The public is obsessed with Lively vs. Baldoni because it's modern-day David and Goliath: 'No Filter' host
By Cortney O'Brien
Published April 19, 2025
The court battle between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni has ruled headlines for months, and "No Filter" podcast host Zack Peter says that's because the story may have biblical proportions.
The drama between the "It Ends with Us" co-stars started shortly after last summer's release of the movie, based off Colleen Hoover's book of the same name. The story showcases a powerful message about a woman walking away from an abusive relationship. In the lead-up to the film's release, fans were concerned that Lively appeared to be losing the movie's message about domestic violence by often talking about fashion and hair products.
Then came the rumors of a feud between the film's stars. Lively took the first shot, filing a complaint against Baldoni with the California Civil Rights Department, accusing him of sexual harassment and retaliation. Baldoni countered that Lively "falsely" accused him in an attempt to repair her reputation following fallout from their press tour after she allegedly took control of the film. Baldoni filed his own lawsuit against Lively on Jan. 16, suing the actress and her husband, actor Ryan Reynolds, for $400 million in a complaint alleging defamation and civil extortion, among other accusations. A more detailed timeline of their bitter feud can be found here.
According to Peter, the public appears to have taken sides.
BLAKE LIVELY VS. JUSTIN BALDONI: EVERYTHING TO KNOW
"I think the Blake and Baldoni story has so many elements to it that, I mean, one, I feel like culturally we love a takedown story, right?" Peter recently told Fox News Digital. "If somebody that's big and on top of a pedestal, we like to see them fall. That's just part of the culture. But I think we're seeing, as much as people are being fatigued with Hollywood in general, we're seeing two very powerful players in Hollywood, Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively, that are very clearly taking advantage of somebody that they see as much lower on the totem pole."
BLAKE LIVELY 'TRIED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE' OF JUSTIN BALDONI DURING 'IT ENDS WITH US' FILMING: CREW MEMBER
He described their battle as a modern-day David and Goliath. Lively and Ryan Reynolds are the powerhouse Hollywood "it" couple, going against the lesser-known and lesser-connected actor, Baldoni.
"And so I think we kind of are in this David and Goliath story and the public is rooting for Justin Baldoni because they see that he is the David against this big machine that used to have control, right?" Peter mused. "I think there's the takedown element. We want to see Hollywood fall. We want to see these powerful elite celebrities kind of be humbled and know that their tricks don't work anymore. And then I think we're also just tired of the media manipulation, right? Like Hollywood PR tactics and mainstream media, I feel like those two things people have finally started to see behind the curtain."
"We've met Oz and now, at this point, we don't want to be lied to anymore, or we don't want to be swayed to believe one thing or the other," he continued. "And now we actually want to see these people held accountable and to stop flexing their power to take advantage of more vulnerable people."
BLAKE LIVELY AND JUSTIN BALDONI LAWSUIT: MESSAGES EXPOSE ALLEGED LIES, THREATS AND INTIMATE SECRETS
Fox News Digital has reached out to Lively and Baldoni for comment.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Lively and Baldoni's back-and-forth legal battle has seemingly no end in sight. After both filed their respective lawsuits against the other, the two have shown no signs of settling outside of court.
