Actor Justin Baldoni and his wife, Emily, shared their emotional journey in a video released on Instagram, marking their first public remarks after a long-running legal dispute with co-star Blake Lively, according to the BBC.

Settlement Resolves Lawsuit

In May. Lively and Baldoni settled a lawsuit following the 2024 movie It Ends With Us, ending a contentious streak of accusations, according to the BBC — the lawsuit had alleged he sexually harassed her on set and launched a retaliatory smear campaign.

“There have been so many painful things that have been spoken into existence over the last couple years,” Baldoni said in the video, according to the BBC.

Judge Dismisses Claims

A judge dismissed Lively’s harassment claims, and they settled her retaliation allegations. Lively has said the case highlighted respectful treatment on set, according to the BBC. Judge Lewis Liman determined that Lively could not bring claims such as sexual harassment under the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as she was an independent contractor rather than an employee.

Lively filed the lawsuit against Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios, in December 2024, according to the BBC. Baldoni filed a $400m (£298.5m) counter-lawsuit against Lively and her husband, actor Ryan Reynolds, alleging defamation and extortion.

Judge Liman dismissed the entirety of Baldoni’s counter-lawsuit, according to the BBC. The two reached a settlement on the remaining allegations, which included breach of contract and retaliation, less than two weeks before their civil trial in New York was due to begin.

Public Statements and Healing

Baldoni and his wife smiled and chuckled through the nearly five-minute long video released on Instagram on Wednesday, according to the BBC. “We have not spoken publicly for the better part of the last two years, and it’s not because we haven’t had anything to say,” Baldoni said. “Because Lord knows we have.

Emily added: “There has been a lot of trauma for us to move through as a family, which also makes it hard to speak,” according to the BBC. She said the resolution of the case seemed the right time.

“The truth and the facts have spoken for themselves and here we are,” she said, according to the BBC. “We’ve had to wrestle with so many things and try to understand so many things, like how could something like this even happen? Let alone disguised as a fight for women.”

Lively said afterward that filing suit was the “last thing” she had wanted, according to the BBC. “But I brought this case because of the pervasive RETALIATION I faced, and continue to, for privately and professionally asking for a safe working environment for myself and others,” she said.

The BBC has reached out to Lively’s legal team for comment. In the video released on Wednesday, the Baldonis said they are grateful for support they received. “We can genuinely say that we are sitting here today feeling immense gratitude for so many things and so many people,” Emily Baldoni said, according to the BBC.

Justin Baldoni said the family is healing: “We feel so loved,” according to the BBC. He also offered thanks to his supporters for standing by his side during the legal fight. “There were so many of you who, when we didn’t have a voice, were our voice,” he said. “So many of you had discernment, and you used your intuition, and you trusted that. You have given your time to fight for us. And thank you does not feel like enough.”

Emily Baldoni indicated that the couple would continue to share their side of the story. “There is so much more to say,” she said. “That time will come, but for now, we are going to focus on continuing the healing and hanging out with our kiddos and enjoying life,” according to the Guardian.