Blake Lively’s Legal Battles Intensify as New Evidence Emerges and She Marks 38th Birthday

NEW YORK, Aug. 26, 2025 - Explosive developments surfaced in Blake Lively’s protracted legal feud with director Justin Baldoni on Tuesday, as court documents unsealed today reveal a covert crisis-management operation allegedly orchestrated by Baldoni’s team to undermine the actress’s reputation. Simultaneously, Lively filed a fresh motion seeking sanctions against Baldoni’s attorney, and privately celebrated her 38th birthday in quiet family style.

In a series of text messages and emails made public by a New York federal judge, Baldoni’s publicist and associates discussed hiring a “hired gun” social media consultant on a $25,000-per-month retainer to seed pro-Baldoni narratives and suppress criticism of the filmmaker’s conduct on the set of It Ends With Us. The communications-part of more than 60 exhibits submitted by Lively’s attorneys-detail plans for “social and digital mitigation and remediation” designed to be carried out “without fingerprints,” though much of the activity was later deemed “unnecessary” when negative public response to Lively’s promotional remarks went viral organically.

Amid these revelations, Lively’s legal team filed a request today asking the court to impose sanctions on Baldoni’s lead counsel for allegedly engaging in “publicly slandering” statements against the actress. This motion represents the latest escalation in what has become a deeply personal and highly publicized courtroom confrontation.

Despite the intensity of her legal struggles, Lively took time on Tuesday to celebrate her birthday away from the spotlight. According to insiders, she spent the day traveling and enjoying quiet moments at home with husband Ryan Reynolds and their four children. “It’s been all about family time this summer,” a source told People, noting that Lively is “grateful for Ryan’s support” and “looking forward to some quiet time” after months of legal turmoil.

Trial preparations continue for the expected March 2026 courtroom showdown, with both camps poised for a fierce contest over the harassment and retaliation claims at the heart of the dispute.