A lawyer for Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds wants to hide their texts with celebrities from Justin Baldoni amid their bombshell Hollywood court battle — claiming Baldoni’s camp could leak them to the press.
The A-list couple wants a special layer of protection in place before divulging conversations with “high-profile” people about Lively’s account of her time on the set of the romantic drama “It Ends with Us” as the litigation feud drags on, one of their attorneys Meryl Conant Governski said at a hearing in Manhattan federal court Thursday.
Lively is a known pal of pop megastar Taylor Swift, while she and her husband are also closely connected with other A-listers like actors Hugh Jackman, Emily Blunt and John Krasinski, and model Gigi Hadid.
4 A lawyer for Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds wants to hide their texts with celebrities from Justin Baldoni amid their bombshell Hollywood court battle. Getty Images
McCawley didn’t name names Thursday, but revealed that the “PR value” of such texts would be high — even if they are not directly relevant to the facts of the case.
“There is a significant chance of irreparable harm if marginal conversations with high profile individuals with no relevance to the case were to fall into wrong hands,” Governski said.
“There are 100 million reasons for these parties to leak information because the PR value is greater than complying with the court’s orders,” the attorney added.
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4 “There is a significant chance of irreparable harm if marginal conversations with high profile individuals with no relevance to the case were to fall into wrong hands,” Sigrid McCawley claimed at a hearing in Manhattan federal court. GC Images
The lawyer urged Judge Lewis Liman to create an extra layer of security, known as an “Attorney’s Eyes Only” category, for such texts, as well as information on the parties’ mental health, and security measures they’ve taken amid the feud.
She noted that Baldoni’s co-defendants “include people whose businesses whose entire living is based on providing information to the press and content creators.”
But Baldoni’s lawyer Bryan Freedman fired back that Lively and Reynolds’ proposal was “unnecessary,” and called it “offensive that anyone would suggest that we would disregard a protective order.”
The attorney added that Lively and Reynolds’ plan would unjustly treat “celebrity people,” and “people who are powerful in the industry,” differently from other people.
A so-called “model” protective order already submitted to the court to bar the public dissemination of sensitive information provides sufficient protection, Freedman added.
“My clients have the right to defend themselves, they have a right to transparency,” he told the court, adding that his proposed setup is not meant to be “abusing” Lively.
4 But Baldoni’s lawyer Bryan Freedman fired back that Lively and Reynolds’ proposal was “unnecessary,” and called it “offensive that anyone would suggest that we would disregard a protective order.” ©Sony Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection
Judge Liman did not rule immediately — telling both sides “I’ll give you my views soon” — but, noting that the case has garnered significant public interest, he warned that “there is a presumption of public access” in federal courthouses.
The judge added that the existing terms of the proposed protective order would already bar third parties from leaking information to the press — and that any such leakers could be held in contempt of court, a process that could lead to fines or even jail time.
Lively, 37, sued Baldoni, 41, in December for $250 million, claiming he sexually harassed her while filming the drama, and launched a smear campaign when she spoke out about her alleged mistreatment.
4 Baldoni — who co-starred in and directed the romantic drama — has denied her accusations, and he and his publicists countersued Lively and Reynolds for $400 million, alleging she defamed and extorted them. Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images
Baldoni — who co-starred in and directed the movie — has denied her accusations, and he and his publicists countersued Lively and Reynolds for $400 million, alleging she defamed and extorted them.
Lively referenced Swift to Baldoni in an alleged text where she called herself Khaleesi from “Game of Thrones” and referred to Reynolds and Swift as “my dragons,” per Baldoni’s suit.
“If you ever get around to watching Game of Thrones, you’ll appreciate that I’m Khaleesi, and like her, I happen to have a few dragons,” Lively allegedly wrote.
“For better or worse, but usually for better,” another alleged text read. “Because my dragons also protect those I fight for. So really we all benefit from those gorgeous monsters of mine. you will too, I can promise you.”
A trial in the case is scheduled for March 2026.