Justin Baldoni’s New Path: Advocacy for the Wrongly Accused
Justin Baldoni, a 42-year-old actor and filmmaker, is considering a new role in his career. His lawyer, Bryan Freedman, has hinted that Baldoni might become an advocate for individuals who have been falsely accused of wrongdoing, especially those who have faced power imbalances. This potential shift comes just weeks after the conclusion of his high-profile legal battle with Blake Lively, which ended in a settlement.
Baldoni’s legal dispute with Lively, 38, lasted nearly 18 months. In December 2024, Lively filed a lawsuit against him, alleging sexual harassment, retaliatory conduct, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. However, in April, a judge dismissed 10 out of the 13 claims made by Lively, including allegations of sexual harassment, conspiracy, and defamation. The two parties reached a settlement two weeks before the scheduled trial on May 18.
Freedman revealed this possibility during an interview with TMZ in New York City, where he was discussing legal fees related to the case. He noted that Baldoni is still exploring his next steps in his career following the resolution of the litigation.
“I think it’s still been tough for him,” Freedman said. “He’s still going through a lot, and you go through anything like that, it’s really shattering your ego and your pride and your vulnerability and all of it.”
Freedman emphasized that Baldoni has always been open and authentic, which has left him vulnerable. “He really opens himself up in a way that most people don’t and he’s really been super-authentic and that’s been wounded.”
Despite the challenges, Baldoni has received significant public support throughout the past two years of tension with Lively. “It’s so meaningful to him and so powerful to him,” Freedman added. “He’s blown away at the love that he’s gotten, and it’s helped him survive.”
The focus of any potential advocacy work from Baldoni would be to highlight the idea that being a good person doesn’t mean you should be taken advantage of simply because you are kind.
Settling the Legal Dispute
In a joint statement released by their legal teams after the settlement, Lively and Baldoni expressed their mutual goals of raising awareness and making a meaningful impact in the lives of domestic violence survivors and all survivors. They hoped the resolution would bring closure and allow everyone involved to move forward constructively and in peace, including maintaining a respectful environment online.
Lively had accused Baldoni of sexually harassing her in multiple ways, including body shaming her, and orchestrating a smear campaign against her to damage her reputation. She also named several of Baldoni’s collaborators, such as his company Wayfarer Studios, its CEO, financial backers, and PR personnel.
Baldoni initially sought $250 million in damages from The New York Times, citing a report it published on the topic that he claimed was defamatory. He later expanded this to a $400 million lawsuit filed in January of this year. The suit included Lively, her spouse Ryan Reynolds, and her publicist Leslie Sloane. However, the case was dismissed in June 2025, and all parties denied the allegations against them.
The Film That Shaped Their Careers
The film It Ends with Us, which earned $148 million domestically and $350 million globally, was based on Colleen Hoover’s 2016 novel. It starred Lively as Lily Bloom and Baldoni as Ryle Kincaid. The story revolved around a toxic relationship between the characters, with a logline describing Lily as someone who overcomes a traumatic childhood to embark on a new life, only to face challenges with a neurosurgeon whose traits remind her of her parents’ relationship.
Lively gained fame through the 2005 movie The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants alongside Amber Tamblyn, Alexis Bledel, and America Ferrera. She later became a household name with her role as Serena van der Woodsen on the TV show Gossip Girl, which ran from 2007 to 2012. Her other notable films include The Town (2010), The Shallows (2016), A Simple Favor (2018), and The Rhythm Section (2020).
Prior to It Ends with Us, Baldoni was best known for his role as Rafael Solano on the TV series Jane the Virgin from 2014 to 2019. He has also directed films such as Five Feet Apart (2019) and Clouds (2020), and authored the 2021 book Man Enough, which addressed misconceptions about modern masculinity.
