Justin Baldoni says he spent the evening before his deposition surrounded by friends and family at a “prayer gathering” as legal proceedings with Blake Lively intensify.
The actor-director gave the nine-hour deposition on Monday, Oct. 6 in Los Angeles, a key moment in a case that began in December 2024 and is scheduled for trial in May 2026.
At a Glance
- Baldoni held a prayer gathering the night before his Oct. 6 deposition.
- He told attorneys he discussed the deposition only with family, his wife, and publicist Jennifer Abel.
- The case, started in December 2024, heads to trial in May 2026.
- Why it matters: The deposition offers the first detailed look at Baldoni’s preparations and mindset amid dueling lawsuits.
Prayer Gathering Before Deposition
According to a transcript of the deposition, exhibited in a court filing obtained by News Of Losangeles, Baldoni was asked whom he had spoken with about the upcoming session.
“Jennifer Abel, my family, my wife. We had a prayer gathering last night with a lot of friends so they were aware that I was being deposed, but that’s all I can think of at the moment,” the 41-year-old said.
He later clarified that the conversation with Abel focused on encouragement rather than strategy.
“It wasn’t a conversation about the deposition. It was like, ‘You’re going to do great.’ And she was letting me know she was going to be there,” he testified, adding that she advised him to “keep being honest and shine your light.”
Religious Jokes Stir Tension
Throughout the questioning, Baldoni, a lifelong member of the Baha’i Faith, pushed back on characterizations of his religion as a cult.
“It wouldn’t be the first time people around this case have said I was in a cult,” he stated.
Attorney Maaren Shah, representing former publicist Stephanie Jones, asked whether Baldoni knew crisis publicist Melissa Nathan and former TAG PR employee Katie Case had allegedly joked about his faith.
“I was not aware,” he replied, later adding that religious jokes are “not okay” and seem to have “happened a lot in this case.”
When shown an alleged text exchange between Nathan and Case from August 2024, Baldoni responded: “This is the first I’m hearing about it.”
Legal Timeline and Key Players
The dispute began when Lively, 38, sued Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios, alleging sexual harassment and retaliation, claims he denies.
Baldoni’s countersuit, which accused Lively and husband Ryan Reynolds of defamation and extortion, has been dismissed by the judge.
Who Has Been Deposed So far
- Justin Baldoni – Oct. 6, 2024
- Colleen Hoover, author
- Jenny Slate and Isabela Ferrer, actors
- Publicists Stephanie Jones, Jennifer Abel, Melissa Nathan
Ryan Reynolds, 49, has not been deposed, according to the transcript.
Baldoni confirmed in the deposition that he attended Lively’s July deposition in person, matching earlier reports from News Of Losangeles.
What’s Next
With discovery winding down, both sides are preparing for a May 2026 trial that will test competing narratives about behind-the-scenes conduct on the It Ends With Us set and the publicity campaign that followed.
Key Takeaways
- Baldoni framed his pre-deposition gathering as spiritual support, not legal strategy.
- Alleged jokes about his Baha’i Faith have become a flashpoint in witness questioning.
- Multiple cast and public relations figures have now testified under oath.
- The dispute shows no signs of settlement as the May 2026 trial date approaches.
