Inside Blake Lively’s Secret Lawsuit: How She Used Subpoenas to Uncover Alleged Smear Campaign Against Her

Blake Lively has found herself at the center of controversy after reports emerged that she filed a “super shady” lawsuit just months before accusing her It Ends With Us co-star, Justin Baldoni, of sexual harassment. The lawsuit, filed in September 2024, was designed to subpoena incriminating text messages between Baldoni’s former public relations team and Lively’s team without her name being directly attached, according to a Daily Mail report. This covert legal maneuver is now drawing intense scrutiny, with legal experts divided over its intentions and ethics.

The Secretive Lawsuit

The lawsuit, filed under the name of Lively’s company, Vanzan, sought to subpoena documents and communications related to Baldoni and his PR team, particularly focusing on messages exchanged between former publicist Stephanie Jones and PR crisis manager Melissa Nathan. These documents were critical for Lively’s legal team as they allegedly contained proof of a smear campaign orchestrated against her during the promotion of It Ends With Us in August 2024.

Among the evidence reportedly uncovered was a text from Nathan reading, “We can bury anyone,” which Lively’s team claims was part of a broader plot to tarnish her reputation. The subpoena also targeted communications from Jennifer Abel, a former staff member who continued working with Baldoni. These messages, Lively’s legal team asserts, proved that Baldoni, Nathan, and Abel were actively working to damage her image.

However, in a surprising turn of events, the lawsuit was withdrawn on December 19, 2024, just days before Lively filed a formal sexual harassment complaint against Baldoni with the California Civil Rights Department.

Legal Experts Weigh In

Legal experts have been quick to comment on the unconventional nature of Lively’s legal approach. Attorney Ron Zambrano, who is not involved in the case, described the move as “super shady,” arguing that it was a deliberate attempt to bypass normal legal procedures and obtain subpoena power without oversight. He explained, “They intentionally did this to really work in a very surreptitious and clandestine way.”

Baldoni’s legal representation, led by attorney Bryan Freedman, echoed similar concerns. In a statement to Page Six, Freedman slammed the lawsuit as a “sham,” accusing Lively’s legal team of abusing the court system to obtain subpoena power under false pretenses. He asserted, “This sham lawsuit was designed to obtain subpoena power without oversight or scrutiny, and in doing so denied my clients the ability to contest the propriety, nature, and scope of the subpoena.”

Freedman further questioned the ethical integrity of the move, calling it a flagrant abuse of process, and criticized Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds for using their company to pursue what he deemed a baseless legal strategy.

Lively’s Legal Team Defends the Lawsuit

Despite the criticisms, Lively’s legal team has firmly defended their actions. Attorneys Esra Hudson and Mike Gottlieb issued a statement rejecting the accusations of wrongdoing, insisting that the lawsuit was a necessary and lawful step in uncovering the truth. “There is nothing untoward here — just conscientious and thorough investigation,” the statement reads.

According to Lively’s attorneys, the legal tactic was part of a larger effort to expose the “Wayfarer Parties’ documented plan — in their own words, in their own text messages — to ‘destroy’ Blake Lively.” They argue that the subpoena helped uncover a plan orchestrated behind closed doors, one that was executed without transparency or proper disclosure to Lively or the public.

In their statement, Lively’s legal team clarified that the subpoena was part of a “Doe lawsuit” — a common legal tool used when trying to identify anonymous perpetrators of unlawful activities. They further emphasized that the subpoena would eventually be disclosed in the discovery process, ensuring transparency as the case progressed through proper litigation channels.

Public Backlash and the Sexual Harassment Allegations

Lively’s accusations against Baldoni, which followed shortly after the withdrawal of the lawsuit, have added further complexity to the legal battle. In her formal complaint, filed with the California Civil Rights Department, Lively accuses Baldoni of sexual harassment, detailing incidents that allegedly took place while they were working together on It Ends With Us.

The timing of the withdrawal of the subpoena lawsuit, followed by the public harassment claims, has fueled speculation about Lively’s motivations. Critics have questioned whether the subpoena was part of a larger strategy to build a case against Baldoni, or if it was an overzealous legal tactic designed to discredit him before the formal accusations were made.

Looking Ahead

As the legal proceedings unfold, all eyes are on how this case will develop in the coming months. While Lively’s legal team insists their actions were legitimate and part of a broader investigation, the controversy surrounding the subpoena’s secrecy and the subsequent harassment allegations has already sparked a heated debate about ethics, transparency, and the potential misuse of legal processes.

For now, the public awaits further clarification on the matter as both sides prepare for what promises to be a high-stakes legal battle. The outcome could set a precedent for how similar cases are handled in the future, particularly when it comes to the intersection of legal strategy and celebrity disputes.