Blake Lively has submitted an updated version of her complaint in the ongoing legal dispute with Justin Baldoni . This amended filing in New York federal court on Tuesday February 18th updates her initial lawsuit from December 31st against her It Ends With Us co-star Baldoni and other parties.
According to her attorneys Esra Hudson and Mike Gottlieb this amended version "provides significant additional evidence and backs up her original claims" and "includes previously undisclosed communications" involving Lively Sony Wayfarer Studios and "numerous other witnesses." Hudson and Gottlieb also mentioned that the amended complaint "added a new claim for defamation ." They allege this claim is "based on the repeated false statements the defendants have made about Ms. Lively since her original complaint and adds Jed Wallace and his company as defendants." Wallace is also suing Lively separately and denies involvement in any smear campaign.
In the amended complaint Lively's lawyers argue that Baldoni and the other defendants' "false narrative crumbles under the undeniable truth" that Lively "was not alone in voicing concerns about Mr. Baldoni and raised these concerns at the time in 2023. This was not some made-up power play for film control in 2024." A spokesperson for Lively states the amended complaint "details the support that reinforces Blake’s original sexual harassment and retaliation concerns." The spokesperson claims it indicates "other women confided in Blake about their unease and fear of speaking out and their worry about the current public attacks."
Attorneys for Baldoni have not yet responded to requests for comment.
What Blake Lively's Amended Complaint Means For The Legal Battle
New Evidence and Defamation Claim Intensify Lively-Baldoni Dispute
Baldoni amended his countersuit against Lively Ryan Reynolds their publicist and The New York Times on January 31st. He made these filings accessible to his followers on a website. The legal case between Lively and Baldoni is scheduled for trial in March 2026. Attorneys for both sides recently decided against mediation . In the discovery phase Lively's attorneys stated last week they issued subpoenas for Baldoni's phone records. They believe this "will reveal the individuals tactics and methods used to 'destroy' and 'bury' [Lively's] reputation and family over the past year."
Baldoni's lawyers responded by arguing the subpoenas are overly broad and described them as a "massive fishing expedition." They claim her attorneys "are desperately trying to find any factual basis for their demonstrably false claims" adding "They will not find any." Judge Lewis J. Liman cautioned both parties at a pre-trial hearing earlier in February against litigating their suits through the media. He warned he might set an earlier trial date if the public relations conflict continues.
Our Take On Blake Lively's Amended Complaint and its Implications
Escalating Legal Fight Suggests a Lengthy and Public Trial Ahead
The amended complaint from Blake Lively indicates a deepening of the legal conflict with Justin Baldoni. The inclusion of new witnesses and a defamation claim shows this is becoming a more complex and potentially prolonged legal battle. The rejection of mediation further suggests that both parties are prepared for a trial. The accusations of on-set discomfort for other women add another layer to Lively's claims. The legal strategies being used such as subpoenas for phone records and public statements from both legal teams point towards a highly contentious and closely watched case. Judge Liman's warning about public litigation suggests concern about the case's impact beyond the courtroom. As the trial date is set for 2026 this dispute is likely to remain in the public eye for a significant period. The trial could reveal more details about on-set dynamics and the alleged smear campaign adding further drama to this already publicized conflict.