Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni’s ongoing legal dispute has taken a dramatic turn as the actress and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, have made new claims in their case. The couple’s lawyer has appealed for a gag order to prevent Baldoni’s legal team from making public statements that could influence the court proceedings.
In a letter sent to Judge Lewis J. Liman, who is presiding over the case, Lively’s attorney, Esra Hudson, argued that it is essential to ensure that the court’s proceedings are not prejudiced by “extrajudicial statements.” Hudson emphasized that enforcing ethical rules on counsel is not an infringement on free speech but rather a safeguard to maintain the integrity of the case.
The letter also highlighted that Baldoni’s legal team is attempting to create a false equivalence, which could have serious consequences, not just for this case, but also for other women who face sexual harassment in the workplace. Lively’s legal team expressed concern over the public’s perception and the impact of these statements on justice.
More concerning, however, were the claims of an ongoing smear campaign against Lively. The letter alleged that Baldoni’s crisis PR specialist, Melissa Nathan, has been using tabloid media to spread negative stories about the actress. Additionally, it was claimed that a covert digital campaign had been launched to manipulate social media algorithms and harm Lively’s public image.
The legal team further asserted that these efforts have continued since Lively filed the complaint and may have even accelerated. The letter concluded with a stern warning that if such tactics persist, they could severely compromise the fair administration of justice in the case.
As the legal battle intensifies, all eyes are now on how the court will address these new developments and what impact they will have on the ongoing proceedings.
