Us Weekly's 5 Hot Stories: Blake Lively Seeks Protective Order, ‘Scamanda' Producer Speaks Out
Blake Lively requested a new protective order amid her ongoing legal battle with her It Ends With Us costar and director Justin Baldoni. Us Weekly confirmed on Friday, Feb. 21, that Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, submitted a letter to a judge one day prior in order to ask for a protective order that is stronger than the standard one they were granted when the saga began. Per the letter, Lively is seeking 'additional protections' after she and 'her family, other members of the cast, various fact witnesses, and individuals that have spoken out publicly in support of Ms. Lively have received violent, profane, sexist, and threatening communications.' The actress filed a lawsuit against Baldoni in December 2024 accusing him of sexual harassment and creating a 'hostile work environment' on the set of their film, which was released that summer. Baldoni denied the allegations before filing his own lawsuit accusing Lively and Reynolds of defamation. The couple, who have been married since 2012, have denounced Baldoni's claims. A trial date has been set for March 2026. Keep reading for more of Us' top stories:
In an exclusive interview, the producer of ABC's Scamanda docuseries detailed her conversations with cancer fraudster Amanda Riley as she serves time in prison.
Us exclusively confirms that fans of The Challenge's Zach Nichols and Jenna Compono can rest easy amid online speculation that the couple called it quits.
George Clooney made a rare comment about his children — 7-year-old twins Alexander and Ella, whom he shares with wife Amal — while discussing his upcoming Broadway debut.
1923 star Julia Schlaepfer exclusively opened up to Us about her 'natural chemistry' with onscreen love interest Brandon Sklenar, revealing the pair formed an 'instant bond.'
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Newsweek
26 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Blake Lively's Lawyers Hit Back at Justin Baldoni Court Hope
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Blake Lively's lawyers have hit back at Justin Baldoni's legal team, who suggested the actress should hold off on celebrations following a judge's motion to dismiss his $400 million lawsuit against her. In a statement to Newsweek, Esra Hudson and Mike Gottlieb called Baldoni's attempt to sue the actress "embarrassing." Newsweek reached out to Baldoni's lawyer for comment via email outside regular working hours. The Context It Ends With Us co-stars Lively and Baldoni have been embroiled in a legal battle since December 2024 when Lively, who is 37, filed a sexual-harassment complaint against Baldoni, 41, alleging misconduct on the set of the 2024 film. She also accused him of launching a smear campaign against her, which he denied. In response, Baldoni—who directed the movie as well—and production company Wayfarer Studios filed a $400 million lawsuit against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and her publicist Leslie Sloane, which alleged extortion, defamation and more. In addition, Baldoni filed a $250 million lawsuit against The New York Times for "libel," saying the publication "cherry-picked" Lively's story of what allegedly took place on the set of It Ends With Us. On Monday, U.S. District Court Judge Lewis Liman tossed out both of Baldoni's lawsuits, finding that Lively's sexual harassment accusations were legally protected. Liman said, however, that Baldoni's team can amend the claims for "tortious interference with contract and breach of implied contract" if they wish. (L) Blake Lively attends the London premiere of "Renaissance: A Film By Beyoncé" on November 30, 2023 in London, England. (R) Justin Baldoni is seen filming "It Ends With Us" on May 25, 2023 in... (L) Blake Lively attends the London premiere of "Renaissance: A Film By Beyoncé" on November 30, 2023 in London, England. (R) Justin Baldoni is seen filming "It Ends With Us" on May 25, 2023 in Hoboken, New Jersey. More Kevin Mazur/WireImage for Parkwood; Gotham/GC Images What To Know On Tuesday, Baldoni's lawyer Bryan Freedman said Lively's "declaration of victory is false." "Let us be clear about the latest ruling. While the Court dismissed the defamation related claims, the Court has invited us to amend four out of the seven claims against Ms. Lively, which will showcase additional evidence and refined allegations," he said in a statement to TMZ. "This case is about false accusations of sexual harassment and retaliation and a nonexistent smear campaign, which Ms. Lively's own team conveniently describes as 'untraceable' because they cannot prove what never happened," Freedman continued. "Most importantly, Ms. Lively's own claims are no truer today than they were yesterday, and with the facts on our side, we march forward with the same confidence that we had when Ms. Lively and her cohorts initiated this battle and look forward to her forthcoming deposition, which I will be taking." In a statement to Newsweek on Wednesday, Lively's lawyers, Hudson and Gottlieb, pushed back against Freedman's remarks. "The Court dismissed the entire Wayfafer complaint. Their lawsuit against Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, The New York Times and Leslie Sloane is gone," they said, "The Court's ruling also clearly stated that there are only two minor claims that the Wayfarer Parties can amend." "No amount of spin, bluster, or creative accounting from Baldoni's legal team will change the embarrassing reality staring them in the face: the plan to sue Blake Lively and her family into oblivion has been a complete and total failure." Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively are seen on the set of "It Ends with Us" on January 12, 2024 in Jersey City, New Jersey. Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively are seen on the set of "It Ends with Us" on January 12, 2024 in Jersey City, New Jersey. Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images What People Are Saying Freedman addressed the judge's dismissal on Thursday's episode of The Megyn Kelly Show: "The judge simplified things, and while we're not pleased that he got rid of the defamation causes of action, the truth was the case was never really about defamation. While it's our response, and while it's a portion of our claims, from the very start, this case was about somebody being wrongfully accused, and that's Justin." Hudson and Gottlieb said in a statement after Monday's ruling: "Today's opinion is a total victory and a complete vindication for Blake Lively, along with those that Justin Baldoni and the Wayfarer Parties dragged into their retaliatory lawsuit, including Ryan Reynolds, Leslie Sloane and The New York Times. As we have said from day one, this '$400-million' lawsuit was a sham, and the Court saw right through it." "We look forward to the next round, which is seeking attorneys' fees, treble damages and punitive damages against Baldoni, Sarowitz, Nathan, and the other Wayfarer parties who perpetrated this abusive litigation." Sigrid McCawley, an attorney representing Leslie Sloane, said in a statement: "Leslie Sloane has consistently said that she never defamed Baldoni or the Wayfarer Parties and she was wrongfully dragged into this lawsuit because the Wayfarer Parties wanted to actively harm Sloane's reputation. Today's decision by the Court makes clear that Sloane did nothing wrong. Sloane stands fully vindicated, and justice has been served." Charlie Stadtlander, a spokesperson for The New York Times, said: "We are grateful to the Court for seeing the lawsuit for what it was: a meritless attempt to stifle honest reporting. Our journalists went out and covered carefully and fairly a story of public importance, and the Court recognized that the law is designed to protect just that sort of journalism." What Happens Next The deadline for Baldoni's lawyers to refile amended claims is June 23.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Elizabeth Hurley poses nude for 60th birthday, celebrates 'love' with Billy Ray Cyrus
Elizabeth Hurley is marking her 60th birthday by professing her 'love' for new boyfriend Billy Ray Cyrus and celebrating the milestone occasion in her birthday suit. 'Happy birthday to me! This year has already been a wild ride,' Hurley wrote alongside a nude photo of herself on Instagram. She went on to namecheck her longstanding business partnership with beauty brand Estée Lauder, the 20th anniversary of her eponymous swimwear company, and being 'in love' with Cyrus, whom she went public with back in April. 'Feeling very blessed and grateful for having the best friends & family in the world,' Hurley continued, adding that the snap was 'taken this afternoon… in my birthday suit.' In the photo, Hurley beamed happily as she was captured sitting in a sun-drenched grassy field with her legs crossed. Cyrus shared a photo of himself cuddling Hurley and called the actress 'the love of my life.' Meanwhile, Hurley's celeb pals and fans also took an opportunity to wish her a happy birthday. Her son, Damien, commented on her post 'Hahahah I LOVE YOU ♥️♥️♥️ happy birthday mama xxx.' Actress Patsy Kensit called Hurley 'the most beautiful kind human being' and said she was happy to see her friend finding joy again with her 'true love Billy, who is so fabulous.' America's Got Talent judge Heidi Klum called Hurley 'beautiful, smart and funny' as she shared her best wishes. 'I have never seen a more gorgeous 60-year-old,' one fan praised, while another added, 'Birthday suit suits you.' A third commenter wrote, 'Amazing woman. Amazing face. Amazing body. You spread positivity. Happy Birthday.' Hurley's birthday revelation comes after she debuted her new romance with Cyrus in April. After going Instagram official over Easter, the new couple shared a pair of loved-up images on social media, showing their infatuation with one another is real. Hurley, who met Cyrus while filming the 2022 holiday movie Christmas in Paradise, shared the snaps to her Instagram, captioning the head-over-heels photos: 'Tennessee weekend.' 'Liz spent a beautiful couple of weeks in Tennessee with Billy Ray,' a source told PEOPLE. 'She loved being surrounded by nature in a more laid-back environment. She had a great time with Billy Ray.' Cyrus and Hurley 'appreciate each other's love and friendship,' the insider added. 'They have a very special connection.' According to a source speaking to Us Weekly, the Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery star and the Achy Breaky Heart singer, 63, had been dating in secret for about four months before going public. 'Liz's friends have known about it for a while. It's not a new thing,' another insider close to Hurley told the outlet. 'She had sworn them to secrecy, and they didn't tell anyone outside her tight circle.' Another confidante said that after being 'friends for years … it turned romantic recently. Things are going well.' One source told Page Six that the relationship is the real deal. 'This is not a hoax,' a friend spilled to the outlet. 'Liz is not a hoaxy person; she's very sincere, very bright and I think she likes him.' After making their social media debut, the pair walked the red carpet at the Orizzonti/Rosso exhibition in Rome last month. The duo's glam appearance in Italy came as a source told PEOPLE that Hurley 'doesn't care' that fans don't understand her romance with the musician. 'Liz doesn't care that skeptics don't get it. She's focused on the special things that they have in common, like country music,' the insider said. 