Actress Blake Lively has reportedly told a New York court that she lost more than $40 million as a result of “reputational damage” she suffered during her ongoing feud with her former costar, Justin Baldoni.
Lively, 38, and Baldoni, 42, have been engaged in a legal drama since December 2024, when the “Gossip Girl” actress launched a lawsuit against her “It Ends With Us” costar, accusing him of sexual harassment and retaliation.
That lawsuit is now set to be heard in a New York City courtroom in a trial that will begin on May 18—although a judge has already dismissed 10 of the 13 allegations Lively initially levied against Baldoni, including the accusations of harassment, conspiracy, and defamation.
The trial will therefore focus on three smaller claims, including breach of contract and two relating to Lively’s allegations of retaliation.
However, the actress—who is understood to be calling on a long list of witnesses, including her husband, Ryan Reynolds—is still seeking around $160 million in damages from Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer, according to TMZ, which reports that Lively’s lawyers recently filed new court documents providing additional insight into this sum.
According to the filing, Lively’s legal team called on an expert to review the fallout from what the actress has alleged was a targeted online smear campaign against her—one that the expert concluded resulted in 176 million impressions, many of which referred to her as a “mean girl,” a “bully,” and “tone deaf.”
The expert stated that these impressions caused $36.5 million to $40.5 million in lost income for Lively.
The outlet previously reported that Lively had alleged the “reputational damage” caused by her fallout with Baldoni had impacted every facet of her professional life, noting that the actress was seeking $56 million in lost past and future earnings, as well as $49 million in losses to her haircare company, Blake Brown, and $22 million in losses to her beverage brand, Betty Buzz.
Both Baldoni and Lively are expected to testify during the trial—which experts have suggested could last up to two weeks.
Amid the ongoing preparation for the trial, some sources have alleged that Lively and Reynolds, 49, are contemplating a move overseas in a bid to escape the fallout from the actress’s feud with Baldoni.
The couple—who share four children—are said to have been “discussing moving to the United Kingdom,” a source told the Daily Mail.
As for why the duo is even considering the U.K., the insider noted that Reynolds has already established a life for himself there, having purchased a majority stake in a Welsh soccer club, Wrexham, in 2021.
Reynolds and Lively have flown across the pond to the U.K. to watch multiple Wrexham games and, the source stated, they feel that they will have a better chance to move past the murky drama in a new locale.
“With Ryan’s huge success with Wrexham, he has a great affinity for the U.K.,” the insider told the outlet, noting that the actress “could rebrand there.”
Lively is also said to be of the opinion that she would have greater career opportunities overseas, having seen her reputation somewhat hampered by the ongoing legal saga.
“[She] believes there are top-of-the-line filmmakers who could give her a second chance,” the insider went on.
According to the Daily Mail, “most people in the industry” are “steer[ing] clear” of Lively following her feud with Baldoni as they prepare to go to trial next month.
“Blake isn’t getting the offers. There hasn’t been anywhere near the same interest in her since the Baldoni drama exploded. She’s burned bridges,” another source claimed.
According to the outlet, the Hollywood power duo is now trying to sort through how they will raise their children abroad.
“What’s making them take a long, hard look at their immediate future is that their kids’ schooling and friends are in the States,” the outlet claimed of Reynolds and Lively, who share daughters James, Inez, and Betty, and a son, Olin.
According to the outlet, Lively and Reynolds are “tired” and “not as playful” anymore, adding that they are “not being very social these days, they are just preoccupied.”
In the months since the legal drama began, Lively and Reynolds have attempted to maintain a relatively low profile by taking refuge at their sprawling home in Pound Ridge in upstate New York.
The upscale area is popular with celebrities: Susan Sarandon, Richard Gere, and Mike Myers have all lived here. It’s also not far from Martha Stewart‘s 153-acre farm in Bedford, NY.
According to property records, Lively and Reynolds picked up their Pound Ridge estate for $5.7 million in 2012—the same year they married.
Built in 1860, the seven-bedroom mansion offers 8,892 square feet of living space.
The 12-acre parcel appears to have a converted barn on the premises, as well as stone walls, a stocked pond, and orchards.
The property boasts seven bedrooms and six bathrooms and comes with a separate guesthouse.
While no photos of the ultraprivate property are available, a shot from Reynolds’ Instagram account with his mom gives a sense of the graphite exteriors of the charming property.
When Reynolds and Lively want a date night or need to head to events such as the Met Gala, they can crash at their lavish pied-à-terre in Manhattan.
That pricey pad is also where the “Gossip Girl” alum flaunts her fashion-forward wardrobe on Instagram, and from those pretty pics, we’ve gotten a peek at the rustic-cool spaces.
According to multiple reports, Reynolds and Lively have a condo in a stylish Tribeca building. It’s a celebrity hot spot, as it’s been home to Justin Timberlake, Jennifer Lawrence, and Harry Styles, among others.
Once a 19th-century book bindery, the building was converted into luxe residences with unique character. It now offers 53 loft-style homes and eight penthouses.
Offering the “highest degree of service,” the building also provides on-site, 24/7 staff.
Lively and Reynolds must love the history combined with the convenience of the paparazzi-proof building, where units cost $6 million to $50 million.
We don’t know specifically which unit they picked, but they had an option of a variety of spaces, including a loft or penthouse.
Custom kitchens designed by Christopher Peacock are encased in wood and fluted glass cabinetry with 2-inch-thick Calacatta marble on the kitchen islands. Primary baths feature slabs of marble behind a freestanding tub, radiant floor heating, and a glass-enclosed rain shower with a built-in bench.
Residents also enjoy an indoor pool, a fitness center, wine lockers, and other high-end amenities. And paparazzi-averse residents can enter the building through a private garage, another huge perk.