Blake Lively’s courthouse fight with her It Ends With Us costar Justin Baldoni just got a whole lot uglier, with celebrity gossip site Perez Hilton now drawn into the fray.
The actress has subpoenaed Hilton, alleging he posted more than 500 negative comments and videos slamming her, many filled with derogatory nicknames. Lively’s lawyers say this was part of a broader smear campaign tied to her ongoing fight with Baldoni.
According to court filings reported by US Weekly, Lively’s subpoenas extend beyond Hilton to other content creators she believes may have collaborated with Baldoni’s team. The Green Lantern star says Hilton’s posts weren’t just critical, they were loaded with names like “Blackface Blake,” “Lying Lively,” “Ku Klux Khaleesi,” and “Litigious Lively.” Her attorneys argue this online barrage was designed to damage her reputation and tilt public opinion.
Hilton, though, is fighting back with gusto. He’s sought a protective order from the court, stating that Lively’s camp is seeking his “internet records, unpublished work, and personal emails.” He says he’s just a journalist and content creator doing his part to exercise his First Amendment rights. “I am a journalist, content creator, and media commentator doing my job,” Hilton responded.
Lively’s side isn’t having it. Her lawyers, in their filing, brushed aside Hilton’s assertions of independent journalism, stating he “does not adhere to any of the principles of independent journalism” and is, rather, in the business of framing stories “for clicks and profit, rather than informing the public.” They note Hilton’s website has a whole subpage on Lively, full of videos, headlines, and posts dating back to August 2024.
Her team also comments that Hilton never called her out for comment prior to posting the posts, something common in good journalism. “Since August 2024, Mr. Hilton has posted over 500 videos, 400 headlines, and hundreds of additional comments about Ms. Lively,” the filing states. “That is not the kind of work that [the law] was meant to protect.”
The increasing war of words between Lively and Baldoni has already made the news, but Hilton’s entry increases the stakes. The allegations imply a concerted attempt to besmirch the Age of Adaline star’s reputation with constant online posts. Whether the court sees it that way will hinge on how it defines the difference between free speech and deliberate harassment.
For the moment, one thing is certain: Blake Lively isn’t going away, and Perez Hilton isn’t abandoning the fray. With the legal tit-for-tat ongoing, the entertainment business is watching eagerly to determine how far this battle between Hollywood stardom and celebrity blogging will escalate.
Jamie Wells has a knack for getting the inside scoop on Hollywood’s biggest stars and up-and-coming talent. With a sharp eye for industry trends and an ear for viral moments, Jamie covers everything from red-carpet events to behind-the-scenes drama in movies, TV, and celebrity culture.
