In a plot twist messier than a reality show finale, Blake Lively¡¯s request to peek into Wayfarer Studios¡¯ internal investigation files just got a firm nope from the judge. According to court docs filed on Monday, June 12, Judge Lewis J. Liman ruled that the studio¡¯s paperwork is protected under attorney-client privilege and cannot be handed over to Lively. Major ouch.
Wayfarer, co-founded by Jane the Virgin star Justin Baldoni, is at the centre of this legal storm, and they, along with Baldoni, fought tooth and nail to keep those documents under lock and key.
Lively has accused Baldoni of sexual harassment, creating a toxic work vibe on the It Ends With Us set, and allegedly masterminding a smear campaign against her. But that is not all. She also claims Wayfarer failed to properly investigate her complaints back in May 2023, and she is suing them for that too. A whole side plot of its own.
Her legal team argued that Wayfarer only bothered launching an investigation after slapping Lively with a $400 million lawsuit, calling the move ¡°belated¡± and legally pointless now.
They added that since Wayfarer delayed the investigation, they cannot use that move as a defence anymore. Translation? You snooze, you lose.
This celeb feud went full soap opera in December 2024 when Baldoni clapped back with a lawsuit of his own ¡ª aiming it not just at Lively but also at her husband Ryan Reynolds and publicist Leslie Sloane. The claims? Defamation, civil extortion, and other spicy accusations with a $400 million price tag.
Earlier this month, the judge swiped left on Baldoni¡¯s lawsuit and dismissed it ¡ª but allowed him to edit and refile parts of it before the June 23 deadline.
Blake flexed her legal win on Instagram, saying she stood strong for women¡¯s right to speak up. Meanwhile, Baldoni¡¯s lawyer hit back, calling Lively¡¯s victory lap ¡°predictable¡± and ¡°false.¡± He said the new version of their case will bring more tea and ¡°refined allegations.¡±
So yeah, stay tuned, this Hollywood legal drama is far from over.