Blake Lively Claims ‘Smear Campaign’ Tied To Johnny Depp

Blake Lively is making a bold legal move, and it involves one of Hollywood’s most infamous courtroom showdowns. The actress is reportedly planning to bring elements of the Johnny Depp v. Amber Heard trial into her ongoing case against Justin Baldoni, arguing she faced a similar wave of online backlash.

According to court filings obtained by The Daily Mail, Lively alleges Baldoni enlisted the same crisis PR operative used by Johnny Depp, a move she claims coincided with a sudden “torrent of online hatred” during the 2024 release of “It Ends With Us.” Her legal team argues the connection shaped her understanding of what they describe as a coordinated retaliation campaign.

If allowed, the strategy could introduce references to the six-week Virginia trial between Depp and Amber Heard, which ended with a $15 million jury award in Depp’s favor. Heard had argued at the time that she was the target of an online smear campaign that damaged her reputation, a claim that appears to mirror Lively’s current argument.

Justin Baldoni’s Team Pushes Back On ‘Smear Campaign’ Claims

Baldoni’s legal team is pushing back hard, arguing that Lively’s reputation had already been impacted before the alleged incidents. They are seeking to introduce prior media coverage from 2024, claiming it shows she was already labeled a “mean girl” before any alleged campaign took place.

Baldoni’s lawyers wrote, “Evidence of Lively’s preexisting reputation is not being offered for the truth that she is a ‘mean girl,’ ‘bully,’ difficult to work with or ‘tone deaf’ but to establish Lively’s reputation prior to the alleged ‘smear campaign’ to show that defendants’ alleged conduct did not cause further harm to her existing reputation.”

Ryan Reynolds Voices Support For Blake Lively Amid Ongoing Legal Battle

As the legal drama unfolds, Blake Lively has her husband firmly in her corner. Ryan Reynolds didn’t hold back when speaking about his wife during an April 19 appearance on Today’s “Sunday Sitdown.”

“I’ve never in my life been more proud of my wife,” he said. “People have no idea what’s really going on, you know? And I’ve just never in my life been more proud of someone with that level of integrity that brings that with them and carries that with them in everything that they do.”

Reynolds has also made it clear his support for Blake Lively goes beyond the current legal battle, previously calling out the pressures women face both in Hollywood and beyond. During a January 7, 2025, speech at the National Board of Review Awards, the actor spoke candidly about what he sees as a double standard.

“Stories about women seem to be held to a different set of standards, and that is to say that they’re often held to the standards women are held to in life,” he said at the time. “You must be perfect. You must hide your strength. You must shape-shift or placate.”

Taylor Swift Pulled Into Lively-Baldoni Case As Trial Approaches

As the courtroom battle between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni heats up, another major name has entered the conversation. Taylor Swift has reportedly been dragged back into the legal feud after her name appeared in jury selection materials ahead of the upcoming “It Ends With Us” trial.

According to court documents, both legal teams worked together to compile a list of questions for potential jurors, including one asking whether they are familiar with individuals who may be mentioned during the case: “Do you know any of the following people that you may hear from or about over the course of the trial?”

Swift’s name was included among a lengthy list of high-profile figures who could potentially come up during proceedings, signaling just how wide-reaching and closely watched the trial is expected to be.

Blake Lively Trial Set To Unfold In New York

The case, which stems from Lively’s allegations of misconduct on the “It Ends With Us” set, is scheduled to go to trial in New York on May 18 and could last up to four weeks.

While several of Lively’s claims, including sexual harassment allegations, have already been dismissed, she is still seeking to introduce testimony from multiple women who she says experienced or witnessed inappropriate behavior on set.