Handler Critiques Lively and Baldoni’s Legal Feud Over Public Squabbling

LOS ANGELES, CA — Chelsea Handler expressed her frustration with the ongoing legal dispute between actors Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, calling their public back-and-forth a chaotic spectacle reminiscent of a schoolyard fight.

In an exclusive interview with Page Six, Handler, 49, shared her perspective on the turmoil surrounding the co-stars of the 2024 film It Ends With Us. “The reason it’s such a frenzy is that they keep releasing more and more stuff,” Handler stated. “Stop it! You’re not helping yourself.” Handler’s comments come amid increasing media coverage of Lively and Baldoni’s contentious legal battle that began last summer.

Handler likened the situation to children quarreling, saying, “It’s like you have to break up a fight in a schoolyard playground. Don’t they know to stop? Isn’t someone saying, ‘Stop it!’?” She added that while the feud is intriguing, it would benefit both parties to dial down the public exchanges.

Earlier this month, while hosting the 2025 Critics Choice Awards, Handler joked about the situation, saying, “Waking up every day, not knowing what news we are going to hear that will disappoint or horrify us. So it’s important, in times like these, to have a distraction. And that’s why I want to personally extend my gratitude to Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively.”

The legal dispute between Lively, 37, and Baldoni, 41, escalated when Lively filed a lawsuit in December 2024, accusing Baldoni of sexual harassment and retaliation, claiming he tried to damage her reputation. A week later, she also filed against Baldoni for lost wages and emotional distress in New York federal court.

In response, Baldoni denied the allegations and filed a countersuit against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and their publicist, claiming defamation and extortion. He is seeking $250 million in damages, asserting that public statements from Lively and her team were designed to harm his reputation.

The ongoing saga continues to attract public attention, especially after Lively accused Baldoni of creating a hostile work environment and alleged misconduct occurring on the film set. Meanwhile, Baldoni’s team sent out private texts to the press, showcasing Lively’s previous remarks that indicated playful banter and camaraderie.

In her own defense, Lively remarked that the portrayal of her in a recent cover for the Hollywood Reporter was offensive. She emphasized that their image within the article perpetuated troubling stereotypes about women who lodge workplace complaints.

As the drama unfolds, Handler’s remarks have spurred discussions regarding accountability among celebrities embroiled in legal disputes, as well as the importance of maintaining professionalism in Hollywood. The actors are set to confront one another in court on March 9, 2026, with settlement talks deemed premature by both sides.