Blake Lively, the renowned Hollywood actress, is making waves in her sexual harassment lawsuit against actor and director Justin Baldoni. As reported by Deadline, her legal representatives intend to issue a subpoena to the well-known talent manager, Scooter Braun, to gather evidence for the case.
The subpoena is set to be issued this Thursday, focusing on acquiring records and communications from HYPE America, the company owned by Braun. Lively’s lawyers are particularly interested in details concerning Melissa Nathan, a crisis PR expert engaged by Baldoni in August 2024, amidst rising tensions between him and Lively.
Melissa Nathan’s involvement in the Lively-Baldoni dispute
Nathan is cited as a co-defendant in Lively’s December 2024 lawsuit, where she accuses Baldoni not only of sexual misconduct but also of masterminding a campaign to tarnish her public reputation and career.
Legal documents indicate that Baldoni recruited Nathan after allegations surfaced regarding his inappropriate actions during the filming of It Ends With Us, a drama based on Colleen Hoover’s popular novel released in 2024.
One notable incident that attracted backlash involved Baldoni reportedly inquiring about Lively’s weight, claiming it was to prepare for a scene in which he would lift her.
Shortly after, past clips featuring Lively making a transphobic
Allegations of manipulation and leaked communications from Baldoni’s team
In her lawsuit, Lively asserts that she fell victim to a calculated media manipulation scheme orchestrated by Baldoni and his team. The actress asserts that the negative reaction she faced was intended to “undermine her standing” within the film industry.
To bolster her claims, Lively presented several text messages exchanged among Baldoni’s representatives and studio officials. In one message, a representative allegedly suggested they wanted to “make it seem like [Lively] could be destroyed.” Another person replied, “You know we can ruin anyone.”
Baldoni’s legal team has vehemently denied these accusations, labeling them as “disgraceful” and “entirely untrue.” They contend that Baldoni only hired Nathan after Lively supposedly made “numerous demands and threats” not to come on set or promote the film without meeting her stipulations.
Dismissal of Baldoni’s countersuit, ongoing legal confrontations
In January 2025, Baldoni initiated a countersuit against Lively, involving her close friend and Braun’s fierce competitor Taylor Swift. Baldoni claimed that Lively leveraged the singer’s influence to achieve her objectives.
However, a judge dismissed Baldoni’s countersuit just recently. His legal representatives have expressed their intent to present a revised version of the complaint in the upcoming weeks.
Scooter Braun’s subpoena adds intrigue to the Hollywood legal drama
The ongoing legal confrontation between Lively and Baldoni continues to garner considerable media focus, especially now that Scooter Braun is officially set to be subpoenaed. Braun’s own notable disputes in the music realm, particularly with Taylor Swift, introduce an additional complex layer to the situation.
A court hearing is planned for March 2026, and legal experts anticipate that more shocking details will surface as the case unfolds. With careers, reputations, and major alliances at stake, this lawsuit is shaping up to be one of the most scrutinized legal battles in Hollywood.