Blake Lively subpoenas major media figures in Justin Baldoni smear campaign case
Image: Instagram.
Hollywood actress Blake Lively has reportedly issued subpoenas to several prominent content creators in the US, including Perez Hilton, Candace Owens and Andy Signore, for her ongoing case against Justin Baldoni.
This new development is part of Lively's effort to substantiate her claims of an alleged smear campaign orchestrated by Baldoni, her co-star and director in the film "It Ends With Us", whom she accused of sexual harassment and retaliation.
Baldoni has denied the sexual harassment allegations made against him by Lively.
According to online reports, the subpoenas were issued in an attempt to obtain communication records between these influencers and Baldoni or his associates.
Lively's lawyers aim to prove that Baldoni's team was behind a campaign designed to malign her reputation in the lead-up to the film's release.
Owens, a political commentator, author and activist, however, expressed her surprise at the news in a statement to "People".
"Given the fact that I have not received any subpoena yet, I appreciate Blake's team leaking this to 'TMZ' to alert me to it," she said.
Owens added: "I have no idea what I am being subpoenaed for, as I knew none of these parties when their respective lawsuits were filed. But stay tuned, and I'll let audiences know on my podcast ('The Candace Cameron Bure Podcast')."
Hilton, a veteran celebrity blogger who has been tracking the developments of this high-profile case, responded in a video to his followers, stating: "I take this very seriously … I have not been served a subpoena yet. But I will comply with the law and I have nothing to hide."
Signore, who has a YouTube channel focusing on celebrity trials, also took to social media to clarify his position.
Watch his full video below.
Baldoni's alleged $400 million countersuit against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, was recently dismissed by Judge Lewis J. Liman, who ruled against Baldoni's claims of extortion and defamation.
Meanwhile, Lively's legal team argues that Baldoni and his team are responsible for strategically disseminating damaging content about her online.
Her complaint includes allegations that Baldoni's team "seeded" negative content with online creators and across platforms like Reddit to escalate the harm to Lively's image, a claim backed by various incidents leading up to the film's premiere in August 2024.
Lively has extended her reach, also issuing subpoenas to music executive Scooter Braun and indicating interest in the communications of other influential friends, including Taylor Swift and Hugh Jackman.
The trial is set to start on March 9, 2026.
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