The courtroom drama between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni is heating up. The two stars, who worked together on the film It Ends With Us, are set to face off in court for the first time this Monday. Though neither will be present, their lawyers will represent them in what’s shaping up to be a messy legal battle.

This showdown comes after months of public debate and social media chatter. Lively first accused Baldoni of sexual harassment and retaliation in December, filing a complaint that later turned into a full-blown lawsuit. Baldoni, on the other hand, has denied all claims and even countersued Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, for defamation and invasion of privacy.

Texts, videos, and audio recordings have been tossed into the mix, with both sides claiming the evidence backs their version of events. Baldoni, known for advocating for gender equality, insists Lively’s accusations are baseless. Meanwhile, Lively’s legal team has called Baldoni’s lawsuit “another chapter in the abuser playbook.”

Adding more fuel to the fire, Baldoni has also filed a hefty $250 million lawsuit against The New York Times, accusing the paper of publishing biased reports favoring Lively. The Times has denied these claims, standing by its coverage.

The case has sparked a war of words outside the courtroom too. Lively’s lawyers have accused Baldoni’s team of making “misleading and selective” statements, while Baldoni claims Lively and Reynolds used their star power to manipulate the narrative around the film.

It Ends With Us, which hit theaters in August 2024, was a box office hit, raking in over $148 million domestically. Adapted from Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel, the film tackled tough themes like domestic violence. But now, it’s the behind-the-scenes drama that’s grabbing headlines.

Monday’s hearing will likely address some of these ongoing issues, setting the stage for what could be a long and contentious legal fight. Stay tuned for updates as this saga unfolds.