A trial date is set for March 2026. Print Close
URL
https://www.foxnews.com/media/public-obsessed-lively-vs-baldoni-because-its-modern-day-david-goliath-no-filter-host
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fox News
5 hours ago
- Fox News
Joanna Gaines, Lauren Sánchez Bezos share heartbreak and joy as they send kids off to college
School will soon be back in session and tons of celebrities are preparing to send their kids off to college. Lauren Sánchez Bezos got emotional last week after sending her son, Evan, off to college while Julie Bowen's son Oliver will be a freshman at the University of Oregon in September. Heather and Terry Dubrow's daughter, Katarina, will be a freshman at Yale this fall. Heather previously told Fox News Digital that as much as she is excited for her daughter, she will always worry about her. "I mean, you always worry when your kid is off to college, right? It's a whole new environment. And not only are they still going to school and dealing with social issues, but they're adulting, you know, they're living on their own and doing their laundry and eating meals with all these new people and all of that. It's a lot to take in. "And I think the take-home message for all of them is, you know, make sure you're eating properly, make sure you're exercising, make a study plan, stick to a routine, call home, take deep breaths and protect your peace," she said. Here is a look at stars sending their kids off to college this fall. The wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos took to Instagram to share a heartfelt moment with her son setting up his dormitory. "Dropped off Evan at college today. 18 years of early mornings, late night snacks and family dinners... and then there he was building his own dorm cabinet," Sánchez Bezos wrote, as she reflected on an emotional moment. "A small thing but in that moment I saw the start of his next chapter. Proud. Heartbroken. Grateful," she added. Earlier this month, proud mom Sánchez Bezos also took to social media to document her son's journey to college. In an Instagram Story, Sánchez Bezos related to other moms trying to process the moment when their little kids suddenly aren't so little anymore. "Shout out to all the moms who feel like we were just dropping off our kids at kindergarten... then you blink and now we are packing them up for college. I'm in tears!" she shared. Sánchez Bezos shared a photo Saturday of large blue bags that appeared filled with dorm essentials, sitting in front of framed comic book artwork. According to People, Sanchez Bezos announced on her Instagram story in December that Evan would be attending the University of Miami this fall. "Spider-Man" star Tobey Maguire is sending his daughter off to college in September. Maguire's ex-wife, Jennifer Meyer, took to Instagram in May to share photos of their daughter's high school graduation. "Congratulations Ruby!!!!! Graduate of our dreams. We are so proud of you in every way. We love love love love love you baby," she captioned the carousel of images. Tobey and Jennifer posed with Ruby in one of the shots. "Modern Family" star Julie Bowen is gearing up to send her son Oliver Phillips off to the University of Oregon in September. In an interview with E! News in July, Bowen confirmed her son's college plans. "He's going to college. He's going to [the University of] Oregon. He's very, very excited," she told the outlet at the time. Oliver was planning on making the trip to Oregon alone, but Julie had other plans. "He doesn't know I'm gonna road-trip up to Oregon. He said he's road-tripping and I'm like, 'I'm coming with you,'" she told the outlet. Bowen is excited for her son, who she shares with her ex-husband, Scott Phillips, but she admitted that she's "terrified that he's being released onto the world." "I love that kid, I love him so much. But I do wonder – nature versus nurture. You do so much parenting, and then you're like, 'You were always gonna be this person. You're always gonna be who you are,'" she said. In June, Julie took to Instagram to share photos from Oliver's high shook graduation. In the shots, her son was seen smoking a large cigar. "To the most original, interesting, and funny kid I know… congratulations @itsoliverphillips! You are a high school graduate! The future is yours (but that cigar will definitely make you puke)," Bowen captioned her post. Joanna Gaines is sharing the difficulties that have come with sending her daughter, Ella, off to college for the first time and saying goodbye to her son, Drake, as he tackles his third year of college. On Aug. 10, Gaines took to Instagram and shared a room full of boxes with an emotional caption. "They told me it would go by quicker than I think. That the days are slow but the years are fast. And darn it if they were right. This beautiful gift of time has roared past us all just like I was told." "Help me to embrace change with a heart filled with hope for the part I know to be truer than the rest – my kids and I may have been made for each other, but I also believe they were made for more. More experiences, more knowledge, more growing than could ever happen within our walls," Gaines said. She continued, "My oldest son left for his third year of college