Justin Baldoni challenges Blake Lively’s ‘excessive’ request after breaking silence on legal war

Justin Baldoni challenges Blake Lively’s ‘excessive’ request after breaking silence on legal war

It never ends.

Justin Baldoni challenged Blake Lively’s latest legal request, days after breaking his silence on their ongoing court battle.

On Monday, the actor submitted a filing dubbing his “It Ends With Us” co-star’s demand for legal fees “excessive” — and requesting a judge reduce it.

Justin Baldoni (pictured above in January 2024) hit back at Blake Lively’s request for legal fees in a filing on Monday. GC Images
The actor (pictured above in May 2023) claimed his “It Ends With Us” co-star’s demand was “excessive.” GC Images

The filing, obtained by Page Six on Tuesday, claimed “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.”

Baldoni’s legal team went on to call Lively’s request for $8 million “anything but a typical fee motion.”

Lively asked in June to be awarded $7,495,526.87 in attorneys’ fees and $539,514.01 in litigation costs and expenses.

Last month, the “Gossip Girl” alum (pictured above on May 19) asked to be awarded $7,495,526.87 in attorneys’ fees and $539,514.01 in litigation costs and expenses. Getty Images for Fendi
Baldoni is now claiming Lively (pictured above on Feb. 11) had “multiple lawyers at the same hearings [and] numerous charges for lawyers conferencing, conferring or strategizing with one another.” Robert Miller for NY Post

Baldoni’s attorneys blasted the latter as a “whopping” sum that “should be denied in its entirety.”

The lawyers pointed out that the New York Times previously requested $181,622.70 in attorneys’ fees in a “motion to dismiss precisely the same defamation claim.”

Baldoni, notably, sued the publication for $250 million in 2024 in a case that was later dismissed — as was his $400 lawsuit against Lively.

As for Lively’s lawsuit against Baldoni, the duo settled in May and avoided facing off in front of a judge.

While neither earned money in the settlement, the legal war raged on as the “Gossip Girl” alum attempts to recoup fees.

Baldoni (pictured above in January 2024) labeled Lively’s request “anything but a typical fee motion.” GC Images
Lively (pictured above in the August 2024 film “It Ends With Us”) has yet to comment on his latest filing. ©Sony Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection

Lively’s rep did not immediately respond to Page Six’s request for comment.

The pair have been duking it out in court since late 2024 — but Baldoni, 42, didn’t speak publicly on the matter until posting an Instagram video with wife Emily Baldoni, with whom he shares two kids.

“There have been so many painful things spoken into existence over the last couple years. Untruthful,” the “Jane the Virgin” alum said, in part, in last week’s upload. “And that created so much noise, and we didn’t want to add to the noise. So we just wanted to let the justice system run its course.”

Emily, 41, quipped, “And the truth and facts have spoken for themselves.”

She, additionally, has not addressed Justin and wife Emily Baldoni breaking their silence on the legal war via Instagram last week. justin baldoni/ instagram
“There have been so many painful things spoken into existence over the last couple years. Untruthful,” Baldoni (pictured above on May 6) said. Derek Shook for Page Six

Lively, for her part, carefully addressed the situation during her “Another Simple Favor” press tour last year.

“This year has been full of the highest highs and lowest lows of my life,” the 38-year-old said on “Late Night With Seth Meyers” in May 2025. “I see so many women around afraid to speak, especially now, afraid to share their experience. Fear is by design, it’s what keeps us silent.”

The actress, who has four children with husband Ryan Reynolds, added that “no matter what” she’s experiencing, she has to “be Disneyland” for her kids and show up in the “best … chaos.”

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