Justin Baldoni breaks down over ‘intense year’ in new interview amid Blake Lively legal battle

Director and actor Justin Baldoni appears visibly emotional in a new interview amid his ongoing legal battle with co-star Blake Lively.

Justin Baldoni will soon open up about his “intense” year.

The actor-director appeared in a newly-released teaser for an upcoming appearance on the Gent’s Talk podcast looking visibly emotional.

Baldoni, 40, broke down in the clip over a recent trying time in his life. The moment of reflection comes amid his ongoing legal feud with his It Ends With Us co-star Blake Lively.

“I had an intense year,” he says in the sneak peek.

“This morning I sent a text message.”

Baldoni then admits, “I had anxiety” before the preview jumps to the Jane the Virgin star telling host Samir Mourani, “I haven’t talked about this yet.”

The clip concludes with Baldoni putting his face in his hands before the screen goes black. The full episode is set to premiere on February 10.

Justin Baldoni breaks down over “intense year” in new podcast interview.

The director and actor says he’s had an “intense year”.

Baldoni’s Gent’s Talk interview was filmed in November — a month before Lively, 37, filed her California Civil Rights Department complaint, in which she accused her former co-star of sexual harassment.

She also claimed in the filing that Baldoni allegedly orchestrated a smear campaign against her.

The complaint, which was covered by the New York Times, was later turned into a formal lawsuit.

Baldoni has vehemently denied the allegations the Gossip Girl star made about him and also filed a defamation lawsuit against the Times.

Baldoni’s It Ends With Us co-star Blake Lively filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against him. Picture: Justin Tallis / AFP

Baldoni has hit back with his own defamation suit. Picture: Cindy Ord/Getty Images

He then further responded by filing a $US400 million ($644 million) lawsuit against Lively, her husband, Ryan Reynolds, and their publicist on January 16, as well.

Earlier this week, Baldoni’s lawyer Bryan Freedman gave the court some insight into his client’s state of mind, revealing that he has been “devastated financially and emotionally” due to the legal proceedings.

Freedman is also representing Baldoni’s production company, Wayfarer Studios, It Ends With Us producers Jamey Heath and Steve Sarowitz and publicists Melissa Nathan and Jennifer Abel.

Baldoni’s legal team released raw video footage from It Ends With Us to refute Lively’s sexual harassment claims.

“Not to sound like a 4-year-old fighting a 4-year-old with ‘they started it,’ but in these kinds of cases, once someone says something it becomes fact,” the lawyer said in a pre-trial conference, referring to Lively’s initial complaint and lawsuit.

He added, “There’s no way to fight against it.”

Baldoni has made several attempts to refute Lively’s claims via the public by releasing raw footage from the It Ends With Us set and launching a website with alleged text messages between the ex-co-stars.

A judge has scheduled Lively and Baldoni’s trial for May 2026.

This article originally appeared in Page Six and was reproduced with permission

Originally published as Justin Baldoni breaks down over ‘intense year’ in new interview amid Blake Lively legal battle