A new motion filed in the Southern District of New York accuses Justin Baldoni’s legal team of slipping draft excerpts from Blake Lively’s 292-page July 31 deposition to entertainment outlets to paint the session as a dramatic “showdown,” an effort Lively’s lawyers say was designed to sway public opinion before trial.
The filing asks Judge Loretta Preska to strike the unfinished transcript from the record, noting that only two pages were ever cited and that the document had not yet been verified by the actress. Counsel argued the leak turned a routine discovery step into a “media circus” that could taint a future jury pool.
Baldoni, who attended the deposition with several attorneys, rejects the allegation through representatives who say transparency is central to his defense against Lively’s claims of sexual harassment and retaliation on the set of It Ends With Us. His $400 million countersuit for defamation and civil extortion—filed against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and a publicist—was dismissed in June, but he continues to deny any misconduct.
The latest dispute follows weeks of wrangling over access to testimony. In mid-July Lively sought to keep the proceedings private, citing concerns about mental health and safety after online harassment escalated when the lawsuit became public. Baldoni’s attorneys opposed that request, saying the public had a right to examine statements that could factor into his reputation as an actor-director .
The court has scheduled a March 2026 trial, leaving both parties to exchange evidence while production on It Ends With Us remains paused . Lively’s team claims the leaks show Baldoni’s side is pursuing a publicity strategy rather than litigating on the merits, whereas his representatives insist that releasing the deposition would prove he never intimidated his co-star. Judge Preska is expected to rule on the motion within weeks; for now, the transcript stays under seal and the legal sparring continues.…
