Actor and director Justin Baldoni is making a strategic legal move to prevent testimony from notable figures in the entertainment industry during his ongoing legal dispute with actress Blake Lively. According to recently filed court documents, Baldoni is seeking to exclude statements from actress Jenny Slate and bestselling author Colleen Hoover from the upcoming trial.
Baldoni's legal team argues in the filings that the testimonies represent a "grab bag of awkward comments, minor confrontations, and perceived slights" that should be deemed inadmissible in court proceedings.
The legal battle stems from a retaliation case filed by Lively in New York. Baldoni recently achieved a significant victory when a judge dismissed Lively's sexual harassment claims against him earlier this month, leaving only the retaliation allegations to proceed.
Court documents specifically target Slate's potential testimony about Baldoni allegedly commenting that her character looked "sexy" in her costumes during production of "It Ends With Us." The filings also seek to exclude Slate's complaint about being offered upgraded housing accommodations, which she reportedly perceived as patronizing treatment related to her status as a new mother.
Baldoni's legal argument emphasizes that Slate herself acknowledged that her concerns were resolved quickly, suggesting the matters don't warrant inclusion in the trial. The move represents a calculated effort by Baldoni's team to narrow the scope of evidence presented as the high-profile case moves forward.