Blake Lively Moves to Exclude Viral Interview, ‘Mean Girl’ Claims Ahead of “It Ends with Us ”Trial

Blake Lively is attempting to restrict the inclusion of certain evidence in her upcoming trial related to her film “It Ends With Us.” The actress is at the centre of a legal dispute with Wayfarer Studios, co-founded by Justin Baldoni, which has claimed that pre-existing public perceptions of her support its defence strategy. The trial is set to commence on May 18.

In a recent filing dated April 11, Lively’s legal team sought to dismiss the testimony of journalist Kjersti Flaa, who resurfaced an interview from 2016 that recently went viral. The interview reignited social media criticism that branded Lively as “rude” and “tone deaf,” sparking allegations of her embodying “mean girl” behaviour. Lively’s lawyers argue that Flaa’s inclusion as a witness holds little relevance to the case and could unduly sway the jury.

Lively’s team contends that the only link Flaa has to this lawsuit is her decision to post the interview shortly after the film’s premiere, thereby contributing to the existing backlash against the actress. Crucially, Lively does not accuse Flaa of colluding with Wayfarer or participating in any alleged smear campaign.

The legal representatives assert that the trial should centre on the actions of the defendants after the video went viral. They argue that for the case, Lively need only demonstrate that Wayfarer amplified the video’s dissemination, which her lawyers claim can be shown without Flaa’s testimony. They describe any insights Flaa might provide regarding the video’s virality as purely speculative, deeming her potential evidence as unnecessary.

Further complicating matters, Lively’s representatives argue that Wayfarer is relying on outdated headlines instead of substantial evidence. They accuse the studio of attempting to introduce “gossip, rumour, hearsay, and speculative lay opinion” that could further harm Lively’s reputation.

Wayfarer filed a response on April 20, characterising Lively’s motion as a desperate measure. They maintain that Flaa’s testimony is crucial to demonstrating Lively’s established public persona, highlighting that her “mean girl” reputation is derived not from any external campaign but from her past conduct. Wayfarer maintains that they did not incite the negative narrative surrounding Lively.

Simultaneously, both parties are engaged in disputes regarding other significant evidence ahead of the trial. Wayfarer is attempting to block testimony from seven women who have posed allegations against Baldoni, the studio’s co-founder. The defence is also working to exclude evidence linked to Lively’s claims of a smear campaign, which involve crisis publicist Melissa Nathan and Jed Wallace, as well as emails and texts that Lively believes support her assertions.

Additionally, Lively’s legal team has highlighted statements attributed to billionaire financier Steve Sarowitz, who purportedly claimed he would spend $100 million to damage the lives of Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds. Wayfarer seeks to have these comments excluded from jury consideration, arguing they are irrelevant to the case at hand.

Lively is pursuing damages of up to £300 million and is also requesting that the court prevents the disclosure of her and Reynolds’ financial status during the proceedings.

Previously, U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman dismissed ten out of Lively’s original thirteen claims, including serious allegations such as sexual harassment, defamation, and conspiracy. However, the judge permitted a narrower set of claims—including those related to breach of contract and retaliation—to proceed to trial.

With preparations for trial intensifying, a final pretrial hearing has been scheduled for April 28, with the judge expecting both sides to fine-tune their witness lists. The legal proceedings are closely watched, given the high stakes for Lively and the ongoing implications for her public image. The upcoming trial in New York City is likely to attract significant media attention as it unfolds.