AceShowbiz - Justin Baldoni's lawyers are pushing hard to have Blake Lively's request for a gag order tossed out, arguing that she is the one who initially thrust their legal skirmish into the public spotlight.

This tension escalated after Baldoni's attorney, Bryan Freedman, released a 10-minute video from the set of "It Ends With Us", alongside plans to launch a website aimed at disclosing more information. In response, Lively's legal team called for a conference before Judge Lewis J. Liman to address "the appropriate conduct of counsel," claiming that Freedman's public statements risked "tainting the jury pool."

In a letter dated January 23, Baldoni's lawyer, Kevin Fritz, vehemently opposed Lively's possible gag order, labeling it an "intimidation tactic."

Fritz's letter reads, "Lively's desire to force the Wayfarer Parties to defend themselves privately against allegations made publicly is not a proper basis for a gag order. It is tactical gamesmanship, and it is outrageous." He argued that Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios have faced "utterly calamitous" fallout, experiencing public scorn and significant financial losses.

The feud became public after Lively reportedly provided her original complaint to The New York Times for an article titled " 'We Can Bury Anyone': Inside a Hollywood Smear Machine."

In a statement from that article, Lively said, "I hope that my legal action helps pull back the curtain on these sinister retaliatory tactics to harm people who speak up about misconduct and helps protect others who may be targeted."

Freedman strongly denied the allegations in Lively's complaint, calling them "completely false, outrageous, and intentionally salacious with an intent to publicly hurt and rehash a narrative in the media."

In addition to the $250 million against The New York Times, Baldoni filed a $400 million countersuit against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and their publicist. Lively's lawyers dismissed Baldoni's lawsuit as "meritless" and "desperate," asserting that his strategy of attacking Lively would fail.

Lively's original complaint, which sparked this legal storm, accused Baldoni of sexual harassment and creating a hostile work environment. She detailed the emotional and mental toll it had taken on her, citing "grief, fear, trauma, and extreme anxiety." On the other hand, Baldoni insists his team has "nothing to hide" and remains adamant about defending their truth.

The drama continues to unfold with a pre-trial conference scheduled for February 12 in New York City, where both sides are expected to clash over these heated issues.