Nearly two years after one of Hollywood’s most talked-about legal battles began, Justin Baldoni has finally chosen to speak publicly. The actor-director appeared alongside his wife, Emily Baldoni, in a video shared on Instagram, where the couple reflected on the emotional toll of the dispute involving Blake Lively. Rather than revisiting every legal claim, they focused on why they stayed silent for so long and what helped them get through the difficult period.
The couple said they had considered speaking out many times over the past two years, but every attempt felt premature. According to Justin, they believed it was better to step back and allow the legal process to unfold instead of responding publicly while the case was still making headlines. Their first joint message since the controversy began was centered more on gratitude than on accusations.
Justin Baldoni Explains Why He Stayed Silent
Opening the video, Justin Baldoni admitted that remaining quiet had not been easy. He said there had been countless moments when he wanted to address the public, but something always made him pause before recording a statement.
“We have not spoken publicly for the better part of the last two years, and it’s not because we haven’t had anything to say, because lord knows we have,” Justin Baldoni said. “But it just felt like every time we went to make a video like this, we wanted to speak, something was telling us not to. It just didn’t feel like the right time, and we were talking about it and feeling into it and praying about it.”
Emily Baldoni echoed that feeling, explaining that deciding what to say had become increasingly difficult because of everything that had happened since the controversy first emerged. She said the situation carried many emotions, but she wanted to focus on what mattered most at this point.
“It makes it hard to figure out what is right for this specific moment,” Emily Baldoni said. “But what does feel important is that we can genuinely say that we are sitting here today feeling immense gratitude for so many things and so many people.”
Justin then added a short but meaningful reflection.
“Gratitude has saved us.”
Legal Battle That Sparked The Public Fallout
The dispute traces back to December 2024, when Blake Lively accused Justin Baldoni of sexual harassment and alleged that he attempted to organize an online smear campaign during the production of It Ends With Us. Baldoni had directed the film while also starring opposite Lively, making the allegations one of the entertainment industry’s biggest stories at the time.
Justin Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios denied those claims and later filed a $400 million defamation lawsuit against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds. The lawsuit argued that false allegations had been used to damage Baldoni’s reputation and influence public perception surrounding the film. However, the case was later dismissed after a judge ruled that Lively’s accusations were protected under litigation privilege.
In the months that followed, the legal conflict gradually moved toward a resolution. Before the scheduled trial could begin, Lively withdrew her lawsuit and reached a settlement with Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios. No financial settlement was exchanged between the parties, although Lively is now seeking $7.5 million in attorney fees from Baldoni and Wayfarer.
Couple Thanks Supporters During Difficult Chapter
While the legal details have dominated headlines for months, Justin and Emily used their video to acknowledge the people who stood beside them throughout the controversy. They explained that they had intentionally avoided making public statements because they did not want to fuel further arguments while the courts handled the matter.
After years of silence, Justin said they simply felt it was finally time to share something because “there have been so many painful things spoken into existence.” He explained that their approach had always been to “let the justice system run its course” instead of adding more noise to an already heated situation. Emily also expressed confidence that “the facts have spoken for themselves” throughout the lengthy legal process.
Justin ended the message by thanking supporters who continued believing in him during the most difficult moments of his career.
“You have given your time to fight for us, and thank you does not feel like enough,” he said. “But we’re here, in large part, because of so many of you and all of our friends and family. One thing that we’ve learned is that when God presses the reset button and everything else is stripped away, that’s when love shows up, and we feel so loved.”
Although the courtroom battles may largely be over, the public conversation surrounding It Ends With Us continues to attract attention. Justin and Emily’s first public appearance together on the subject marks a significant moment in a dispute that has shaped headlines across Hollywood since 2024, with both sides now looking toward moving beyond one of the industry’s most closely followed legal conflicts.
