Justin Baldoni has reportedly objected to Blake Lively’s recent request to discuss her and her husband Ryan Reynolds’ financial standing in the upcoming trial. For the unversed, Lively recently submitted a court filing and asked the judge to block evidence about her and her husband’s “net worth and financial status” in her lawsuit trial scheduled for next month.
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Blake Lively has a net worth of $30 million, while Ryan Reynolds has an estimated net worth of $350 million, bringing their combined net worth to $380 million.
On April 18, TMZ reported that Justin Baldoni filed court documents on Friday in which the actor-director objected to Blake Lively’s latest request. Baldoni argued that it is crucial to discuss the celebrity couple’s fortune after the actress asserted she lost millions as a result of an alleged smear campaign orchestrated against her. The outlet mentioned that Lively claimed to have lost $161 million due to the alleged campaign.
Baldoni also reportedly stressed the importance of discussing Ryan Reynolds’ financial status.
“[She] typically does not accept acting opportunities which conflict with Reynolds’ acting schedule – particularly when he is able to garner a higher income for his movies than she can,” the filing said, as reported by TMZ.
In the filing, Justin Baldoni also requested to discuss Ryan Reynolds Nicepool character from Deadpool & Wolverine in the trial ahead. As per media reports, Blake Lively urged the court to block the mention of the character. When the movie came out, many speculated that the character was a jab at Baldoni. In January last year, Baldoni’s lawyer Bryan Freedman discussed the issue on Megyn Kelly’s show.
“There’s no question it relates to Justin. I mean, anybody that watched that hair bun — if somebody is seriously sexually harassed, you don’t make fun of it. It’s a serious issue,” Freedman said.
TMZ reported that Baldoni aims to argue that he needed the crisis management team because he was targeted via a movie.
Justin Baldoni files request to exclude Jenny Slate and Colleen Hoover’s testimony in Blake Lively trial
Blake Lively plans to call her It Ends With Us co-star Jenny Slate to the witness stand as she claimed that the actress distanced herself from Baldoni due to his alleged inappropriate behavior. Lively also expects It Ends With Us novelist Colleen Hoover to testify against Baldoni.
According to the court documents obtained by TMZ last week, Justin Baldoni objected to their testimony and referred to them as:
“Grab bag of awkward comments, minor confrontations, and perceived slights would have been inadmissible even if Lively’s sexual harassment claims proceeded to trial.”
The Jane the Virgin alum requested to prohibit Slate’s complaint with him, as she allegedly had expressed that her issue was resolved. Baldoni further argued that Colleen Hoover was never on set and hence her testimony would be of no relevance.
Ryan Reynolds is also named as the witness in the trial scheduled for May 18. Earlier this month, the judge dismissed Blake Lively’s sexual harassment claims and nine other claims from her lawsuit. Now, the jury will hear to decide on breach of contract and two claims related to retaliation.
Also read: “The physical pain from digital violence is very real”: Blake Lively calls out online abuse after court ruling in Justin Baldoni dispute
Edited by Sohini Biswas