Blake Lively's “A Simply Favor” director reveals how she's coping leading up to“ ”Justin Baldoni trial
Blake Lively's “A Simply Favor” director reveals how she's coping leading up to“ ”Justin Baldoni trial
Shania RussellMon, March 16, 2026 at 9:29 PM UTC
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Blake LivelyCredit: Mike Marsland/WireImage
Blake Lively's court date is fast approaching — but according to her longtime friend and collaborator Paul Feig, she isn't letting the legal drama get her down.
While walking the red carpet for Sunday night's 2026 Oscars, Feig kept things light when he was asked about Lively, who he directed in A Simple Favor and its sequel, Another Simple Favor.
"Blake is great. She's great," Feig assured Extra at the event. "She's just, you know, soldiering on and she's such a great mom and that's such the biggest part of her life that she just continues to be wonderful."
He added of Lively and husband Ryan Reynolds, "Their kids are great and she has a happy marriage and I love her."
Blake Lively and Paul FeigCredit: Raymond Hall/GC Images
Feig has been voicing support for Lively ever since her legal battle with Justin Baldoni began in December 2024, when she filed a lawsuit against her It Ends With Us costar and director accusing him of sexual harassment on set and orchestrating a smear campaign against her in the aftermath.
Feig was among those who immediately shared a statement defending Lively after the behind-the-scenes conflict came to light. "I've now made two movies with Blake and all I can say is she's one of the most professional, creative, collaborative, talented and kind people I've ever worked with," he wrote at the time. "She truly did not deserve any of this smear campaign against her. I think it's awful she was put through this."
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A year later, when Another Simple Favor arrived on streaming in the midst of the legal drama, Feig shut down rumors of a feud brewing between Lively and her costar, Anna Kendrick.
"Blake is an amazing collaborator, so when I read people's misconceptions about how movies are made, it's just frustrating for me,” the filmmaker told Esquire. "When the gang on the internet get [up in arms] about something, it's just like, 'Guys, you don't know what you're talking about.' I love working with Blake — she's just the best."
Blake Lively and Justin BaldoniCredit: Mike Marsland/WireImage; Araya Doheny/Variety via Getty
Following Lively's December 2024 complaint with the California Civil Rights Department, she filed a lawsuit against Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer, in New York federal court. Baldoni later responded with his own $400 million lawsuit against Lively, Reynolds, and their publicist, Leslie Sloane, claiming defamation, civil extortion, invasion of privacy, and breach of contract. His countersuit was ultimately dismissed in June, after Judge Lewis J. Liman ruled that Lively's claims could not be considered defamatory.
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Last month, the actors attended a court-ordered mediation session in New York where they spent about six hours with Magistrate Judge Sarah L. Cave as part of a required settlement meeting. The session ultimately ended without an agreement.
Lively and Baldoni are expected to testify in court should the case go to trial on May 18.
on Entertainment Weekly
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
