The Sealed Truth: 5 Shocking Reasons Blake Lively's 300-Page Deposition Against Justin Baldoni Was Struck Down

The high-stakes legal battle between co-stars Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, stemming from the production of the film It Ends With Us, has reached a new, explosive phase with a major ruling on a sealed deposition. As of the current date, December 18, 2025, a federal judge has granted Blake Lively’s motion to strike her nearly 300-page deposition transcript, which had been previously sealed, following accusations that Baldoni’s legal team had leaked sensitive details to the press. This development is a critical turning point in the complex and highly publicized dual lawsuits, which involve allegations of sexual harassment by Lively and a multi-million dollar defamation claim by Baldoni. The controversy centers on the court's decision to not only seal the deposition but also to later strike the transcript entirely, a rare move that underscores the severity of the alleged misconduct by one party’s counsel. The ruling by Judge Lewis Liman has put a spotlight on the aggressive legal tactics and the attempts to influence public opinion surrounding the *It Ends With Us* production controversy. The original lawsuit, which pits a sexual harassment and smear campaign claim against a massive defamation suit, is now set to head to a civil trial in May 2026, promising a dramatic conclusion to one of Hollywood’s most contentious legal sagas.

Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni: A Dual Biography Profile

The legal drama has cast a shadow over the careers of two prominent Hollywood figures, contrasting their public personas with the explosive allegations detailed in the court filings.

Blake Ellender Lively (Plaintiff)

• Birth Name: Blake Ellender Brown
• Born: August 25, 1987, in Tarzana, California, U.S.
• Notable Roles: Serena van der Woodsen in Gossip Girl, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, The Age of Adaline, A Simple Favor.
• Family: Daughter of actor Ernie Lively. Married to actor Ryan Reynolds.
• Current Legal Status: Plaintiff in a lawsuit alleging sexual harassment and a coordinated smear campaign against Justin Baldoni and his associates, including Wayfarer Studios.

Justin Louis Baldoni (Defendant/Plaintiff)

• Birth Name: Justin Louis Baldoni
• Born: January 24, 1984, in Los Angeles, California, U.S.
• Notable Roles: Rafael Solano on Jane the Virgin.
• Profession: Actor, Director, Producer, and Writer. Co-founder of Wayfarer Studios.
• Current Legal Status: Defendant in Lively’s sexual harassment suit and Plaintiff in a separate $250 million defamation lawsuit against Lively, Ryan Reynolds, their publicist, and The New York Times.

The Core of the Controversy: Why Lively’s Deposition Was Sealed

The initial step to seal Blake Lively’s deposition came as a direct response to the highly charged nature of the case and the intense media scrutiny it generated. A deposition is a sworn out-of-court testimony used as part of the discovery process in a civil lawsuit.

The Sealing Order and Judicial Scrutiny

Judge Lewis Liman, who is presiding over the case in U.S. District Court, ordered the deposition to be sealed to prevent the public disclosure of potentially damaging and sensitive information. This is a common practice in cases involving high-profile celebrities and allegations of sexual harassment, but the judge's reasoning went further. The court explicitly criticized the legal tactics employed by Justin Baldoni’s defense team. Judge Liman stated that the manner in which the deposition was handled was "calculated to invite public scandal." This criticism suggested that the defense’s actions were less about legal strategy and more about creating a media spectacle to pressure the plaintiff, Blake Lively.

The Allegations of Leaking Transcripts

The situation escalated dramatically when Blake Lively's legal team formally accused Baldoni's side of leaking details from the sealed deposition to media outlets, specifically mentioning TMZ. Leaking a sealed court document is a serious ethical and legal violation, as it undermines the court's authority and can prejudice the public perception of a case before trial. Lively’s lawyers argued that the alleged leaks were part of a "smear campaign" orchestrated by Baldoni and his associates to destroy her reputation and brand. This accusation is central to Lively’s own Title VII complaint, which alleges a coordinated effort to retaliate against her for raising concerns about inappropriate behavior on the *It Ends With Us* set.

The Battle Over the Transcript: Striking the 300-Page Testimony

The most recent and consequential ruling came when Judge Liman granted Lively’s motion to strike the entire sealed deposition transcript. This move is highly unusual and represents a significant victory for Lively in the pre-trial phase.

Why the Transcript Was Struck

The decision to strike the nearly 300-page document was a direct judicial response to the alleged leaking and the perceived abuse of the court process. By striking the transcript, the judge effectively removed it from the official court record, preventing its use as evidence in the upcoming trial. This action is seen as a clear sanction against the party accused of the leak, signaling the court’s zero-tolerance policy for inviting "public scandal." The sealed transcript contained Lively's testimony regarding her conflict with Baldoni and members of his Wayfarer Studios team over the 2024 film *It Ends With Us*. Removing this testimony from the record could significantly impact how both the sexual harassment allegations and Baldoni's counter-suit for defamation are argued in court.

The Broader Lawsuit and Key Entities

The legal feud is not limited to the two co-stars but includes multiple high-profile parties and entities, expanding the scope of the Hollywood scandal. * Wayfarer Studios: Baldoni’s production company, which is a key defendant in Lively’s complaint. * Ryan Reynolds: Lively's husband, who was named as a defendant in Baldoni’s $250 million defamation lawsuit, along with the couple’s publicist. * The New York Times: Also sued by Baldoni for defamation, further complicating the legal landscape. * Jed Wallace: A former associate of Baldoni who also became involved in a related defamation suit. The inclusion of these powerful entities and A-list celebrities underscores the magnitude of the case and the potential brand damage at stake for all involved.

What’s Next: The May 2026 Trial

With the deposition now struck and the pre-trial discovery decisions continuing to favor Lively, the focus shifts to the civil trial. Originally scheduled for March 2026, the trial has been postponed and is now set to begin in May 2026. The trial will be a full airing of the explosive claims: Lively's allegations of a toxic work environment and sexual harassment on the *It Ends With Us* set, and Baldoni's rebuttal that he was the victim of a coordinated smear campaign designed to destroy his career. The outcome is expected to have significant repercussions for both the individuals involved and the broader conversation around workplace conduct and accountability in the entertainment industry. The court’s handling of the sealed deposition serves as a stark warning about the consequences of manipulating the legal process for public relations gain.

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