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Justin Baldoni spent time with close friends and family the night before his deposition in the Blake Lively case, holding what he described as a "prayer gathering."
According to a transcript of Baldoni's October 6 deposition obtained by PEOPLE, the 41-year-old It Ends With Us actor-director said the gathering was meant to support him before being questioned by attorneys. When asked if he had discussed the deposition with anyone in advance, he said, "Jennifer Abel, my family, my wife. We had a prayer gathering last night with a lot of friends so they were aware that I was being deposed, but that's all I can think of at the moment."
During the deposition, which lasted over nine hours with an hourlong lunch break in Los Angeles, Baldoni was asked about a phone conversation with his publicist Jennifer Abel. He explained, "It wasn't a conversation about the deposition. It was like, 'You're going to do great.' And she was letting me know she was going to be there. But there was no content that was discussed." He added that Abel might have encouraged him to "keep being honest and shine your light, or something to that extent."
Baldoni, who has been a member of the Baha'i Faith since birth, also addressed comments about his religion being called a cult. When asked about a text exchange in
August 2024 in which his former publicist and a former TAG PR employee allegedly joked about his faith, he said he had not been aware of it. "I think anytime somebody makes a religious joke, I think that's not okay. It seems to have happened a lot in this case," he said. He acknowledged, however, that people have the right to say what they want.
The legal battle stems from a lawsuit Lively, 38, filed against Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios, and others, alleging sexual harassment and retaliation, which Baldoni denies. His countersuit against Lively and Ryan Reynolds, claiming defamation and extortion, was dismissed by a judge. The trial is scheduled for May 2026.
Baldoni confirmed he attended Lively's July deposition in person. Other figures involved in depositions include author Colleen Hoover, actors Jenny Slate and Isabela Ferrer, and several publicists, including Stephanie Jones, Jennifer Abel, and Melissa Nathan. Reynolds, 49, Lively's husband, was not deposed.
Throughout the proceedings, Baldoni maintained a calm demeanor and emphasized the importance of honesty and faith as he faced questioning regarding both the case and the remarks made about his religion.
