Protective order granted amid ongoing lawsuit against Justin Baldoni
Blake Lively’s legal showdown with It Ends With Us co-star and director Justin Baldoni just took another twist — her upcoming deposition has officially been pushed back two weeks after a court granted her request for extra protection.
Originally scheduled for Thursday (July 17), the Gossip Girl alum’s deposition will now take place on July 31, according to court documents obtained by People. The delay comes after a judge approved Blake’s motion to hold the legal session at a confidential location, citing safety and privacy concerns.
Blake, 37, is suing Baldoni for sexual harassment and retaliation, claims that have rocked both Hollywood and the fans of the upcoming film adaptation. The case continues to draw attention, especially after her legal team accused the director’s PR machine of orchestrating an online smear campaign.
Meanwhile, a separate lawsuit Blake filed against Jed Wallace, a Texas-based publicist allegedly hired to amplify negative online chatter about her, has been dismissed — but not for lack of evidence. The court ruled on jurisdictional grounds, meaning she could still refile in another state.
According to Blake’s legal complaint, Wallace allegedly “weaponised a digital army” to plant misleading content across social media and internet forums, all in an effort to damage her reputation. The court’s decision allows Blake until July 31 to either amend her current claim or pursue Wallace elsewhere.
Her spokesperson responded to the ruling, saying:
“Ms. Lively respects the Court’s decision, which has nothing to do with the merits of her allegations about Mr. Wallace’s role in the smear campaign. We are currently evaluating our numerous options to hold him accountable.”
Justin Baldoni, for his part, has denied all allegations. His own counterclaims for defamation and extortion — which also named Blake’s husband, actor Ryan Reynolds — were dismissed last month, with no amended complaint filed.
As it stands, both Lively and Baldoni are expected to testify when the case goes to trial in March 2026 in New York.
This high-profile legal battle is far from over, and with major names involved, all eyes will be on what unfolds next in court.
