Even in Hollywood, courtroom reality has a way of cutting through the glitz.
That’s what actress Blake Lively experienced this week as a federal judge reminded her that fame isn’t a free pass—and certainly isn’t permanent.
Judge Delivers a Blunt Warning About Fame
During an emergency hearing, U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman made it clear that he wasn’t interested in celebrity status or red carpet reputations.
While acknowledging that he’s now aware of who Blake Lively and her co-star Justin Baldoni are, the judge admitted he hadn’t even heard of them before the case landed on his desk.
“Celebrity is fleeting,” he said pointedly, warning Lively not to lean too hard on her A-list standing.
“As far as I’m concerned, whether they have celebrity at the moment or not is irrelevant.”
Accusations of Special Treatment Sparked the Exchange
The warning came after Baldoni’s lawyer, Kevin Fritz, accused Lively of receiving “special treatment” because of her fame.
But Judge Liman quickly shut down that line of argument, urging the attorney to speak in terms the court actually works with—not celebrity drama.
He emphasized the seriousness of the case and pushed back against what he saw as unnecessary finger-pointing.
“It’s not helped me in this case to start throwing around accusations,” Liman said. “Let’s make celebrity irrelevant.”
A Battle Over Deposition Details
The court hearing took place right before Lively’s scheduled deposition.
Lively, 37, has been pushing to control the conditions of her testimony—including choosing the location and limiting it to seven hours.
That deposition was initially set for this week but has been pushed to July 31.
The legal tug-of-war over it reflects the broader tensions in her ongoing sexual harassment case against Baldoni, 41, who co-starred with her and directed It Ends With Us.
Claims Dismissed, But the Case Continues
Adding to the drama, one of Lively’s claims—against social media strategist Jed Wallace—was recently dismissed by the judge.
However, she has the option to either refile in a different jurisdiction or amend her complaint.
If Wallace gets pulled back into the case, his legal team has already made it clear they’ll demand another deposition.
Meanwhile, Judge Liman ordered Lively to turn over three years’ worth of business records to Baldoni’s team.
Notably, he denied their request for information about her net worth.
The Financial Toll on Lively’s Brand
Lively has claimed that the alleged smear campaign led by Baldoni damaged her business—specifically her haircare line “Blake Brown,” which she says saw sales plummet between 56 and 78 percent.
The judge wants proof. “Lively must have some basis for stating that she has suffered economic damages,” the ruling stated.
That means her business records are now fair game for scrutiny.
A $400 Million Countersuit and Mounting Legal Pressure
Back in December, Lively filed her original lawsuit accusing Baldoni of sexual harassment and orchestrating a media campaign to ruin her image.
Baldoni responded with a staggering $400 million countersuit—not just against Lively, but also her husband Ryan Reynolds and her longtime publicist Leslie Sloane—claiming defamation and extortion.
So far, the battle has only grown messier and more personal, stretching beyond legal filings and into friendship circles and group chats.
The Fallout Reaches Taylor Swift
Even pop megastar Taylor Swift has gotten pulled into the chaos.
Baldoni’s legal team subpoenaed Lively’s communications with Swift, and one text exchange that surfaced showed Lively referring to herself as Khaleesi and Swift as one of her “dragons.”
There was also a claim that Swift was present at a private meeting hosted by Lively to discuss It Ends With Us script changes.
However, sources close to Swift have denied any involvement with the project.
Her subpoena was eventually withdrawn, but not before it raised eyebrows.
A Judge Grows Tired of the Drama
Earlier in the case, Judge Liman described the escalating fight as a “feud between two PR firms,” hinting at his growing impatience with the public spectacle surrounding what is, at its core, a serious legal matter.
Though Baldoni’s defamation countersuit was dismissed in June, the legal wrangling is far from over.
With depositions still pending and discovery ongoing, this courtroom drama could have many more episodes.
What’s Next for Blake and Justin?
Blake Lively now faces more legal scrutiny and pressure to provide financial proof of the damage she claims to have suffered.
As for Baldoni, he’s still fighting back against the allegations, even as parts of his countersuit fall apart.
It’s a harsh reminder that in court, fame isn’t currency—and in the eyes of the law, even a Gossip Girl can’t skip the process.
