In a filing on April 10, attorneys for Wayfarer Studios, the production company co-founded by Baldoni, asked a judge to exclude allegations that Baldoni made comments about Lively’s weight. They argued the claims are no longer relevant after earlier court rulings and would unfairly influence the jury.
The request follows an April 2 decision by Judge Lewis J. Liman, who dismissed 10 of Lively’s 13 claims against Wayfarer, including her sexual harassment claims. As a result, Baldoni is no longer a defendant on those dismissed claims, though Wayfarer remains in the case.
Wayfarer’s legal team says the case is now focused on Lively’s allegations that she faced retaliation connected to an alleged smear campaign. They argue that introducing weight-related claims would distract from the central issues jurors must decide.
Lively’s lawyers disagreed in an April 17 filing. They argue the allegations should be allowed because they provide context for her retaliation claims. According to her legal team, the claims are part of the same pattern of behavior and help explain why she believed she was responding to inappropriate conduct.
The dispute partly relates to a meeting on April 25, 2023, at Lively and Ryan Reynolds’ New York City home. In her complaint, filed in December 2024, Lively alleged that Baldoni criticized her body and weight during the film’s production. She also claimed he contacted her fitness trainer without her knowledge and suggested she lose weight quickly.
Baldoni’s attorneys deny those allegations. They say he contacted the trainer only to confirm Lively’s weight for a lifting scene, citing concerns about his own back problems. Baldoni has also said Reynolds confronted him during the meeting over the issue, leading to a heated exchange and an apology.
Both sides are also seeking to limit other evidence before trial. Wayfarer wants to block testimony from several women and exclude prior misconduct allegations involving Baldoni. The defense is also asking the court to prevent certain communications and materials tied to Lively’s smear campaign claims from being presented.
Lively’s team is pushing to include statements allegedly made by Wayfarer financier Steve Sarowitz, including a claim that he was willing to spend $100 million to harm Lively and Reynolds’ reputations. Baldoni’s side argues those statements are irrelevant.
Lively, who is seeking up to $300 million in damages, is also asking the court to prevent discussion of her and Reynolds’ net worth and to limit references to past media coverage, including a viral interview and “mean girl” allegations.
A final pretrial hearing is scheduled for April 28. The trial is set to begin May 18 in New York City.
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