Blake Lively requests private deposition in Baldoni case, not ‘public spectacle' of MSG

Yahoo

3 days ago

NEW YORK — Blake Lively is calling on a judge to ensure her upcoming deposition in the ongoing court battle with Justin Baldoni takes place privately rather than on a livestream from Madison Square Garden, as Baldoni's team has proposed.
The 'Gossip Girl' alum, 37, is set to be deposed in the sexual harassment and retaliation case on Thursday in New York City.
In a new legal filing obtained by TMZ and People, Lively's attorneys are requesting the judge block Baldoni's team from selecting the deposition location, order it take place at her lawyer's office and demand that everyone attending be identified in advance.
The request claims Baldoni's team has gone to great lengths to generate negative press about Lively since the very beginning of litigation. In regard to the deposition, his lawyers have 'not denied that their intent is to manufacture a harassing publicity stunt by requiring Ms. Lively to parade through paparazzi, or by inviting unknown attendees to the deposition, including members of the media or social media influencers,' the filing alleges.
The latest motion comes following Baldoni's attorney, Bryan Freedman, proposing in May that Lively's deposition should take place at MSG.
'If Blake Lively is really serious about testifying for the world to see, let's livestream it in Madison Square Garden and give the money to domestic violence survivors,' Freedman told TMZ at the time.
In a statement to People on Friday, a representative for Lively said she's 'looking forward to her deposition next week,' but that it should 'follow the same rules' as those for every other witness in the case.
'Justin Baldoni's lawyer has tried to make this matter a public spectacle at every turn, even proposing to sell tickets to a televised deposition at Madison Square Garden,' the rep continued. 'This is a serious matter of sexual harassment and retaliation and it deserves to be treated as such.'
Lively filed a lawsuit in late December accusing 41-year-old Baldoni of sexually harassing her on the set of 'It Ends With Us,' which he directed and in which they both star. Lively also claimed he waged a retaliatory smear campaign meant to destroy her reputation.
Baldoni, who has denied all the allegations against him, filed a $250 million libel lawsuit against The New York Times for its reporting of Lively's initial complaint, which he claimed served as its own smear campaign against him.
He followed that with a $400 million countersuit against Lively, accusing her and husband Ryan Reynolds, as well as publicist Leslie Sloane, of defamation and civil extortion. Along with claiming they worked with The Times on its story, he said Lively used nearly any and all means to pressure him into giving over creative control of the film.
That filing infamously dragged in Lively's reportedly estranged best friend Taylor Swift by alleging the actress leveraged Swift's star status. It included text messages Lively allegedly sent to Baldoni referring to the pop superstar as one of her 'dragons.'
Judge Lewis J. Liman dismissed both of Baldoni's suits on June 9, though gave him until June 23 to amend the claims for breach of implied covenant and tortious interference with contract. Baldoni ultimately opted against doing so.
Later in the month, Lively lost her motion 'for a protective order' shielding her correspondence with Swift from the case.
Lively's lawsuit is still set to go to trial next March.