Actor-director Justin Baldoni has made a significant legal move, opposing Blake Lively‘s attempt to block any discussion of her net worth and financial standing during the upcoming trial.
The documents, filed Friday and obtained by TMZ, argue that Lively’s income, assets, and overall financial picture are not only relevant but essential to the proceedings. Lively has claimed that an alleged smear campaign orchestrated by Baldoni caused her approximately $161 million in economic damages.
Baldoni’s legal team contends that the jury must be presented with Lively’s complete financial profile in order to assess whether the damages she is claiming are grounded in reality or significantly overstated. According to filings, Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds hold a combined net worth of approximately $380 million — a figure that could give jurors critical context when evaluating the scale of the alleged loss.
“The financial damage claim is the central element of this case. The jury deserves the full picture — nothing less,” — per the argument outlined in Baldoni’s court filings.
READ MORE: Settlement Talks Fail Between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, Trial Now Set
Baldoni further argued that Reynolds’ earnings and career decisions should also be part of the trial record, noting that Lively reportedly declines projects that conflict with Reynolds’ schedule — particularly when Reynolds stands to earn more from his own films.
The dispute traces back to the 2024 production of It Ends With Us. In December 2024, Lively filed a lawsuit against Baldoni alleging sexual harassment, defamation, and conspiracy, among other serious claims. However, a judge recently dismissed 10 of Lively’s 13 claims, including those related to sexual harassment, defamation, and civil conspiracy.
The case has now been narrowed to three remaining counts: breach of contract, retaliation, and aiding and abetting retaliation.
The court’s dismissal of the defamation claim has also raised pointed questions about the continued relevance of Lively’s $161 million damages figure — which reportedly factors in lost acting projects, brand endorsement deals, and the impact on her business ventures.
The case took yet another dramatic turn when Baldoni demanded that the character “Nicepool” — played by Reynolds in Deadpool & Wolverine — be introduced as trial evidence. Baldoni alleges the character was designed to publicly mock him, suggesting that Lively and Reynolds have been coordinating a campaign to damage his reputation.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that Lively’s legal team may counter with a 2017 video in which Baldoni is seen asking a controversial question referencing Britney Spears — a development that could further complicate the proceedings.
The high-profile trial is scheduled to begin May 18, 2026, in New York federal court.
