Blake Lively’s legal battle against Justin Baldoni took a hit on Friday after a judge denied her request for extensive access to his phone records. 

The ruling, issued by a New York court, determined that her demand for over two years’ worth of text messages, call logs, and location data was excessive and unjustified.

Lively, 37, had subpoenaed Baldoni for records dating back to December 1, 2022, in an effort to support her claims against him. 

However, the court sided with Baldoni, 41, ruling that the request was “overly intrusive and disproportionate.” 

Federal Judge Lewis Liman highlighted concerns that the broad scope of data could include sensitive communications with medical professionals or non-parties unrelated to the case.

Lively filed her lawsuit against Baldoni in December, alleging sexual harassment during the production of It Ends With Us, a film in which they both starred. 

The movie, based on Colleen Hoover’s novel, was a box office success following its August 2024 release. According to her claims, Baldoni engaged in inappropriate conduct, including entering her trailer while she was undressed, showing her a graphic video of his wife giving birth, and behaving in an unprofessional manner during an improvised kissing scene. She further alleged that Baldoni and his team orchestrated a campaign to tarnish her reputation when she objected to the mistreatment.

Judge Liman’s ruling does not entirely quash Lively’s subpoenas but instructs her legal team to revise them to be more reasonable in scope. Baldoni’s attorneys had also sought to prevent Lively from requesting similar records from third parties, but the judge rejected that argument, stating that Baldoni’s privacy concerns did not extend to outside individuals.

The legal battle between the two co-stars has become increasingly contentious. Baldoni responded to Lively’s allegations with a countersuit, seeking $400 million in damages. He claimed that Lively, along with her husband Ryan Reynolds and their team, engaged in a smear campaign against him. According to Baldoni, Lively manipulated the meaning of his messages and collaborated with high-profile Hollywood publicist Leslie Sloane to plant damaging stories in the media. He contends that any negative press surrounding Lively resulted organically from her public image rather than from any orchestrated effort on his part.

The case escalated further when Baldoni took legal action against a major news outlet for $250 million, accusing it of publishing a biased report that heavily relied on Lively’s allegations. The publication has stated that it intends to vigorously defend itself against Baldoni’s claims.

Despite the legal turmoil, Lively has continued to make public appearances. She was recently seen in good spirits at Saturday Night Live’s 50th anniversary show, seemingly unfazed by the ongoing dispute. Her lawsuit, filed with the California Civil Rights Department before transitioning to federal court, alleges sexual harassment, body shaming, and retaliation from Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios.

Baldoni, in turn, maintains that the studio favored Lively throughout the film’s production due to her high-profile status and her marriage to Reynolds, a Hollywood powerhouse. He claims his directorial authority was undermined and that Lively’s team sought to diminish his influence on the project.

In a recent move, Baldoni’s legal team launched a website, thelawsuitinfo.com, which showcases court filings and private text messages related to the dispute. The site was unveiled just days before the case’s initial hearing and is positioned as a resource to clarify his stance.

As the trial is set to commence in March 2026, both parties are preparing for a prolonged legal battle. Lively has expressed her desire to expose what she describes as retaliatory tactics used against those who speak out about misconduct, stating that she hopes her case will encourage others to come forward.

Meanwhile, Baldoni remains firm in his assertion that Lively’s allegations are unfounded and that her legal actions are an attempt to rehabilitate her public image. With both sides deeply entrenched in their respective narratives, the courtroom drama is likely to intensify in the months ahead.

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