while my oldest daughter packs for her first year across the country. This season already feels like one big, breathless surrender. Lord, how do I hold them close while also letting go?" Gaines signed off by addressing parents who are sending their kids off to college and those who still have their children at home. "And let's all lean on each other when the time comes to hold it together," she concluded. Joanna and Chip Gaines are parents to five children: Ella, Drake, Crew, Emmie and Duke. The Gaineses have not shared where Ella or Drake are attending college. "Grey's Anatomy" star Patrick Dempsey celebrated his twin sons Darby and Sullivan's high school graduation in May. Patrick took to Instagram at the time and shared a photo with his wife Jillian and their sons. "Graduation!! So proud of you boys and cannot wait to see where the next chapter of your lives will take you!" he captioned the photo. The boys graduated from Crossroads School for Arts & Sciences in Santa Monica, California. Heather and Terry Dubrow's daughter, Katarina, is heading to Yale at the end of August. Terry told Fox News Digital, "For me, she's a uniquely brilliant kid. I mean, she was going to an amazing school. She got the highest scores. She was, you know, the greatest recommendation, the straight A's. She's super gifted, but she's a little scattered. We forget, we're concerned. She's the type of person who'll set her wallet down at a party." Terry's wife chimed in on her thoughts on Katarina heading to the Ivy League in a few weeks. "I mean, I would tell you as a mother, I think I've been really good at enjoying each of the stages. I love the baby stage, the toddler stage. I mean the middle school stage, not so much, but the rest of it, amazing. But watching each of our kids go off and find their passion and fly and start, you know, figuring out what they want to do with their lives. It's a really cool thing. So we just have one little guy left at home. He's going to get through high school and then Terry and I are free," she said. In April, Heather took to Instagram to celebrate her daughter's decision to head to Yale. "CONGRATULATIONS KATARINA!!!!" the proud mom wrote. "We are so proud of you and excited to watch you SHINE in college !!!! WE LOVE YOU," she captioned the images. Linda Evangelista's son, Augustin James, will be heading to college this fall. In June, Evangelista shared images of Augustin's graduation, which included his father, French billionaire François-Henri Pinault, and his wife, Salma Hayek. "Then this happened. 🎓♥️✨🙏🏻 I'm one proud momma. Blessed blessed blessed…" Linda captioned her carousel of images. The last slide of Evangelista's Instagram post was Augustin's graduation cake. "Congratulations Augie, David, Eli and Dylan!" the cake read. Included on the cake were USC's logo and Yale's logo. It's unclear exactly where Augustin will attend college. Buddy Valastro's son Marco is heading to Syracuse at the end of the month. The "Cake Boss" star took to Instagram in June to congratulate his son on his high school graduation and shared his college plans. "Congratulations Marco! Graduated and now college-bound, right alongside your brother at Syracuse! Proud doesn't even begin to cover it. Go show them what you're made of, we love you," Buddy captioned his post. Naomi Watts and Liev Schreiber's son graduated from high school this year. Liev took to Instagram in June to share an image of Sasha's graduation. Naomi was in the shot, as well as the former couple's current partners: Taylor Neisen and Billy Crudup. Naomi and Liev split in 2016. "The graduate!!!" Liev simply captioned the image.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Justin Baldoni's Team Responds To Blake Lively's Claim Of Deposition Leak
's lawyers are firing back after accused his legal team of leaking private details from her recent deposition, calling the claims completely baseless and unsupported by evidence. The back-and-forth is the latest twist in the ongoing legal battle surrounding the film "It Ends With Us," in which Lively starred and Baldoni not only acted but also directed. Blake Lively made headlines last week when she filed a motion to strike and alleged that Justin Baldoni's team 'immediately leaked' information from her July 31 deposition to the press, but Baldoni's attorneys say not so fast. Justin Baldoni's Legal Team Blames Blake Lively's Camp For Possible Deposition Leak In an August 6 court filing, the actor-director's legal team addressed Lively's claims head-on, writing, 'She does not cite any evidence. This is not surprising as there is none.' They went on to argue that if anything had been leaked, Lively's own camp could just as easily be the source. 'Ms. Lively also fails to explain why any such 'leak' could not have originated from Ms. Lively, her husband [Ryan Reynolds], her multiple attorneys, legal or administrative staff from the law firm representing her (whose office she demanded host the deposition), or the catering staff employed thereby who served lunch,' the filing read, per PEOPLE. The team also dismissed the idea that the deposition attendee list was confidential or newsworthy, stating, 'The identities of those in attendance for her deposition are not newsworthy because all parties are entitled to attend all depositions.' Blake Lively's Team Doubles Down Amid Leak Drama A day later, on August 7, a spokesperson for Lively issued a statement to PEOPLE, standing firm in the actress's position. 