In a dramatic and increasingly tense legal showdown, Justin Baldoni is accusing Blake Lively of using her “celebrity status” to gain an unfair advantage in their upcoming sexual harassment trial. The 41-year-old filmmaker is pushing back against Lively’s request to have her deposition held in her lawyer’s office — an idea that he claims would tilt the scales in her favor.

This legal battle, which began during the filming of It Ends With Us, has now escalated into a bitter feud in the courtroom. Baldoni’s legal team, led by attorney Bryan Freedman, is openly challenging Lively’s request, arguing that it places them at a disadvantage and risks turning the deposition into a “public spectacle.” Lively, 37, has voiced concerns about her testimony being made a circus for the media, but Baldoni’s team sees things differently — and they aren’t holding back.

The Real Reason Behind the Venue Dispute

At the heart of this dispute lies a disagreement over where the deposition should take place. Lively’s legal team proposed holding it in New York, hoping to minimize the media frenzy surrounding the trial. However, Baldoni’s team insists that this move is a thinly veiled attempt by the actress to control the narrative and protect her image. They argue that by holding the deposition in Lively’s lawyer’s office, it gives her an opportunity to “manipulate the environment,” using her celebrity status to gain an upper hand.

Baldoni’s attorneys countered with a suggestion of their own: move the proceedings to their office, just a mile away. They argued that this would allow them to consult their extensive notes in private and ensure that all communications remain confidential — a crucial detail given the gravity of the case.

In a statement filled with sarcasm, Freedman said, “Although Lively’s foot-stomping and use of her celebrity status may have enabled her to seize control of the film, which is the crux of this dispute, her counsel’s tantrum has no place in this Court. Lively is bound by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure like every litigant.” It was a clear shot at Lively’s attempt to control the deposition venue, which has only fueled the flames of their ongoing battle.

Baldoni’s Bold Claims: Lively’s “Celebrity Tantrum” and Public Spectacle

Baldoni’s team has been relentless, with Freedman accusing Lively of using her status as a weapon. The actor-turned-filmmaker is adamant that the public spectacle of her deposition will only serve to distract from the serious legal issues at hand. He even joked that the deposition should be live-streamed at Madison Square Garden for a larger audience, poking fun at what he sees as an unnecessary attempt by Lively to turn a private legal matter into a media circus.

Lively’s team, unsurprisingly, wasn’t amused by this suggestion, which Freedman made in a tongue-in-cheek moment. His proposal to sell tickets and donate the proceeds to victims of domestic violence was dismissed by Lively’s legal team as nothing more than a publicity stunt aimed at making the actress’s deposition a public spectacle.

As the conflict continues to build, it seems both sides are using every opportunity to score points in the court of public opinion. While Lively’s team seeks privacy and control, Baldoni’s side is trying to expose what they claim is a strategic manipulation of the legal process, one that uses the media and celebrity power to tip the scales in her favor.

The Relationship That Sparked the Legal Firestorm

The roots of this courtroom drama stretch back to the filming of It Ends With Us, a project that turned toxic long before the legal battle began. Lively and Baldoni reportedly clashed on set, with sources hinting at deep creative differences that may have influenced their relationship off-screen. But it wasn’t until December, when Lively filed a lawsuit accusing Baldoni of sexual harassment and retaliatory smear campaigns, that the situation turned litigious.

Lively claims that Baldoni subjected her to inappropriate behavior while working on the film and, when she spoke out, he attempted to ruin her reputation. This led to the lawsuit, where Lively accused Baldoni of attempting to sabotage her career by spreading damaging rumors about her.

Blake Lively’s Legal Setback: Texts with Taylor Swift Under Scrutiny

Things took a turn for the worse for Lively when a judge recently denied her application for a protective order that would have kept her private messages with Taylor Swift out of the trial. Lively’s legal team had hoped to block any communications between the two stars from being used as evidence, but the judge ruled against her, allowing Baldoni’s team to subpoena text messages, emails, and other private communications between Lively and Swift.

Among the documents that Baldoni’s lawyers have subpoenaed are text exchanges between Lively and Swift. One of the most embarrassing messages uncovered was a conversation in which Lively referred to herself as the Game of Thrones character Khaleesi, while calling Swift one of her “dragons.” The lighthearted exchange, while harmless in context, became a point of contention in the legal proceedings, highlighting just how personal this trial has become.

But that wasn’t all. Baldoni’s team claims that Swift was involved in a meeting at Lively’s New York penthouse to discuss changes to the It Ends With Us script. However, sources close to Swift have insisted that she wasn’t actively involved and that she simply “walked into” a meeting that was already underway. According to these sources, Swift felt “exploited” by her long-time friend Lively, who is godmother to Swift’s three daughters.

The Showdown: What’s at Stake?

As the legal battle intensifies, it’s clear that both Lively and Baldoni are gearing up for a high-stakes courtroom showdown. For Lively, this trial represents more than just a chance to hold Baldoni accountable for his alleged actions on set — it’s also an opportunity to regain control of her image and reputation. For Baldoni, it’s a fight to clear his name and protect his career from what he views as false accusations.

The questions hanging in the air are as high-profile as the celebrities involved: Will Lively’s strategy of using her celebrity power backfire in court? Will Baldoni’s push for a more private, controlled deposition help him gain the upper hand? And, most importantly, what role will the ever-present media play in this already explosive drama?

Stay tuned. With each new filing and every fresh piece of evidence, this legal battle promises to get even messier. What started as a clash of egos on set has now exploded into a full-fledged courtroom war — one that’s far from over.