Justin Baldoni’s Career in Jeopardy Amid Legal Dispute with Blake Lively, Expert Warns

Lasting harm is expected by professionals since he might be seen as a risk by studios. Even with the help of public relations tactics and media projects, his image still faces potential damage.

The conflict between the actors started in December 2024, intensifying with legal action, countersuits, and the initiation of a website by Justin Baldoni to contradict Blake Lively’s assertions.

While Baldoni contends with continuous legal disputes against Lively, his professional and financial prospects are severely impacted, with the performer already missing out on three assignments and losing hundreds of millions in income.

Now, in an interview with Fox NewsDigital, reputation expert Ryan McCormick predicted lasting damage, telling the publication, “Justin Baldoni’s career is going to nosedive because of this legal battle. It’s not because of his acting ability or following.”

He explained: “Even if all accusations are proven false, I think in the eyes of studios, he’s radioactive. Entertainment companies take a risk on each film, not knowing if it will connect with the masses. With Baldoni, there’s now added perils of not knowing if another legal battle will manifest with his future costars.”

McCormick also noted that Baldoni “has run awry with one of Hollywood’s most powerful couples.”

He explained that their “sphere of influence goes far beyond what the public sees. I can see Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds subtly letting film studios know that they will not do business with them if they do business with Baldoni.”

Arron Bennett, founder of Bennett Financials, also warned that Baldoni could face significant financial setbacks due to the lawsuit.

“Three job losses and ‘hundreds of millions of dollars’ in potential earnings indicate serious financial stagnation,” Bennett explained.

“Being an actor-director like Baldoni, ongoing projects and future deals stand as vital income sources,” Bennett continued. “Studios or production companies might reevaluate their willingness to work with him if they believe he presents too much legal risk during the lawsuit, which could then harm his capacity to land new roles or direct future projects.”

However, Bennett suggested Baldoni could recover through strategic PR, diversifying his income, and shifting toward producing, writing, or media investments to maintain financial stability.

“PR tactics combined with selected interviews and philanthropy provide Baldoni with opportunities to shape public opinion,” he recommended. “By pursuing producing and writing roles along with executive positions or media investment ventures, he can maintain stable income levels despite limited acting-directing opportunities.”

This comes as Lively and her legal team faced a minor setback in their case against Baldoni after their request for a filing extension was denied.

During a New York hearing last week, Lively’s attorneys planned to file an amended complaint by Valentine’s Day, adding new parties. However, on Monday, attorney Michael Gottlieb requested an additional two weeks.

Judge Lewis Liman denied the request, granting only a one-day extension. Despite this, a source close to Lively stated they remain confident and plan to introduce new evidence.

The source said, “We are pleased with the Court’s ruling, which granted most of the relief we had sought. Adjustments to the parties’ scheduling requests are not controversial—they are typical and inevitable in litigation.”

“We have no concerns with filing Ms. Lively’s amended complaint on or before February 18. We will be adding additional evidence to the amended complaint,” they added, per the Daily Mail.

The legal battle between “It Ends With Us” costars escalated in December 2024 when Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment during the film’s production.

She also alleged that he and his associates launched a retaliatory smear campaign to damage her reputation, claims Baldoni has since denied.

In response, Baldoni filed a $400 million countersuit in January, naming Lively’s husband, Ryan Reynolds, and their publicist, Leslie Sloane, with allegations of extortion and defamation.

Shortly after, his legal team announced plans to release a website featuring correspondence, videos, and other materials meant to refute Lively’s accusations.

Before filing his countersuit, Baldoni sued the New York Times for $250 million, alleging that the publication helped push Lively’s “unverified” allegations with “cherry-picked” text messages.

While Baldoni is said to be “financially” and “emotionally” devastated by his legal feud with the Hollywood couple, a source revealed that Lively and Reynolds aren’t doing too well either.

According to TMZ, an insider said the husband and wife duo have been left in “severe anguish” amid their legal tussle with Baldoni.

The source noted that Lively is “emotionally zapped” due to the ongoing spate of lawsuits with Baldoni and that the case has taken a “deep emotional toll” on her and Reynolds.

However, the news outlet also reports that the “Gossip Girl” star remains confident that she’ll emerge victorious and is striving “to get this all buttoned up,” as she believes the whole case is a “sideshow” concocted by Baldoni and his legal team.