Justin Baldoni's lawyer has insisted Blake Lively 'didn't win' despite her latest courtroom success, as he welcomed what appears to be the end of the explosive It Ends With Us legal battle that has gripped Hollywood.
The dispute between the former co-stars has generated months of headlines, with both camps claiming vindication at different stages of the proceedings. However, Baldoni's attorney, Bryan Freedman, is now pushing back against suggestions that Lively emerged victorious after a recent ruling involving legal fees.
According to People, a federal judge ruled that Lively is entitled to seek attorneys' fees and litigation costs connected to Baldoni's dismissed defamation countersuit. However, the actress was denied her request for punitive damages and enhanced compensation, a distinction Freedman argues is being overlooked.
Lawyer Rejects 'Winner' Narrative
Speaking on The Megyn Kelly Show, Freedman made it clear that he disagreed with claims that Lively had scored a decisive legal victory.
The Wrap noted Freedman criticised media coverage portraying the ruling as a major win for the actress, arguing that the court rejected key elements of her request.
'Blake Lively didn't win', Freedman said during the interview, adding that the judge declined to award the additional damages her legal team had pursued.
The lawyer maintained that while Lively may recover certain legal expenses, the broader outcome was far less significant than some reports suggested. Freedman described the ruling as proof that Lively had failed to secure the full financial remedies she sought.
The latest development follows a lengthy and bitter legal confrontation that began after Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment and retaliation related to the production of It Ends With Us. Baldoni strongly denied the allegations.
The conflict escalated when Baldoni filed a $400 million defamation lawsuit against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and others. However, that countersuit was later dismissed by Judge Lewis J. Liman.
Hoping To Move Forward
Despite his criticism of the victory narrative, Freedman expressed relief that the legal saga was finally nearing its conclusion.
The attorney said he hoped the matter was 'finally over' and revealed that he had publicly released the settlement agreement to avoid future disputes over what had been agreed between the parties.
Freedman also suggested that both sides should now move on after months of public accusations, legal filings, and media scrutiny.
'I think enough is enough', he said during the interview.
The comments follow the parties' settlement in May, just weeks before the case was scheduled to go to trial. The agreement effectively brought an end to one of the entertainment industry's most closely watched legal disputes.
While Lively's team has argued that the court's decisions support her position and affirm protections for those who report alleged misconduct, Baldoni's representatives continue to focus on the damages she failed to secure.
The actress can still pursue reimbursement for legal fees related to the dismissed countersuit, but she will not receive punitive or treble damages.
As a result, both sides continue to present the outcome through very different lenses.
For Freedman, the case does not represent a clear-cut victory for Lively. Instead, as he told The Megyn Kelly Show, it marks the end of a bruising legal battle in which neither side obtained everything it wanted.
What appears certain, however, is that the courtroom chapter of the It Ends With Us feud has finally come to a close, even if the debate over who truly won remains far from settled.
