Shed Light on the Case
Recent court orders have made several key documents public.
These include invoices totaling $90,000 billed to Baldoni by Wallace and a staggering $9 million spent on a crisis management team after on-set tensions became public.
Emails among Nathan, Baldoni’s business partner Jamey Heath, and Wallace detail the planning of social media campaigns aimed at promoting Baldoni and countering criticism.
One email from Nathan introduces Wallace to Heath as someone who “worked on some of the most monumental [behind the scenes] projects globally.”
Anonymous Social Media Efforts
Texts from Nathan revealed a plan for “untraceable” social media engagement, which involved creating anonymous accounts to interact with negative users and boost positive narratives about Baldoni.
A source familiar with the situation confirmed that these efforts were intended to amplify pro-Baldoni content online.
However, much of this strategy ultimately proved unnecessary due to organic criticism of Lively from real social media accounts.
Legal Drama Escalates With Countersuits
Lively originally filed her lawsuit against Baldoni in December, seeking $250 million for alleged inappropriate behavior on set.
Baldoni countersued for $400 million, claiming defamation.
The ensuing back-and-forth has led to a series of claims and counterclaims, bringing intense public scrutiny to both parties.
Personal and Public Fallout
Beyond the courtroom, the lawsuit has had personal repercussions.
Revelations from the deposition included Lively referring to her friends Taylor Swift and Ryan Reynolds as “my dragons” and likening herself to the Game of Thrones character Khaleesi.
Swift, who was briefly subpoenaed, has since distanced herself from Lively, and the former friends have not been seen together since the case began.
Social media interactions between the two have ceased entirely, and Lively has remained silent following Swift’s recent engagement announcement to Travis Kelce.
