The simmering legal feud between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni has taken a dramatic and highly personal turn this month, after newly revealed deposition transcripts show the Gossip Girl star directly accusing Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, of actively participating in what she calls a coordinated smear campaign designed to destroy her reputation. The documents, which have now been obtained by multiple media outlets, detail a tense back-and-forth in which Lively claims the attacks were not just a byproduct of the lawsuit, but an intentional strategy to paint her as “difficult, unprofessional, and unstable” — a characterization she says has deeply harmed her career, her family, and her mental health.
According to Lively, this “ongoing smear campaign” began shortly after the breakdown of her professional relationship with Baldoni during the production of It Ends With Us. She alleges that behind closed doors, the actor-director’s legal and PR teams began leaking selective information to the press, feeding blogs and gossip sites with exaggerated or outright false claims about her on-set behavior. In her view, Freedman’s involvement crossed the line from legitimate legal defense into character assassination. “This wasn’t a misunderstanding,” Lively said in the deposition. “It was a targeted, sustained effort to humiliate me publicly and make me seem like the problem, so they could justify their own misconduct.”
Freedman, one of Hollywood’s most high-profile litigators, is no stranger to aggressive tactics, having represented celebrities in countless high-stakes disputes. But Lively’s accusation that he personally took part in spreading harmful narratives is particularly damaging, given that attorneys are typically expected to keep their fight within the courtroom, not the tabloids. While Freedman has not publicly responded to these latest claims, Baldoni’s camp has consistently maintained that any negative press about Lively is simply the result of “truthful reporting” and her own actions during filming.
This legal battle, which began in late 2024, revolves around allegations from both sides about breaches of contract, workplace hostility, and financial damages linked to the troubled adaptation of It Ends With Us. What was once marketed as a passion project quickly spiraled into one of the most contentious behind-the-scenes Hollywood sagas in recent memory. Early reports suggested personality clashes and creative disagreements between Lively and Baldoni, but the tone shifted when court documents hinted at misconduct, favoritism, and even potential safety issues on set.
In her deposition, Lively describes the emotional toll the smear campaign has allegedly taken, claiming she was “forced into isolation” and “afraid to work with anyone who might be connected to Baldoni’s network.” She says casting directors have distanced themselves, brand deals have quietly evaporated, and former colleagues have admitted they were told to “steer clear” of her. “I was backed into a corner,” she stated. “They wanted me to either cave to their demands or disappear altogether.”
What makes this latest revelation so explosive is that it pulls back the curtain on Hollywood’s hidden culture of weaponized PR — the idea that public perception can be manipulated through a blend of legal maneuvering and media strategy. By naming Freedman directly, Lively is effectively accusing one of the industry’s most respected legal figures of breaking an unspoken rule: keep your fight out of the gossip columns unless absolutely necessary.
Reactions from the entertainment industry have been swift and divided. Some insiders have expressed support for Lively, saying her claims align with whispered accounts of how some studios and high-profile producers handle disputes. Others argue that Lively is trying to sway public opinion ahead of trial, painting herself as the victim in order to strengthen her legal position.
The tension between Lively and Baldoni has already captivated fans, with social media turning the feud into a trending spectacle. Hashtags like #TeamBlake and #JusticeForLively have gained traction, especially among those who feel that female actors are disproportionately subjected to image sabotage when they push back against powerful men in Hollywood. Meanwhile, Baldoni’s supporters accuse Lively of rewriting history and downplaying her own role in the conflict.
As of now, the trial is still set for March 2026, and this new wave of deposition drama has only intensified speculation about what other damaging revelations could surface before then. If Lively’s allegations against Freedman gain legal traction, it could open up a separate line of ethical scrutiny that might have ripple effects across the industry.
For her part, Lively insists this fight is about more than just salvaging her image — it’s about exposing a toxic pattern that punishes women who refuse to play along. “I’m not going to be silenced because it’s inconvenient for them,” she declared in the deposition. “If speaking up makes me a target, then so be it. I’ve been a target for months.”
With both camps refusing to back down and the court date still months away, this Hollywood war shows no signs of cooling off. In fact, if these transcripts are any indication, the ugliest battles may still be ahead — and this time, the fight isn’t just between the two stars, but between a leading actress and one of the most feared lawyers in the business
