Justin Baldoni challenges Blake Lively's 'excessive' fee bid
Justin Baldoni challenges Blake Lively's latest court filing, asking a judge to deny or slash her more than $8 million legal-fee request days after he and wife Emily Baldoni broke their silence on the It Ends With Us legal war in an Instagram video. The actor filed Monday, calling the demand excessive.
Key Takeaways
- Justin Baldoni filed court papers Monday dubbing Blake Lively's $8 million fee request excessive and asking a judge to reduce or deny it.
- Lively sought $7,495,526.87 in attorneys' fees plus $539,514.01 in litigation costs after their May settlement.
- Baldoni broke his public silence July 8 in an Instagram video with wife Emily, saying they let the justice system run its course.
- The pair settled in May without either earning money, but the fee fight continues in federal court.
- Lively's representative did not immediately respond to Page Six's request for comment.
Why does Justin Baldoni challenge Blake Lively's fee request?
According to court documents obtained by Page Six, Baldoni submitted a filing on Monday calling his co-star's demand for legal fees excessive. His team asked the judge to substantially reduce the amount rather than award the full sum Lively requested in June.
The filing argued that a cursory review of Lively's submission shows multiple lawyers billing for the same hearings, numerous charges for lawyers conferencing and strategizing together, and extremely excessive research and online investigation. Baldoni's attorneys labeled the $8 million request anything but a typical fee motion.
How much is Blake Lively seeking in legal fees?
Lively asked the court to award $7,495,526.87 in attorneys' fees and $539,514.01 in litigation costs and expenses. Baldoni's lawyers called the litigation-cost portion a whopping sum that should be denied in its entirety.
His filing pointed to a benchmark: the New York Times previously requested $181,622.70 in attorneys' fees in a motion to dismiss precisely the same defamation claim. Baldoni sued the publication for $250 million in 2024 in a case that was later dismissed, as was his lawsuit against Lively.
What did Justin Baldoni say after breaking his silence?
The pair have been fighting in court since late 2024, but Baldoni, 42, did not speak publicly until posting an Instagram video with Emily Baldoni, with whom he shares two children. “There have been so many painful things spoken into existence over the last couple years. Untruthful,” the Jane the Virgin alum said in part. “And that created so much noise, and we didn’t want to add to the noise. So we just wanted to let the justice system run its course.”
Emily, 41, added, “And the truth and facts have spoken for themselves.” The filing landed days after that upload, keeping the Celebrity Breaking News cycle focused on whether Lively can recover fees after the duo settled in May and avoided trial.
Where does the It Ends With Us legal war stand now?
As for Lively's lawsuit against Baldoni, the duo settled in May and avoided facing off before a judge. While neither earned money in the settlement, the legal war raged on as the Gossip Girl alum attempts to recoup fees. Lively's rep did not immediately respond to Page Six's request for comment.
Lively, for her part, carefully addressed the situation during her Another Simple Favor press tour last year. “This year has been full of the highest highs and lowest lows of my life,” the 38-year-old said on Late Night With Seth Meyers in May 2025. “I see so many women around afraid to speak, especially now, afraid to share their experience. Fear is by design, it’s what keeps us silent.” For broader context on the underlying dispute, see AP News reporting on the settlement and fee fight.