'We are very pleased with the outcome of her deposition and now look forward to deposing Justin Baldoni and each of the co-defendants in short order,' the spokesperson said, while also emphasizing the legal weight of deposition confidentiality. 'Deposition testimony is confidential for good reason. It's evidence in a legal proceeding and is subject to objections and evidentiary rules,' they continued. 'Juries aren't just handed deposition transcripts to read at home, and instead they listen to testimony that is presented at trial under a judge's supervision.' Lively's Team Slams 292-Page Transcript Inclusion As 'Media Campaign' Tactic In addition to accusing Baldoni's camp of leaking details to the press, Lively's attorneys also took issue with how her deposition transcript was handled in court filings. According to Lively's legal team, Baldoni's lawyers unnecessarily included a rough 292-page draft of her full deposition transcript in the sealed court record, despite only citing two pages of it in their arguments. In their filing, Lively's attorneys argued there was 'no plausible legal reason' to submit the entire document, calling it a strategic move meant to 'push the transcript into the public domain as fodder for [their] media campaign.' The motion asks the court to strike the full transcript from the record entirely, suggesting that Baldoni's team may be attempting to circumvent the confidentiality typically afforded to deposition testimony. Courtroom Tension Reaches Boiling Point This latest war of words comes just days after Lively and Baldoni came face-to-face in a courtroom for the first time since the explosive allegations surfaced. According to TMZ, Lively sat for her deposition and found herself staring directly at Baldoni. Sources told the outlet that the deposition was anything but ordinary. At one point, Baldoni's legal team reportedly floated the outrageous idea of live-streaming the deposition from none other than Madison Square Garden, an idea Lively's attorneys immediately shut down. Blake Lively Accuses Justin Baldoni Of Harassment And Smear Campaign As many know, the "Gossip Girl" alum accused him of making crude comments about her body, sharing explicit stories about his sex life, and improvising intimate scenes without her consent. Further fueling the fire, Lively submitted screenshots of alleged text exchanges between Baldoni and his PR team, claiming they reveal a calculated attempt to launch a smear campaign against her after she came forward with her concerns. As the legal drama continues to unfold, both sides appear to be digging in, with depositions still to come and tensions mounting. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Update on Where Taylor Swift & Blake Lively Stand After Diss Track Rumors — Report
Blake Lively and Taylor Swift's friendship hasn't been the same lately, and new rumors suggest that a diss track might be in the mix. Ever since the pop singer announced her upcoming album, 'The Life of a Showgirl,' featuring a track titled 'Ruin the Friendship,' there have been speculations swirling about whether it could be about their alleged fallout. Past reports have claimed that there are apparent tensions between them ever since Swift's name surfaced in Lively and Justin Baldoni's legal battle. Now, a source reportedly shared an update on their friendship. Taylor Swift and Blake Lively are reportedly not talking PEOPLE exclusively learned that Taylor Swift and Blake Lively haven't been on talking terms lately amid rumors of a diss track. Their friendship is reportedly not how it used to be, but recent speculations further fueled rumors of tensions between them. A source seemingly close to the situation told the publication that the actor and the pop singer 'aren't speaking' at the moment, just as the latter gears up to release TS12, 'The Life of a Showgirl.' Rumors about a rift between Swift and Lively surfaced earlier this year following allegations in the Justin Baldoni legal drama. The former's name has come up multiple times in the case, which stemmed from a December 2024 sexual harassment lawsuit. Lively had accused her 'It Ends With Us' co-star of sexual misconduct and claimed that he orchestrated a smear campaign against her. Then, in January, Baldoni filed a countersuit, name-dropping Swift, which has since been dismissed. Blake Lively and Taylor Swift's friendship has been in the public eye with the latest claims about a potential diss track. However, while announcing her new album on her boyfriend Travis Kelce's podcast, the singer revealed that she recorded 'The Life of a Showgirl' during the European leg of her Eras Tour. This implies that the alleged drama with Lively happened after she wrapped up her recording. Swift's forthcoming album is set to be released on October 3. She has shared the track list and its artwork on her official Instagram. The post Update on Where Taylor Swift & Blake Lively Stand After Diss Track Rumors — Report appeared first on Reality Tea. Solve the daily Crossword
