July 9 (THEWILL) — US actor and director Justin Baldoni says he and his family are “healing” after settling his legal dispute with actress Blake Lively.
Baldoni shared the update in a nearly five-minute Instagram video with his wife, Emily Baldoni, marking their first public comments since the legal battle began.
“We have not spoken publicly for the better part of the last two years,” Baldoni said. “It’s not because we haven’t had anything to say. It just didn’t feel like the right time.”
The dispute began in December 2024 after Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment during the production of the 2024 film “It Ends With Us.”
She also accused him of running a campaign to harm her reputation. Baldoni denied the claims and later filed a $400 million defamation and extortion lawsuit against Lively and her husband, actor Ryan Reynolds.
A federal judge later dismissed the case, saying Lively’s statements were protected by legal privilege.
The two sides reached a settlement in May, resolving the remaining claims and avoiding a planned trial.
In the video, Emily Baldoni said the family had gone through “a lot of trauma” over the past two years but also felt “immense gratitude” for the support they received.
She said their gratitude “doesn’t negate the injustice and the pain” they experienced, adding that they are still trying to understand what happened.
Baldoni said the couple chose not to speak publicly during the legal battle because they “didn’t want to add to the noise” and wanted to allow the legal process to continue.
“We are healing,” he said. “If you’ve ever been through something traumatic, you know that healing isn’t linear. It looks different every day.”
Baldoni directed, produced and starred in “It Ends With Us”, the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel, alongside Lively.
The couple thanked their family, friends and supporters, saying their faith and community helped them through the difficult period.
They ended the video by saying there was “so much more to say,” but that, for now, they would focus on healing, spending time with their children and enjoying life.
Evi Ben Ezaga writes on entertainment, culture, and trending stories.
