Justin Baldoni Debuts Striking Transformation Amid Blake Lively’s Legal Struggles

This revision maintains the core elements—Baldoni’s new appearance and Lively’s legal issues—while streamlining the structure. "Dramatic new look" becomes "striking transformation," and "catastrophic legal woes" is simplified to "legal struggles" for conciseness. "Amid" contextualizes the timing without implying direct causation.

Justin Baldoni Debuts Edgy New Look Amid Legal Battle with Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds
(Image: Justin Baldoni shows off his faux hawk hairstyle in Hawaii with his children.)

Justin Baldoni, 41, has traded his signature long waves for a bold faux hawk, debuting the look during a family trip to Hawaii with his kids, Maiya and Maxwell. The Jane the Virgin star’s style shift comes amid a heated legal feud with former It Ends With Us co-star Blake Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds.

Despite their 2024 romantic drama grossing over $350 million, Baldoni has faced a tumultuous year. In a November podcast episode, he admitted to enduring “emotional stress” and exhaustion, calling 2024 a year of “material success” but also one that was “very hard on me and my family.”

(Image: Baldoni with his children enjoying shaved ice in Hawaii.)

Legal Battles Escalate
In December 2024, Lively filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against Baldoni, which he denies. He retaliated with a $400 million defamation suit against Lively, her publicist, and Reynolds, plus a $250 million libel claim against The New York Times for its coverage. All parties have denied wrongdoing, with the Times seeking dismissal.

Reynolds recently filed a motion to be removed from Baldoni’s lawsuit, mocking the actor’s claims that Deadpool’s satirical “Nicepool” character—a woke parody with a man bun—was modeled after him. Reynolds called the allegation “thin-skinned outrage,” arguing it stemmed from “hurt feelings” rather than legal merit.

(Image: Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively at a recent event.)

Disney’s Potential Involvement
A source told DailyMail.com that Baldoni’s legal team is probing Disney’s role, alleging Reynolds’ Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) intentionally included “Nicepool” to bully Baldoni. “Ryan dragged Disney into this by greenlighting a blockbuster that targets Justin,” the insider claimed, questioning why Reynolds would collaborate with someone he accused of harassment. Reynolds’ motion frames his actions as supporting his wife, stating he witnessed her “emotional, reputational, and financial devastation.”

(Image: Comparison of Baldoni and the “Nicepool” character from Deadpool.)

Lawyers Clash
Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, dismissed Reynolds’ dismissal bid, accusing him of orchestrating a “smear campaign” to ruin Baldoni’s career. “Mr. Reynolds was a key player, defaming Justin and pressuring his agency to drop him,” Freedman stated, vowing to hold Reynolds accountable. Reynolds’ team insists the claims lack merit, calling them a “desperate effort” to paint Baldoni as a victim.

As the legal drama unfolds, Baldoni focuses on family time in Hawaii, seeking respite from the spotlight. Meanwhile, Reynolds continues to mock the feud, recently joking about it on SNL’s 50th anniversary special.

Word count: ~600