Justin Baldoni's Lawyer Breaks Silence On Ryan Reynolds' 'SNL' Joke

Yahoo

19-02-2025

's attorney is weighing in on and ' recent public appearance as the legal battle surrounding "It Ends with Us" continues to unfold.
The couple made a high-profile return to the spotlight at "SNL50: The Anniversary Special" on Sunday, February 16, in New York City. Reynolds and Lively walked the red carpet together and later took their seats in the audience for the star-studded live taping.
While the two seemed to put on a united front, Justin Baldoni's lawyer claims it was just another "move."
During the show, Reynolds appeared to make a subtle reference to the ongoing lawsuits involving Baldoni. When asked on stage, "How's it going?" Reynolds, with Lively by his side, quipped, "Great, why? What have you heard?" before continuing with the segment.
Baldoni's attorney, Bryan Freedman, addressed the moment while speaking on "Hot Mics with Billy Bush" on February 17, calling it the "latest move" from Lively's team.
"I'm unaware of anybody, frankly, whose wife has been sexually harassed and has made jokes about that type of situation," Freedman stated. "I can't think of anyone who's done anything like that. It surprised me."
A new development in the ongoing legal battle involving Baldoni suggests that Reynolds' recent joke on "SNL 50" could be a point of discussion in Baldoni's defense.
An insider close to the case told Page Six that Reynolds' decision to address the lawsuit in a public setting may not go unnoticed by Baldoni's legal team. "It's very plausible that Justin's legal team will use this public outing to defend him," the source explained.
The insider also noted the stark contrast in how both sides are handling the case, stating, "Justin is taking this lawsuit in all seriousness and isn't making a public mockery out of it."
While it remains unclear exactly how Baldoni's attorneys might incorporate the "SNL" moment into their case, legal teams on both sides had previously been cautioned against making public statements or actions that could sway a potential jury.
According to the source, some in Hollywood found the moment questionable as well.
"People in Hollywood think Blake and Ryan attending the 'SNL 50th Anniversary' show was not a good look," the insider revealed. "They think they should have sat this one out."
Despite the mixed reactions, another source indicated that Reynolds and Lively have no regrets about attending the event. "They have no regrets about making an appearance at the show," the insider said, adding that the couple remained at Studio 8H long after the cameras stopped rolling.
"Blake was initially hesitant to attend the 'SNL 50th Anniversary' show, but ultimately, she's glad she attended and had a really nice time," the source continued.
The couple remains firm in their decision, with the insider emphasizing, "They're glad they showed up because they have nothing to hide and no reason not to."
Freedman also noted that Baldoni remains "hopeful" about the situation but pushed back against characterizing the actor's recent trip to Hawaii with his wife and children as a getaway.
"I wouldn't call it vacation. I don't think anybody who has been accused of heinous, arguably what are crimes is on 'vacation,'" Freedman said during "Hot Mics with Billy Bush." "I think he is trying to gather with his family and get some semblance of peace."
The legal battle between the Hollywood figures escalated in December when Lively filed a lawsuit against Baldoni, his PR team, and members of his company, Wayfarer Studios, alleging sexual harassment and retaliation, all claims that Baldoni has denied.
In response, Baldoni filed a countersuit in January, accusing Lively, Reynolds, their publicist, and The New York Times of defamation and extortion.
Her lawyers have called his lawsuit "meritless" and said, in part, "This is an age-old story: A woman speaks up with concrete evidence of sexual harassment and retaliation and the abuser attempts to turn the tables on the victim."
They added at the time, "In short, while the victim focuses on the abuse, the abuser focuses on the victim. The strategy of attacking the woman is desperate, it does not refute the evidence in Ms. Lively's complaint, and it will fail."
With the trial scheduled for 2026, it remains uncertain whether Baldoni's evidence will stand up in court or if this legal battle will unfold with as much drama as the film itself.