Latest news with #deposition
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Blake Lively Accuses Justin Baldoni's Lawyer Of Staging Media Circus Ahead Of Deposition
is preparing to give a sworn deposition in her ongoing sexual harassment lawsuit against actor and producer , but her legal team is pushing back against what they claim are blatant efforts to sensationalize the process. According to court documents, Lively's attorneys expressed concern that Baldoni's legal team is attempting to turn her upcoming testimony into a media circus. In filings submitted on Friday, they noted that Blake Lively is seeking to conduct the deposition in a private, low-profile venue in New York City to avoid publicity and protect the integrity of the case. However, Baldoni's attorney, Bryan Freedman, previously floated the idea of live-streaming Lively's deposition from Madison Square Garden and selling tickets to benefit domestic violence survivors, a suggestion Lively's team called a 'publicity-seeking distraction.' '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,' a representative for Lively told TMZ. 'This is a serious matter of sexual harassment and retaliation and it deserves to be treated as such.' The two parties have agreed to conduct the deposition on July 17, but disputes continue to arise over the logistics and access to key evidence. In email exchanges entered into court records, Lively's attorneys accused Baldoni's team of failing to deliver hard drives containing vital documents and videos, making it difficult for the "Gossip Girl" alum and her legal team to adequately prepare. There is also concern that Baldoni's team may intentionally choose a deposition venue that puts Lively in the public eye, risking exposure to paparazzi and further media scrutiny. Her legal counsel argues that the location should minimize press attention, not invite it. As the legal battle intensifies, Lively remains committed to addressing the serious allegations and defending her claims in court. 'Ms. Lively is looking forward to her deposition next week, and it should follow the same rules as every other witness in this case,' her rep added. As the countdown to Lively's July 17 deposition continues, the case has recently taken an even more dramatic turn. Three prominent media personalities, Perez Hilton, Candace Owens, and Andy Signore, have been subpoenaed and ordered to turn over all communications with Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios. According to TMZ, Lively's legal team believes the trio may have worked in coordination with Baldoni's camp to discredit her publicly. All three commentators, known for their wide-reaching online platforms, have previously discussed the case on their respective shows or channels, often voicing support for Baldoni while casting Lively in an unflattering light. The subpoenas stem from a recent court order that allows Lively's attorneys to investigate whether there was a coordinated media campaign to influence public opinion and damage her reputation. If proven, the alleged collaboration could signal a deeper effort to manipulate the narrative outside of the courtroom. Blake Lively originally filed her lawsuit in December 2024, accusing Justin Baldoni of sexually harassing her on the set of their film "It Ends With Us," in which the two starred as romantic leads. Baldoni fired back with a $400 million countersuit, alleging that Lively and her husband, actor , had conspired to wrest creative control of the project from him. But in a significant legal win for the "Gossip Girl" alum, a federal judge recently dismissed Baldoni's explosive countersuit in full. According to The Daily Mail, a source close to Lively revealed that she was 'crying with relief' after hearing the news. 'Complete elation from Blake's world and a monkey off her back,' the insider added. 'Blake is breathing a sigh of relief right now, and all tears are happy tears.' In his ruling, Judge Lewis Liman stated that the claims made by Lively were privileged as part of her court filings and could not be used as the basis for defamation or extortion claims. 'The Wayfarer Parties have not alleged that Lively is responsible for any statements other than the statements in her CRD complaint, which are privileged,' the judge wrote, further noting that while Baldoni's team accused Reynolds, Lively's longtime publicist Leslie Sloane, and even The New York Times of spreading damaging claims, they failed to prove that any of those parties acted with 'serious doubts' about the truth of the statements, a key legal requirement for defamation. 'The Wayfarer Parties' additional claims also fail,' Liman concluded. 'Accordingly, the Amended Complaint must be dismissed in its entirety.'
