Blake Lively gets major backing from ‘A Simple Favor’ director as Baldoni trial nears

Blake Lively’s legal dispute with actor and director Justin Baldoni is continuing to unfold, but according to longtime collaborator Paul Feig, the actress is staying focused on her family and work despite the ongoing drama.

Feig spoke about Lively while walking the red carpet at the 2026 Oscars on Sunday night. The filmmaker, who directed Lively in A Simple Favor and its sequel Another Simple Favor, shared an encouraging update about the actress when asked about her situation.

“Blake is great. She’s great,” Feig told Extra during the event. “She’s just, you know, soldiering on and she’s such a great mom and that’s such the biggest part of her life that she just continues to be wonderful.” Feig also mentioned Lively’s personal life, including her relationship with husband Ryan Reynolds and their children.

“Their kids are great and she has a happy marriage and I love her,” he added. The comments come as Lively prepares for a potential court appearance related to a legal dispute that began in December 2024. At that time, the actress filed a lawsuit against her It Ends With Us co-star and director Justin Baldoni.

In her complaint, Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment on set and alleged that he orchestrated a smear campaign against her after tensions emerged during the production of the film. Feig was among the first public figures to defend Lively when the allegations became public. He previously shared a statement supporting the actress and describing his experience working with her.

“I’ve now made two movies with Blake and all I can say is she’s one of the most professional, creative, collaborative, talented and kind people I’ve ever worked with,” Feig said at the time. “She truly did not deserve any of this smear campaign against her. I think it’s awful she was put through this.”

The legal conflict has continued to attract attention over the past year. In response to Lively’s lawsuit, Baldoni filed a $400 million countersuit against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and their publicist Leslie Sloane. His claims included defamation, civil extortion, invasion of privacy, and breach of contract.

However, the countersuit was dismissed in June after Judge Lewis J. Liman ruled that Lively’s accusations could not legally be considered defamatory. Amid the ongoing dispute, rumors about tensions between Lively and her Another Simple Favor co-star Anna Kendrick also circulated online. Feig publicly pushed back against those claims.

“Blake is an amazing collaborator, so when I read people’s misconceptions about how movies are made, it’s just frustrating for me,” the director told Esquire. “When the gang on the internet get [up in arms] about something, it’s just like, ‘Guys, you don’t know what you’re talking about.’ I love working with Blake — she’s just the best.”

Last month, Lively and Baldoni attended a court-ordered mediation session in New York. The meeting lasted about six hours and was overseen by Magistrate Judge Sarah L. Cave as part of a required settlement process. Despite the lengthy discussions, the mediation ended without an agreement.

If a settlement is not reached, both Lively and Baldoni are expected to testify in court when the case proceeds to trial, currently scheduled for May 18.

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