Justin Baldoni’s Father Subtly Shades Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds Amid Legal Battle:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(745x301:747x303):format(webp)/justin-baldoni-sam-baldoni-030625-3b09302a32f74e26878bb6130d30a495.jpg)
Justin Baldoni’s father, Sam Baldoni, has seemingly stepped into the ongoing legal battle between his son and Blake Lively, showing support for Justin while subtly shading Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds.
On March 5, Sam, 61, reportedly shared a video on his Instagram Story featuring a bulletin board that read:
“In a world full of Blakes and Ryans, be a Justin.”
According to the New York Post, the board included a photo collage of Justin Baldoni, news clippings about him, and words such as “compassionate,” “supportive,” and “honest.” One clipping referenced Baldoni’s donations from his films Clouds and Five Feet Apart to Claire’s Place Foundation.
While Sam’s Instagram Story has since been deleted, the original TikTok video from @jennybenners remains online. Reports also claim that Sam reposted the video with a heart-hand emoji, signaling support for his son.
PEOPLE has reached out to representatives for both Baldoni and Lively for further comment.
The Ongoing Legal Feud Between Baldoni and Lively
The legal battle between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni began when Lively sued Baldoni in December 2024, accusing him of sexual harassment and retaliation—allegations that Baldoni has denied.
Baldoni has since counter-sued Lively, Reynolds, publicist Leslie Sloane, and her PR firm, Vision PR, Inc., for civil extortion, defamation, and other claims—seeking $400 million in damages. Additionally, he has filed a $250 million lawsuit against The New York Times over a report alleging he and his team conducted a smear campaign against Lively.
Concerns Over Leaked Celebrity Texts
A major development in the lawsuit occurred on March 6, 2025, when attorneys for Lively and Reynolds filed a motion to prevent Baldoni from accessing their private text messages with other celebrities, citing concerns that they could be leaked to the public.
Meanwhile, both legal teams opted out of mediation, calling it “inappropriate” and “premature.” As a result, the lawsuits are now set to proceed to trial in March 2026.
With tensions rising and high-profile Hollywood names involved, the case continues to gain attention as it heads toward a lengthy legal battle.