Blake Lively reportedly thinks Johnny Depp and Amber Heard could reshape her court fight with Justin Baldoni

Blake Lively is reportedly preparing to pull one of Hollywood’s most notorious legal dramas into her courtroom war. New filings suggest the actress plans to invoke the widely reported defamation battle between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard as part of her strategy against Justin Baldoni. Blake argues she faced a similar online pile-on fueled by reputational attacks.

According to reports first highlighted by the Daily Mail, Lively’s team wants jurors to consider what they describe as a digital smear campaign, drawing parallels to the social media frenzy that surrounded Depp and Heard’s 2022 trial. 

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Why Depp and Heard Are Suddenly Relevant

The Depp-Heard comparison is not random, as it appears central to a broader argument Lively is constructing about how online narratives can shape public perception long before a jury hears evidence. Her legal team reportedly says she was subjected to a wave of criticism that labeled her “tone deaf” and the epitome of “mean girl.” Blake claimed damages near $300 million, per Page Six.

Also, by referencing Depp and Heard, Lively may be trying to establish a recognizable and current example of how internet-fueled commentary can ruin reputation and bleed into jury psychology.

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It also raises the stakes dramatically. The Depp-Heard trial, which was highly covered by HOLA!, was a referendum that saw space in TikTok, YouTube, and the media. For the same reason, Lively’s team may want the court to consider social media weaponization as part of the dispute.

But that is where this gets fascinating. They seemed to be fighting over competing narratives as much as legal claims. Baldoni’s side has reportedly moved to block references to Depp, suggesting they see those comparisons as potentially prejudicial, according to The Times of India.

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People magazine informed that both sides have been fighting over admissibility, from resurfaced interviews tied to Lively’s public image and alleged behind-the-scenes conduct during “It Ends with Us.”

A Defining Hollywood Trial

The Depp-Heard trial was intense, and many people wonder if Lively-Baldoni's echo could potentially turn the case into a test of whether courts are beginning to grapple differently with digital harassment and reputational warfare conducted online.

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If Lively succeeds in persuading the court that online backlash can be framed as measurable legal harm, she can make history as the person who influenced how future entertainment disputes are argued.

Although a judge dismissed 10 of Lively’s 13 original claims earlier this month, core retaliation and breach claims remain headed for trial, per The Guardian. That narrower case may actually intensify focus on the smear campaign allegations.