AceShowbiz - Amid this contentious battle between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, lawyer Bryan Freedman who represents Baldoni appeared on "The Town" podcast, hosted by Matthew Belloni.

The host looked back at a pre-trial hearing where Freedman told the court that no one "has any intent of harming Ms. Lively in any way" and said, "My clients have a right to defend themselves. That is in no way abusing the victim."

Belloni proceeded to press the attorney about the use of word "victim" when referring to Lively. Freedman responded, "I actually think that a lot of people are victims here," referring to the multiple parties involved in the legal spat. He later clarified, "A victim can be in the eye of the beholder."

Lively's legal team criticized Baldoni's lawsuit as an example of DARVO - Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim and Offender - a tactic where the accused turns the tables on the accuser. Lively sought stricter protective measures to prevent leaks of sensitive information, which Judge Lewis J. Liman partially granted.

The public nature of the dispute means "very few secrets" will be kept if the case goes to trial, exposing both sides to further scrutiny. The ongoing legal battle, set for March 2026, has already severely impacted the careers of both Baldoni and Lively, with her facing backlash while promoting her new movie "Another Simple Favor" .

Belloni suggests that the prolonged and costly nature of the litigation might push both parties towards a settlement. But Freedman emphasized that proving Baldoni's innocence via a public trial remains the goal. For now, both parties have rejected court mediation.