As The Saying Goes: If Justin Baldoni Has No Haters, Then I Am Dead
Baldoni is "ecstatic" and "very pleased" with the results of his recent settlement with Blake Lively. On an unrelated note, I am going to walk into the ocean.
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Within hours of news breaking that Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni had reached a settlement in their millennia-long legal battle, the Hollywood smear machines and certain outlets (ahem, New York Post) wasted no time framing Lively as the loser. Like clockwork, rumors started spreading that Lively walked away from the settlement with “nothing,” had paid for her Met Gala invitation, and was bossing photographers on the carpet. Meanwhile, Justin Baldoni was celebrating a victory. Boo!!!
Not only were the rumors about Blake Lively at the Met Gala false, but Justin Baldoni, IN MY (correct) OPINION, has no business celebrating or being “ecstatic” and “very pleased” with his results, as Baldoni’s lawyer put it. Because when you parse the many details of the legal battle (like Jezebel dot com has been tirelessly investigating for the past year and a half), you may agree with us that no joy or praise of any kind will be tolerated here. As the saying goes: If Justin Baldoni has no haters, then I am dead.
In April, a judge dismissed 10 of Lively’s 13 claims against Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios, and a member of Lively’s legal team told People that the trial wasn’t going forward “not because the defendants did nothing wrong but because the court determined Blake Lively was an independent contractor, not an employee.” The judge also tossed other harassment claims because the suit was filed in California, not New Jersey, where the movie was filmed. Yet another legal precedent for protecting bad men and bad employers, yay! Then, on Tuesday, two weeks before the trial on the remaining claims was set, Lively and Baldoni released a joint statement announcing a settlement.
“I can’t talk about the terms of the settlement, but what I can tell you is that he is ecstatic, that both Jamie and Justin are ecstatic at the results of this and the settlement itself,” Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, told Extra. “They are very pleased with where this ended up.” Well, I’m sure they are. Oh, your sexual harassment case was thrown out because independent contractors don’t technically have rights? Total win, bro.
In the joint statement from Lively and Baldoni, they maintained, “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.” Really? A source of pride to all of them? Hm.
“Raising awareness, and making a meaningful impact in the lives of domestic violence survivors—and all survivors—is a goal that we stand behind. We acknowledge the process presented challenges and recognize concerns raised by Ms. Lively deserved to be heard,” they added. “We remain firmly committed to workplaces free of improprieties and unproductive environments. It is our sincere hope that this brings closure and allows all involved to move forward constructively and in peace, including a respectful environment online.” Unfortunately, “respectful environment” and “online” have never mixed well.
Before you go thinking this battle had ended, there are still some loose legal ends that need tying up, so, no, it’s not technically over. Lively still has a pending motion for attorneys’ fees and damages in Baldoni’s defamation suit against her. “Anyone purporting to confirm the terms of the confidential settlement at this point is misleading you,” a source told Variety. “More information about this confidential settlement will be on the court’s docket in the coming days.” As the prophecy foretold, this will never actually end.
Anyways, Lively looked fabulous at the Met Gala.
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