Justin Baldoni, actor and director, has candidly shared his emotional struggles during what he describes as an “intense year,” marked by a high-profile legal battle with his It Ends With Us co-star, Blake Lively. In a teaser for an upcoming interview, Baldoni opens up about the personal toll the ongoing legal issues have had on him.
Baldoni, best known for his role in Jane the Virgin, fought back tears as he discussed the emotional strain caused by the legal proceedings. “I had an intense year,” Baldoni admitted, adding that the stress had triggered anxiety. He revealed that he had sent a text message just that morning, expressing his anxiety, and shared that he had not yet spoken about these challenges publicly. The full interview is set to air on February 10, 2025.
This emotional revelation comes amidst an ongoing legal feud between Baldoni and Lively, which has been the subject of public scrutiny. Blake Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment and claims that he initiated a smear campaign against her. These accusations were made public in a complaint filed with the California Civil Rights Department and have since escalated into a formal lawsuit.
In response, Baldoni has vehemently denied the allegations. He has filed a defamation lawsuit against The New York Times for its coverage of the case. Furthermore, Baldoni has pursued legal action against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and their publicist, filing a staggering $400 million lawsuit in January 2025.
Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, has stated that the legal battles have had a significant emotional and financial impact on the actor. During a pre-trial conference, Freedman mentioned that Baldoni had been “devastated” by the proceedings and that the public nature of the case has made it difficult for Baldoni to effectively address the allegations.
In an effort to clear his name, Baldoni has made public some raw footage from the It Ends With Us set, as well as text message exchanges between himself and Lively. Despite these efforts, Baldoni’s legal team acknowledges that defending against such high-profile accusations is challenging, as people often perceive allegations as facts once they are made, complicating any attempt to rebut them.
The trial between Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively is scheduled for May 2026, and both sides are expected to continue drawing significant attention as they work through the legal process.
