Justin Baldoni Demands Blake Lively’s Net Worth Be Discussed in Trial
Justin Baldoni is taking issue with Blake Lively’s latest legal move, urging a New York judge to reject her attempt to keep discussions of her wealth out of their upcoming trial. According to documents obtained by TMZ, Baldoni insists her financial standing is central to the case—particularly because she introduced it herself.
Justin Baldoni opposes Blake Lively’s move to exclude her net worth from trial, arguing her finances and Ryan Reynolds’ income are key to her claims.
Adobe Stock; Bryan Bedder/Getty Images; Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images
In filings submitted Friday, the actor-director maintains that Lively’s earnings and overall financial position are directly tied to her claims. She previously alleged she lost millions due to what she describes as a smear campaign orchestrated by Baldoni, estimating her losses at $161 million.
Baldoni is not stopping at Lively’s finances. He is also requesting that the court consider the income and professional standing of her husband, Ryan Reynolds. In his argument, Baldoni states that Lively often avoids roles that would clash with Reynolds’ schedule, especially when he can command higher pay for his projects.
Reports have estimated Lively and Reynolds’ combined wealth at approximately $380 million, a figure Baldoni notes may be difficult for an average jury to relate to. However, there is also the matter that Lively’s defamation claim has already been dismissed, raising questions about whether alleged financial losses tied to that claim remain relevant.
Additionally, Baldoni wants references to Reynolds’ Nicepool character from “Deadpool & Wolverine” included in the proceedings. This follows Lively’s request to exclude the topic. Baldoni argues that the character mocks him, which he believes demonstrates bullying behavior by both Lively and Reynolds.
He claims this portrayal in a major film contributed to damage to his reputation, prompting him to hire a crisis management team. Baldoni maintains that this decision was made in response to reputational harm, countering Lively’s assertion that the team was used to retaliate against her.
This is not the first time Baldoni has sought to limit what is presented in court. He previously asked the judge to block testimony from “It Ends With Us” actress Jenny Slate and author Colleen Hoover, describing their alleged accounts as a collection of minor incidents and perceived slights that should not be admissible.
Lively, on the other hand, has argued in her own filings that Slate and other actresses distanced themselves from Baldoni after witnessing what she described as inappropriate behavior on set, which led them to avoid promoting the film alongside him.
The case moving forward includes Lively’s claims of breach of contract, retaliation, and aiding and abetting retaliation against Baldoni. A judge recently dismissed 10 out of her 13 claims, including those related to harassment and defamation.
As the long-running legal dispute continues, both parties are scheduled to face each other in court in May.