'She loves his Southern vibes. He's very calm and happy around her.' In an interview with Apple Music's The Ty Bentli Show in April, Cyrus opened up on how the two reconnected after filming Christmas in Paradise together. 'We did very few scenes together but the couple times we were in the same scene there was a chemistry there,' Cyrus told Bentli, according to excerpts of the interview that were published by PEOPLE and Entertainment Tonight. 'We just laughed, and it was at a time I wasn't laughing a lot.' After splitting from his wife Tish, Cyrus went on to marry singer Firerose in 2023. When that relationship ended, Cyrus said that he received a text from Hurley out of the blue. ''Hey, it looks like life might be a little bit tough and just wanted you to know I'm in your corner. You've got a friend in your corner,'' the message read, as told by Cyrus to Bentli. mdaniell@ Elizabeth Hurley and Billy Ray Cyrus cozy up in new IG pics Elizabeth Hurley and older sister sizzle in bikinis Elizabeth Hurley shuts down theory she took Prince Harry's virginity
Yahoo
11 hours ago
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Kate Middleton Stands By Prince William As Harry's Actions Leave 'Deep' Wounds, Royal Expert Says
Kate Middleton reportedly has no plans to reconcile with Prince Harry, as she chooses to stand by her husband, Prince William, amid ongoing tensions. Kate and Harry once shared a close bond, but their relationship soured after the duke and his wife, Meghan Markle's public criticisms of the royal family. Kate Middleton was reportedly heartbroken by the fallout with Prince Harry and the duchess, especially as she battled health challenges. Kate reportedly has no intention of initiating any reconciliation with Harry, choosing instead to remain firmly aligned with William. According to Us Weekly, the Prince and Princess of Wales are increasingly frustrated and "just don't understand why Harry doesn't stay quiet" after the royal exit. However, royal commentator Kinsey Schofield shared a different perspective with Fox News Digital, suggesting William's hurt stems from his desire to shield his wife from Harry's actions. "Catherine has been nothing but supportive of her husband – and that's exactly why Prince William is so deeply hurt," Schofield noted. He continued, "His pain doesn't come from personal insults or headlines. It comes from his instinct to protect the woman he loves… But what cuts the deepest is Harry's treatment of Catherine. She's always loved him, always treated him like a little brother. That's the betrayal William won't forget… But Harry never seems to think about the consequences." Meanwhile, British broadcaster and photographer Helena Chard told the publication that Kate has been quietly heartbroken over the ongoing rift between William and Harry, but has no plans to enter the drama. "Catherine and Harry shared a fun humor and were often seen giggling together at events," Chard shared. She continued, "Sadly and upsettingly, Princess Catherine was dragged into the public negative narrative, which was a real smack around the face for the kind of sister-in-law who tried hard to be the peacemaker between the brothers." The tension that has grown since Harry and Meghan departed from royal life further deepened following Harry's explosive memoir "Spare" and Meghan's 2021 Oprah Winfrey interview, during which she claimed Kate made her cry ahead of the royal wedding. According to a source cited by Us Weekly, Kate was deeply affected by the accusation. "The reframing of events upset her, and making up a narrative that Kate is mean was devastating," the source claimed. "She can't retaliate, and Meghan knows that." Chard told Fox News Digital that while Kate and Meghan never had much in common, the Princess of Wales was genuinely pleased when Harry found love. "Princess Catherine was happy when Prince Harry met Meghan," Chard noted. "She was thrilled that Prince Harry seemed genuinely happy… The three musketeers became the 'Fab Four'… Princess Catherine [silently] cannot understand why Prince Harry still won't bite his tongue and continues his destructive path." But that harmony didn't last. Chard explained that Kate entered "protection mode" as the "Sussexes aired more and more allegations, grievances, and untruths against members of the British royal family." "Her goals have been protecting the crown, future-proofing the monarchy, [honoring] the late Queen Elizabeth II's legacy, and protecting her children from Prince Harry's hurtful commentary," Chard added. After years of trying to bridge the gap, Kate has now also stepped back from "any role of attempting to mediate a reconciliation" between the brothers, royal expert Fordwich explained. "She and William are now totally at one regarding hypocritical Harry. She's far more focused on her health and family. She's rather hurt," Fordwich stated. In his memoir "Spare," Harry paints an affectionate picture of his early relationship with Kate. He described the princess as "a fantastic girl" and even joked about their dynamic, saying, "I'm really looking forward to getting her under my wing. She'll be taking me under her wing, probably." Harry recalled feeling genuinely close to Kate, writing: "I loved my new sister-in-law. I felt she was more sister than in-law, the sister I'd never had and always wanted, and I was pleased that she'd forever be standing by Willy's side. They made each other visibly happy, and therefore I was happy too." The duke wrote about their first meeting, noting that it left a lasting impression on him. He remembered her as "carefree, sweet, and kind," noting her love for photography, art, and fashion. "She'd done a gap year in Florence," he wrote. "She loved clothes… I liked seeing Kate laugh. Better yet, I liked making her laugh. And I was quite good at it." Unfortunately, as things stand, it is unlikely Harry and Kate's relationship would ever return to the way it once was.
