Justin Baldoni seeks to 'tell his story' after high-profile Blake Lively dispute ends

Justin Baldoni “really wants to tell his story” following his settlement with Blake Lively, according to a close friend of the actor-director, amid continued fallout from their high-profile legal dispute.

The 42-year-old Baldoni and 38-year-old Lively had been locked in a widely publicized legal conflict since December 2024, stemming from their collaboration on the 2024 drama It Ends With Us.

The pair recently reached an undisclosed out-of-court settlement, bringing an end to the ongoing litigation between them.

Speaking on Piers Morgan Uncensored, actor Adam Mondschein, who appeared in the film, said Baldoni feels strongly about the situation and believes his perspective has yet to be fully heard.

“I have very firm feelings about the actions that she took and she hurt my friend and has been hurting my friend,” Mondschein said.

“I think he really wants to tell his story, and he deserves to be heard. To let sunlight in on this has been the thing that I feel her camp has been avoiding.”

Lively had previously accused Baldoni—who directed and starred opposite her in the film—of sexual harassment and alleged there was a coordinated smear campaign against her.

Baldoni and his Wayfarer Studios later countersued Lively and her husband, actor Ryan Reynolds, alleging defamation and extortion.

Mondschein added that Baldoni has described feeling both relieved and frustrated in the aftermath of the settlement.

“I can’t imagine what it must be like to be inside of her mind,” he said, while noting he has spoken with Baldoni since the case was resolved.

Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, also commented on the outcome, describing the shifting legal landscape leading up to the settlement.

Speaking to Extra, he pointed to several claims that had already been dismissed prior to the agreement.

“Ten of the 13 claims were gone as a result of the summary judgment motion. Five individuals were out of the case,” Freedman said, adding that the dispute had significantly narrowed by the time settlement discussions took place.

He declined to discuss specific settlement terms but said his client was satisfied with the resolution.

Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni issued a joint statement earlier this week confirming the settlement, emphasizing their shared commitment to the film’s broader message.

“The end product — the movie It Ends With Us — is a source of pride to all of us who worked to bring it to life,” the statement read.

“We acknowledge the process presented challenges and recognize concerns raised by Ms. Lively deserved to be heard.”

The statement added that all parties hoped the agreement would allow those involved to move forward and encourage “a respectful environment online.”