Blake Lively has asked a judge for a stronger protective order amid her legal battle with Justin Baldoni after allegedly receiving “violent, profane, sexist, and threatening communications.”
Attorneys for Baldoni, 41, along with those for Lively, 37, and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, 48, had previously agreed to a “model” protective order (PO) ahead of their March 2026 civil trial to prevent the public dissemination of sensitive documents and information as discovery gets underway.
However, in a letter submitted to Judge Lewis J. Liman in the Southern District of New York on Thursday viewed by The Post, Lively and Reynolds’ lawyers claim that “good cause exists for the Court to provide additional protections” beyond those agreed to in the model PO.
The letter cites Lively’s amended complaint against her “It Ends With Us” co-star and director filed earlier this week, which alleges the “Gossip Girl” alum, along with “her family, other members of the [‘It Ends With Us’] cast, various fact witnesses,” along with people who have publicly voiced their support for the actress “have received violent, profane, sexist, and threatening communications.”
The additional protections requested by Lively and Reynolds include “an Attorney’s Eyes Only (‘AEO’) category, which applies to ‘Confidential Discovery Material of such a highly confidential and personal, sensitive, or proprietary nature that the revelation of such is likely to cause a competitive, business, commercial, financial, personal or privacy injury,’” according to the letter.
The document also lists examples of confidential discovery material that may be covered under the new PO, including “previously non-disclosed information unique to the entertainment industry (such as, for example, creative ideas or client relationships)” as well as “information of a personal or intimate nature in a case involving high-profile individuals and allegations of sexual harassment.”
Baldoni’s lawyers, meanwhile, have opposed the requested changes to the protective order, as evidenced by an email from one of the star’s attorneys included in an exhibit attached to Lively’s letter.
In a statement to The Post on Friday, Baldoni’s team condemned the sending of violent messages and “dangerous rhetoric” while also suggesting that the actor has received death threats and unwanted visits to his home where he lives with his two children.
“Anyone receiving violent messages by anonymous parties is abhorrent,” Baldoni’s team said, adding, “When private parties were wrongfully accused by Lively and her paid team of wrongdoing, they received continuous death threats and visits to private homes where young children reside after their addresses were leaked on her initial complaints.”
“No one should have to face that, especially private parties who do not have means for security detail,” the statement continued. “We do not condone dangerous rhetoric targeted toward anyone no matter the situation.”
Lively sued Baldoni last December, accusing him of sexual harassment and orchestrating a public smear campaign against her.
The “Jane the Virgin” actor countersued her and Reynolds, alleging defamation, extortion and more. Both stars have denied the other’s claims.
On Wednesday, Lively filed an amended version of her complaint against Baldoni, alleging that she “was not alone in raising allegations of on-set misconduct.”
The “Age of Adaline” star’s legal team also updated their filing to include a “new claim of defamation” against Baldoni.
Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, denied her accusations in the amended suit, telling The Post, “Her underwhelming amended complaint is filled with unsubstantial hearsay of unnamed persons who are clearly no longer willing to come forward or publicly support her claims.”