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Blake Lively Slams Justin Baldoni's Team for Trying to Turn Her Deposition into a ‘Public Spectacle'
Blake Lively is set to have her upcoming deposition in the ongoing legal proceedings between her and Justin Baldoni on Thursday, July 17 However, Baldoni's attorney, Bryan Freedman, stated in May that her deposition should be held at Madison Square Garden But on Friday, July 11, her legal team filed a new motion to request the court to enter a protective order that directs the defendants to take Lively's deposition at a location that avoids a "public spectacle"Blake Lively filed a new motion to request to move the location of her forthcoming testimony in the ongoing legal proceedings between her and Justin Baldoni. On Friday, July 11, Lively's legal team filed the motion requesting that the judge enter a protective order directing defendants to take her upcoming deposition on Thursday, July 17 at a redacted location, according to legal documents obtained by PEOPLE. They are also requesting that everyone attending the hearing be identified in advance. Lively's request follows statements from Baldoni's attorney, Bryan Freedman, who said in May that Lively's deposition should be held at Madison Square Garden in New York City. 'Hold the deposition at MSG, sell tickets or stream it, and donate every dollar to organizations helping victims of domestic abuse,' he told PEOPLE. The actress' representatives tell PEOPLE on Friday, July 11, 'Ms. Lively is looking forward to her deposition next week, and it should follow the same rules as every other witness in this 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 statement continued. "This is a serious matter of sexual harassment and retaliation and it deserves to be treated as such.' PEOPLE reached out to representatives for Baldoni for further comment. The new filing states that Lively, 37, and her team asked the judge to block Baldoni, 41, and his team from selecting the deposition location. Baldoni's legal team has "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, or any other number of abusive tactics," Lively's team alleges, before claiming Baldoni's team has refused to address their concerns. 'Since virtually the inception of this litigation, Defendants have used even the prospect of Ms. Lively's deposition to generate press interest,' the filing alleges. 'The high-profile nature of this litigation, and the nature of Ms. Lively's retaliation claims, demonstrates a substantial risk of the deposition turning into a publicity event and potentially attracting interested individuals who could pose security risks,' Lively's legal team claims in the filing. Lively's lawyers called the filing a "reasonable request to prevent the risk of annoyance, harassment, and verbal or physical threats," going on to allege that Baldoni's legal team 'appear to seek another public relations moment, or to create conditions for intimidation or harassment.' The request comes after Lively accused her It Ends With Us director-costar Baldoni of sexual harassment and retaliation, which he has denied. His counterclaims against Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds, allegations of extortion and defamation, were dismissed by Judge Lewis J. Liman in June, and his legal team opted not to refile amended versions of those claims. Since then both legal teams have spoken about their next steps, including Lively's deposition. Lively's lawyer, Mike Gottlieb, told PEOPLE in May, "The ultimate moment for a plaintiff's story to be told is at trial. We expect that to be the case here [with Lively]. So we would, of course, expect her to be a witness at her trial. Of course she's going to testify." Meanwhile, Freedman has spoken about his plans for deposing Lively as they attempt to refute her allegations, saying on TMZ Live on Tuesday, June 10: "I'm gonna ask her questions under penalty of perjury, and she's gonna have to provide evidence, and she's gonna have to provide the truth of the stories." "We have all of the videotape, all the footage," Freedman continued. "We have, you know, the text messages and we have emails. We're gonna see how consistent her testimony is with the actual facts of what transpired." Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Their trial is set for March 2026 in New York, and attorneys for both Lively and Baldoni have indicated that they plan to testify during the proceedings. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ryan Reynolds to Likely Skip Blake Lively's Deposition in Legal Battle, ‘Source' Claims
As Blake Lively prepares for her deposition date amid her ongoing legal battle with Justin Baldoni, sources claim that will not attend the proceedings. A fresh report revealed that Lively will be deposed by Baldoni's team next Thursday. However, the session will only include Lively and her own legal representation. Although the exact location has not been disclosed, the session will reportedly take place in New York. Blake Lively is bracing for her upcoming deposition date in her ongoing legal battle with Justin Baldoni, but she will reportedly do it without her husband, Ryan Reynolds, by her side. An exclusive report from TMZ revealed that the 'Gossip Girl' alum will attend the session next Thursday in New York. The tabloid's insiders claimed that only Lively and her legal team would be present for the proceedings on July 17. A source with direct knowledge shared that Reynolds isn't expected at the proceedings. As per TMZ, Lively feels prepared and resolute, maintaining that 'her story has never changed.' The deposition is a crucial step in the legal dispute, following a judge's dismissal of Baldoni's $400 million countersuit in June. Initially, the filmmaker's team suggested they would amend the lawsuit. However, they recently stated they are 'pursuing additional legal options that are available to us.' Blake Lively's legal battle against Justin Baldoni has been going on for seven months. The former filed her lawsuit in December, accusing Baldoni of sexual harassment during the filming of 'It Ends With Us.' She also claimed an alleged smear campaign was designed by her co-star and his company, Wayfarer Studios. However, Baldoni's team has continually denied any wrongdoing. The upcoming deposition is thus expected to be a major moment for Lively. It could play a pivotal role in how the dispute unfolds, especially considering Lively and Baldoni's high-profile statuses. Though neither of the parties' representatives has publicly commented on the latest developments, sources have confirmed that Reynolds will likely sit this session out. The post Ryan Reynolds to Likely Skip Blake Lively's Deposition in Legal Battle, 'Source' Claims appeared first on Reality Tea.
