Justin Baldoni makes plea to judge over Blake Lively's $8 million legal bill

Justin Baldoni is requesting a federal judge deny or ‘substantially reduce’ Blake Lively’s request he pays more than $8 million in attorney fees and litigation costs.

The legal battle between the former co-stars began after the production and promotion of the romantic drama Baldoni directed, It Ends With Us. The Gossip Girl alum, 38, sued the former Jane the Virgin star, 42, in December 2024 and he later countersued her and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, for $400 million. A judge dismissed the countersuit in June 2025.

A year later, after a judge decided that Lively was owed fees, the actress asked the court to award $7,495,526.87 in attorneys fees and $539,514.01 in litigation costs and expenses under California Civil Code Section 47.1. This came after a judge dismissed Baldoni’s defamation-related claims against her.

In new filing, submitted on Monday (13 July) Baldoni is asking the judge to deny to reduce Lively’s request, arguing that it is ‘anything but a typical fee motion’.

Baldoni’s lawyers argue that Lively’s request for $8 million in legal fees is too high, pointing to a similar case involving The New York Times. They note that the newspaper sought just $181,622.70 in legal fees after successfully asking the court to dismiss the same defamation claim.

Justin Baldoni has filed a new request (XNY/Star Max/GC Images)

Baldoni sued The New York Times for $250 million in 2024, claiming the newspaper defamed him by reporting that he and his PR team had carried out a smear campaign against Lively. That lawsuit was later dismissed.

Baldoni’s new filing also claims the case was overstaffed. According to PEOPLE, the filing alleges: “The most cursory review of Lively’s submission shows multiple lawyers at the same hearings, numerous charges for lawyers conferencing, conferring, or strategizing with one another, and to put it mildly, extremely excessive research and online investigation.”

Tyla has contacted representatives for both Lively and Baldoni for further comment.

In May of this year, he and Lively reached a confidential settlement, with neither side admitting wrongdoing or paying the other any damages, rather than taking the case to court.

Following two years of silence, Baldoni and his wife spoke out last week.

In an emotional video alongside Emily Baldoni, the actor recalled the ‘injustice’ and ‘trauma’ they say they’ve experienced.

Baldoni started by video by telling fans: “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, 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."

He added: "It just didn’t feel like the right time, and we were talking about it and feeling into it and praying about it."

Baldoni emphasised, however, that the couple wouldn't be discussing the entire legal case, but instead, claimed they have 'immense gratitude' for those who stood by their side.

"So many people and so many things that have happened to us," the actor and director continued. "Gratitude has saved us."