Justin Baldoni Plans to Sue Blake Lively for Defamation, Says Lawyer: ‘We Want the Truth to Be Out There’

Justin Baldoni, who was recently accused of sexual harassment by his It Ends With Us costar Blake Lively, intends to take legal action against the actress. Baldoni, 40, has already filed a defamation lawsuit against The New York Times following an article that reported Lively’s allegations, and now he plans to sue Lively herself.

According to reports from Daily Mail, on December 20, Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment during the filming of It Ends With Us, alleging he created a toxic work environment and waged a smear campaign against her. Just days later, on December 31, Lively filed a separate lawsuit against Baldoni, claiming emotional distress and humiliation from his actions.

In response, Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, confirmed that the actor is moving forward with legal action against the 37-year-old actress. A source close to Baldoni revealed to PEOPLE that the lawsuit against Lively is expected to be filed “soon.”

Baldoni’s lawyer further stated, “We plan to release every single text message between the two of them [sic]. We want the truth to be out there.” This declaration points to a potential public airing of the correspondence between Baldoni and Lively, with the actor determined to clear his name.

In addition to the forthcoming lawsuit against Lively, Baldoni has already launched a $250 million libel lawsuit against The New York Times regarding the article that covered Lively’s initial accusations. Baldoni and his legal team argue that the article selectively used stories and moments to build a narrative that was harmful to the actor’s reputation.

The ongoing legal battle has ignited a public controversy, as both sides prepare for further proceedings. Baldoni’s response to the allegations suggests a firm commitment to defending his character, while Lively’s actions indicate she feels the need for legal recourse to address the issues she claims to have faced on set.