Actor and director Justin Baldoni broke his silence on Wednesday regarding the legal dispute with co-star Blake Lively, posting a video on Instagram alongside his wife, Emily Baldoni.
The couple discussed the personal toll of the conflict, which stemmed from allegations during the production of the 2024 drama film 'It Ends With Us.'
Gratitude Amid Legal Battle
"Gratitude has saved us," said Justin Baldoni, who also serves as director of Wayfarer Studios.
The statement follows a federal judge's decision to dismiss most of Lively's civil rights claims earlier this year, leading to a confidential settlement in May before the scheduled trial.
"What I will say is that there have been so many painful things that have been spoken to existence over the last couple years," Justin Baldoni noted.
He explained that the couple chose to remain silent to let the legal system proceed without adding public commentary.
"And that created so much noise, and we didn't want to add to the noise, so we just wanted to let the justice system run its course," he added.
Emily Baldoni stated that the facts established during court proceedings validated their position. "The truth and the facts have spoken for themselves, and here we are," she said.
She acknowledged that their gratitude does not erase the emotional difficulties from the public allegations, adding, "doesn't negate the injustice and the pain that we have also felt in the last few years."
She expressed confusion over how the dispute unfolded publicly.
"Had to wrestle with so many things and try to understand so many things, like how could something like this even happen, let alone disguised as a fight for women," Emily Baldoni remarked.
The couple thanked their support system throughout the highly publicized litigation. "Thank you does not feel like enough," Justin Baldoni said.
He emphasized that the experience highlighted love and community in their lives.
"But we're here because of so many of you and all of our friends and family.
And one thing that we've learned is that when God presses the reset button and everything else is stripped away, that that's when love shows up," he stated.
Justin Baldoni explained they refrained from posting earlier because the timing felt inappropriate.
"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," he said.
He added that they hesitated and sought spiritual guidance before speaking out.
According to The New York Times, Lively's lawyers requested over $8 million in legal fees after the dismissal of a separate defamation countersuit filed by Baldoni.