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Distraction' Ryan Reynolds Banned From Blake Lively's Deposition, ‘Source' Claims
Ryan Reynolds is one supportive husband who wants to be present at Blake Lively's deposition on July 17 in New York. However, as per a source, the actor has been banned from attending the deposition. Lively's legal team has advised against his presence since it is a 'legal fight' and Reynolds is a 'distraction.' Lively has reportedly decided to face the lawyers alone. As the deposition date of the Blake Lively case approaches, her legal battle against Justin Baldoni seems to be drawn out. Her husband, Ryan Reynolds, has been on her side since day one. However, it seems Lively will be facing things alone as she braces herself for deposition. It is scheduled on July 17 in New York. While Reynolds wants to be present at the deposition, her lawyers have advised against it. They reportedly cited that 'It's a legal fight' and 'this isn't Hollywood.' A source informed Rob Shuter that Lively's legal team told Reynolds that since 'he's a distraction,' he has to stay away from the deposition. The decision might have been difficult for Lively as she 'loves' Reynolds and would want him to be on her side. However, after understanding the gravity of the situation, the actor reluctantly agreed to face the battle alone. She knows 'this is war,' and is ready to take things head on. With the deposition, Baldoni's attorney, Bryan Freedman, plans to deny Lively's allegations. While speaking about his strategy on TMZ Live, he said he will 'ask her questions under penalty of perjury.' For this, Lively would 'have to provide evidence, and she's gonna have to provide the truth of the stories.' According to People, Freedman further added that they have 'video tape,' 'footage,' 'text messages,' and 'emails.' However, they want to 'see how consistent her testimony is with the actual facts of what transpired.' The legal tussle between the co-actors started when Lively accused her 'It Ends With Us' director-costar Baldoni of sexual harassment and retaliation. Baldoni denied the claims and filed counterclaims against Lively and her husband, alleging defamation and extortion. However, it was reportedly dismissed by the judge. Their trial is due for March 2026 in New York. The post 'Distraction' Ryan Reynolds Banned From Blake Lively's Deposition, 'Source' Claims appeared first on Reality Tea.
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Blake Lively Hires Stylist Ahead of Deposition Date, Says ‘Source'
Blake Lively is all set for her upcoming deposition as part of her ongoing civil lawsuit against her 'It Ends With Us' co-star, Justin Baldoni. The 'Gossip Girl' alum has reportedly hired a celebrity stylist before the deposition date arrives. As reported by ShuterScoop, a 'source' told them that Lively is preparing herself for any situation, including 'pap shots' or 'leaked video'. She allegedly wishes to be a part of the deposition in a suitable fashion. Blake Lively has reportedly been viewing the upcoming deposition next week as a 'performance.' Per ShuterScoop, the actor wants her look for the deposition to be 'flawless.' Thus, she has been 'lawyering up and glamming up' before reaching the courtroom scenario in the ongoing legal case involving her and Justin Bandoni. As reported by the news outlet, a 'source' claimed that Blake Lively has gone on to hire a celebrity stylist who will help her to create a 'credible but camera-ready' courtroom look. The 'insider' further explained, 'She knows it's going to leak.' The person continued, 'She's preparing for sketches, pap shots — maybe even leaked video.' They added, 'Blake's not about to show up in last year's blazer with no bronzer.' The 'source' then went on to talk about how Blake Lively has been gearing herself up for the 'legal role-play.' The 'The Age of Adaline' actor has allegedly been treating her courtroom answers as lines in a 'script.' She is also reportedly awaiting the 'cross-examination.' According to the news outlet, the actor wishes to stay right by her 'story with Oscar-worthy calm.' The 'insider' further went on to claim that Blake Lively has been treating the whole legal situation like a 'performance.' 'And if anyone can turn a deposition into a runway, it's Blake,' the 'source' also added. The actor's upcoming deposition will reportedly take place on July 17. The post Blake Lively Hires Stylist Ahead of Deposition Date, Says 'Source' appeared first on Reality Tea.
