Justin Baldoni’s lawyer makes feelings clear on Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively after TV gag about legal saga: ‘Surprised me’
Justin Baldoni’s lawyer has criticised Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively for making light of their ongoing legal battle during Saturday Night Live’s 50th anniversary special.
Bryan Freedman, who is representing the actor and director, shared his thoughts on Reynolds’ joke while speaking on radio.
During the live broadcast, Reynolds was asked from the stage “How’s it going?”
The actor, with a seemingly horrified Lively seated beside him, responded: “Great, why? What have you heard?” before moving on with the segment.
The moment drew criticism from viewers, Baldoni’s legal representative, who considered Reynolds joke to have been in bad taste.
“I’m unaware of anybody, frankly, whose wife has been sexually harassed and has made jokes about that type of situation,” Freedman said while speaking on Hot Mics with Billy Bush.
“I can’t think of anyone who’s done anything like that. It surprised me,” he added.
Freedman also addressed Baldoni’s recent trip to Hawaii with his family, rejecting any characterisation of it as a holiday.
“I wouldn’t call it vacation. I don’t think anybody who has been accused of heinous, arguably, crimes is on ‘vacation,'” Freedman said.
He explained that Baldoni was “trying to gather with his family and get some semblance of peace.”
The attorney added that Baldoni remains “hopeful” about the situation despite the ongoing legal challenges.
The legal dispute began in December 2024 when Blake Lively filed a lawsuit against Baldoni, alleging sexual harassment during the filming of It Ends With Us.
Lively also accused Baldoni of attempting to “destroy” her reputation through a smear campaign.
Baldoni denied all accusations and responded in January with a £400 million countersuit against Lively, Reynolds and their PR team, alleging defamation and extortion.
He has also filed a separate £250 million libel lawsuit against The New York Times.
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Lively’s lawyers have dismissed Baldoni’s lawsuit as “meritless”, describing it as “an age-old story” of an abuser turning against the victim.
“While the victim focuses on the abuse, the abuser focuses on the victim,” her legal team stated.
“The strategy of attacking the woman is desperate, it does not refute the evidence in Ms. Lively’s complaint, and it will fail.”
The case is scheduled to go to trial in March 2026. All other parties have denied the allegations made against them.