Justin Baldoni present at Blake Lively’s deposition in New York City.

Justin Baldoni recently attended the deposition of Blake Lively regarding the sexual harassment lawsuit she filed against him. Lively, known for her role in “Gossip Girl,” arrived at her attorney’s office in New York City for this long-awaited session. The deposition marks a significant moment in a high-profile legal battle stemming from allegations made by Lively against Baldoni, who directed and co-starred with her in the film “It Ends With Us.”

Lively’s lawsuit, filed at the end of 2024, accuses Baldoni of sexual harassment that occurred on the film set, as well as a retaliatory smear campaign aimed at damaging her reputation. In response, Baldoni has denied the allegations and filed a countersuit against Lively for 0 million, claiming civil extortion. This countersuit also included allegations against Lively’s husband, Ryan Reynolds, and publicist Leslie Sloane, although it was dismissed in early June. Alongside this, Baldoni had initiated a 0 million libel lawsuit against The New York Times, which was also dismissed concerning its coverage of Lively’s claims.

The recent deposition was initially scheduled to take place on July 17 but was postponed due to judicial proceedings the day before, which saw Judge Lewis J. Liman dismiss crisis consultant Jed Wallace from the case due to a lack of jurisdiction. Lively’s legal team expressed concerns regarding Baldoni’s attorneys’ choice of location for the deposition, describing it as potentially orchestrating a “harassing publicity stunt.” They sought intervention from the judge to restrict the location choices to limit public exposure.

In a statement that has drawn media attention, Baldoni’s lawyer provocatively suggested livestreaming the deposition at Madison Square Garden, emphasizing a charitable angle by proposing that proceeds could support domestic violence survivors.

In a noteworthy development last week, Lively withdrew multiple subpoenas against YouTubers who were covering the ongoing legal saga. These legal proceedings are set to continue, with a trial date scheduled for March 2026. The unfolding details of this lawsuit highlight the complexities of the entertainment industry and the implications of public allegations in high-profile cases. As this situation develops, it remains of significant interest to both legal observers and the public alike.