A year after it exploded into public view, the legal war between Blake Lively and her It Ends With Us director and costar, Justin Baldoni, has become more than a courtroom clash - it's a high-stakes test of power, credibility and who controls the narrative when Hollywood conflicts spill into the open. What began as whispers of a power struggle behind the scenes of a highly anticipated film has since unraveled into one of the most closely watched celebrity legal battles in years, stretching across court filings, leaked communications and an unforgiving spotlight. The rupture went public in late December 2024, when Lively filed a legal complaint alleging Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios, cofounded by billionaire Steve Sarowitz, retaliated against her after she raised sexual harassment concerns during production of the romantic drama. Within 24 hours, The New York Times published a bombshell exposé titled "We Can Bury Anyone," detailing internal texts and emails from Baldoni's PR team that appeared to outline an aggressive campaign to discredit the actress. Days later, on New Year's Eve, Lively escalated the fight with a sweeping lawsuit accusing Baldoni, Wayfarer and their publicists of sexual harassment, fostering a hostile work environment and orchestrating a calculated smear campaign. Baldoni, who has denied all wrongdoing, pushed back aggressively. He filed a $250 million libel suit against The New York Times and later a $400 million countersuit against Lively, her husband, Ryan Reynolds, and their longtime publicist, alleging defamation, extortion and invasion of privacy. What followed was months of legal and PR sparring, with each new filing fueling shocking headlines and hardening public opinion. The conflict widened in spring 2025 when Baldoni's filings dragged Taylor Swift into the dispute, claiming Lively enlisted her close friend to pressure him over script changes - a move that underscored the case's expanding collateral damage. ("Blake and Taylor's friendship is not what it used to be," a source told Us Weekly at the time.) By summer, however, momentum appeared to shift: Baldoni's $400 million countersuit and his case against The New York Times were dismissed, narrowing the battlefield and leaving Lively solely on offense. In amended filings, her team claimed she suffered more than $161 million in damages, with total losses projected to exceed $500 million. startraksphoto.com; Getty Images Both sides are feeling the strain. One Lively source tells Us that as a mom of four (daughters James, 11, Inez, 9, and Betty, 6, and son Olin, 2), the actress "puts on a brave and positive face for her family and work, but the retaliation has taken a toll." Adds a second: "Blake is the exact wrong person to attack with retaliation and shame tactics, because no matter how much pain she's in, the truth, integrity and making something positive for others out of all she's experienced is what drives her. She is resilient and won't be intimidated. She will stay the course until she feels justice has been served." Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni's Teams Mark 1 Year of 'It Ends With Us' Drama Baldoni and his team are "exhausted," says a source close to them. "They've had to continuously try to show that protecting themselves and their families is simply that - and not retaliation." The source adds that Baldoni's family (he shares daughter Maiya, 10, and son Maxwell, 7, with wife Emily Baldoni) and friends "just want this nightmare to be over for them. [They believe] the public has caught on to the truth and the reality of what happened [and] they are ready for their day in court." Now, with the trial delayed until May 18, the case enters a pivotal phase. The question is no longer just what happened on set - but who has gained leverage, who has lost credibility and whether either side can emerge intact. So, where does that leave the scorecard for Lively and Baldoni one year in? Legal experts, PR strategists and industry insiders share their perspective on who holds the advantage in court and what the fallout could mean for both stars as they inch closer to a jury showdown. LIVELY VS. BALDONI: WHO HAS LEGAL ADVANTAGE? Tre Lovell, entertainment and defamation lawyer: So far, Lively has racked up more wins, largely because of the court dismissing Baldoni's $400 million cross-complaint, as well as the fact that he will have to pay attorneys' fees and certain damages related to having it dismissed. He still has a chance of settling, but the leverage of Lively potentially having to pay him is gone. Lisa Bloom, civil rights attorney: Lively's side has the advantage, since Baldoni's aggressive countersuit against her, claiming defamation and extortion, was thrown out. Also, his lawsuit against The New York Times for simply reporting the filing of her complaint - in a manner definitely sympathetic to her - was also tossed. She is now only on offense, and he is only on defense. WHO HAS THE ADVANTAGE IN THE COURT