Justin Baldoni‘s high-powered lead attorney Bryan Freedman is taking a victory lap after a judge tossed Blake Lively‘s sexual harassment claims against his client, saying the truth has prevailed.
Freedman issued a statement to TMZ Friday morning following the judge’s Thursday ruling to spike Lively’s claims in her lawsuit that Justin sexually harassed her on the set of their 2024 film, “It Ends With Us.”
Blake claimed Baldoni kissed her during a scene where the script didn’t call for the two to smooch. She also alleged Baldoni stepped inside her trailer as she was breastfeeding. Blake went on to accuse one of the film’s producers of showing her a video of his wife giving birth.
In his statement, Freedman said … “Since the first day of this case, when Justin and the other defendants were blindsided by these allegations, the legal team on the ground from the beginning have worked extremely long days and nights defending this case through transparency by releasing the actual truthful text messages, and by welcoming and facilitating the release of all documents exhibiting the truth.” And he didn’t end there …
Freedman went on, “The defendants were not afraid of the truth. The plan was not only to speak the truth but to also show that same truth over and over again through the presentation of actual evidence. Neither Justin Baldoni, Jamey Heath nor any of the other defendants have engaged in the sexual harassment of Blake Lively.”
He continued, “Despite our clients being accused of DARVO (Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim and Offender) in defending these claims and despite our client being referred to in writing as a predator, what I said, on behalf of our client’s day one and every day since then is true. Our clients are very good people who have not engaged in this sexual harassment as alleged. As such, they have deserved a vigorous defense which was led through transparency.”
The attorney wrapped it up by saying … “It is gratifying to see that the courts ruling confirms what the legal team believed from day one.”
As we reported, Blake’s attorney, Sigrid McCawley, told TMZ after the judge tossed 10 of Blake’s 13 claims against Baldoni that the case “has always been and will remain focused on the devastating retaliation and the extraordinary steps the defendants took to destroy Blake Lively’s reputation because she stood up for safety on the set and that is the case that is going to trial.”
tMcCawley added, in part … “Sexual harassment isn’t going forward, not because the defendants did nothing wrong, but because the court determined Blake Lively was an independent contractor, not an employee.”