Ahead of Blake Lively sitting for her deposition this week in her high-stakes legal battle against Justin Baldoni, the embattled “It Ends WIth Us” director has received a surprising message of support, both for his work ethic and for his books exploring male fragility and the most healthy and honorable way to be “man enough.”
“I’m so proud of Justin Baldoni because God, he’s written two wonderful books on being a man and being courteous and teaching boys not to fear their fears — and now he’s directed three movies,” James Brolin, 84, the veteran star of TV and film, said in an interview with People.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 09: Actor/filmmaker and VOS Honoree, Justin Baldoni speaks onstage at the Vital Voices 12th Annual Voices of Solidarity Awards at IAC Building on December 09, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for Vital Voices Global Partnership)
Brolin, who is married to Barbra Streisand and is the father of actor Josh Brolin, is referring to Baldoni’s “Man Enough” book projects and panel discussions, which explore female empowerment, marriage, fatherhood and redefining masculinity.
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So how does Brolin even know Baldoni well enough to speak about his character?
After Brolin became famous for playing the young, hotshot doctor on the 1970s TV series “Marcus Welby: MD,” he tried his hand at directing while continuing to act in TV shows and movies. In 2011, he directed a 27-year-old Baldoni in the short “heartwarming” family film, “Royal Reunion,” in which he also starred. Several years later, Baldoni got his big break by co-starring with Gina Rodriguez in the CW satirical melodrama, “Jane the Virgin.”
While directing Baldoni, Brolin said the young actor and aspiring director “asked so many questions, he was so helpful.” Very soon after that, Brolin said, “This guy’s directing his own stuff.”
Brolin admitted he didn’t know all the ins and outs of Baldoni’s legal battle with Lively, which has gripped Hollywood and the world of pop culture over the past year. Next month will be the first anniversary of the release of “It Ends With Us,” the domestic violence drama starring Lively as a florist who becomes involved in an abusive marriage with a handsome doctor, played by Baldoni.
During the release of the film, the public became aware of a bitter, on-set feud between Lively and Baldoni that took place during the film’s production. The “Gossip Girl” actor filed a lawsuit, accusing Baldoni, her co-star and director, of sexual harassment and of working with his co-producers and publicists to launch a media smear campaign against her. Baldoni denied the sexual harassment and smear campaign allegations and countersued, alleging that she and her mega-star husband, Ryan Reynolds, defamed him and tried to seize control of the movie he spent years developing.
Baldoni’s allegations of defamation and extortion were later dismissed, but the warring former co-stars are set to go to trial in March 2026 in New York City, and attorneys for both parties say they plan to testify.
