Justin Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, claimed Blake Lively settled her lawsuit with her “It Ends With Us” co-star and director because she was “scared” to testify at trial.
Freedman made the surprising claim as Lively continues to seek attorneys’ fees and damages connected with Baldoni’s dismissed $400 million countersuit against her.
“Part of the reason Blake settled is because she was scared to take the witness stand at trial,” the attorney told TMZ on Thursday. “She did not want to face cross-examination by anyone because that would require her to tell the truth.”
Justin Baldoni’s lawyer (pictured here outside court on April 28) said Blake Lively settled her lawsuit with Baldoni because she was “scared” to testify. Paul Martinka for NY Post
Baldoni’s lawyer made the surprising comments to TMZ on Thursday. Paul Martinka for NY Post
He continued, “Blake lied about telling Sony to destroy the dailies. She lied that she never told [‘It Ends With Us’ author] Colleen Hoover to unfollow Justin Baldoni. In her deposition, Colleen said Blake asked her to unfollow him. And there were more lies.”
But Freedman’s comments didn’t end there, because the lawyer went on to slam the 38-year-old actress over the outcome of the pair’s ugly 18-month legal battle.
“Bottom line, Blake filed a claim for $300 million and she ended up with nothing,” he charged. “If this is a resounding victory, what does a defeat look like?”
“Part of the reason Blake settled is because she was scared to take the witness stand at trial,” Freedman (pictured here with Baldoni outside court on Feb. 12) said. Getty Images
“Bottom line, Blake filed a claim for $300 million and she ended up with nothing,” Freedman added of Lively (seen here leaving court on Feb. 11). “If this is a resounding victory, what does a defeat look like?” REUTERS
He went on, “If she’s doing this for survivors of sexual assault and sexual harassment and retaliation, as she says, then why don’t you take the stand at trial and prove it to the world? A trial would have exposed her lies and the entire smear she was talking about in her interviews that she did.”
In response, Lively’s team told TMZ that they “guess” Baldoni is “no longer ‘ecstatic’ about the settlement.”
Page Six has reached out to Lively’s reps for further comment.
The legal team representing Lively (pictured here leaving court) fired back at Freedman in a short statement. Robert Miller for NY Post
Lively’s team said that they “guess” Baldoni (seen here with his wife, Emily, arriving at court) is “no longer ‘ecstatic’ about” the pair’s settlement. Gregory P. Mango for NY Post
The feuding “It Ends With Us” co-stars agreed to settle their nasty legal battle on Monday, two weeks before the case was set to begin trial on May 18 and a month after a judge tossed out 10 of Lively’s 13 claims against Baldoni.
“The end product — the movie ‘It Ends With Us’ — is a source of pride to all of us who worked to bring it to life,” both sides said in a joint statement to Page Six after the surprise settlement.
“Raising awareness, and making a meaningful impact in the lives of domestic violence survivors — and all survivors — is a goal that we stand behind,” they added.
The “A Simple Favor” star (pictured here arriving to court on Feb. 11) and Baldoni settled their 18-month-legal battle on Monday. Gregory P. Mango for NY Post
The settlement came a month after a judge tossed out 10 of Lively’s 13 claims against her former director (seen here with his wife arriving at court). Lone Pine Press for NY Post
Although Page Six learned that the pair spent a combined $60 million suing one another, and neither saw a dime in the settlement, Lively’s legal team called the agreement a “resounding victory.”
“By agreeing to this settlement, and waiving their right to appeal, Justin Baldoni and every individual defendant now face personal liability for abusing the legal system to silence and intimidate Ms. Lively,” the “A Simple Favor” star’s team told Page Six in a statement.
“From day one Blake Lively’s mission was clear: expose and hold accountable those who weaponize smear campaigns and retaliatory lawsuits to intimidate and silence survivors,” they added. “That mission continues.”
Lively (pictured here on Monday evening) stepped out at this year’s Met Gala shortly after her and Baldoni’s settlement. FilmMagic
Baldoni (seen here in 2017) was said to be “ecstatic” about settling his and Lively’s ugly and drawn-out legal fight. Penske Media via Getty Images
Lively hit this year’s Met Gala just a few hours after agreeing to settle with her former director.
As for Baldoni, he was said to be “ecstatic” after settling his messy legal battle with the “Gossip Girl” alum.
“Justin wants to help people who have experienced similar experiences when they felt they were accused of something they did not do,” Freedman told “Extra TV” after the settlement.