Blake Lively Begins the New Year Strong with Ryan Reynolds’ Support Amid Justin Baldoni Legal Battle

Blake Lively is reportedly prepared to face the fallout after filing a sexual harassment complaint against her It Ends With Us co-star and director Justin Baldoni. While the filing has not yet progressed into a formal lawsuit, the legal move has already sparked significant controversy surrounding Baldoni.

A source close to the actress told PEOPLE that Lively, 37, “enjoyed the holidays” and remains focused on the present. The insider noted, “She feels very fortunate to be surrounded by the most loving family and supportive friends.” Lively is said to be staying connected with her legal team and is looking forward to an “explosive start to the new year.”

Despite the potential challenges ahead, Lively reportedly remains steadfast in her decision to take legal action. “She still believes she’s doing the right thing,” the source said, adding that her husband, Ryan Reynolds, has been a constant source of support. “Ryan does everything he can on a daily basis to relieve her stress.”

In a statement to The New York Times, Lively addressed the pre-lawsuit filing required by California law for workplace harassment cases. “I hope that my legal action helps pull back the curtain on these sinister retaliatory tactics to harm people who speak up about misconduct and helps protect others who may be targeted,” she said.

The legal dispute is expected to escalate, with experts predicting it could turn into an expensive and high-stakes ordeal. Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, has already dismissed the allegations, calling them “false, outrageous and intentionally salacious with an intent to publicly hurt.”

Freedman also revealed that Baldoni is pursuing his own legal action against Lively. Speaking to PEOPLE, he clarified that the move is “not a response or countersuit – it’s a deliberate pursuit of truth.”

He further referenced The New York Times article, “We Can Bury Anyone’: Inside a Hollywood Smear Machine,” which detailed Lively’s complaint, and criticized the publication’s reporting process. “This lawsuit will uncover and expose the false and destructive narrative that was intentionally engineered by a trusted media publication who relied upon nefarious sources and neglected a thorough fact-checking process to confirm the validity of these texts,” Freedman said.

The legal battle between the It Ends With Us co-stars is shaping up to be a contentious and closely watched case in Hollywood.