Johnny Depp’s attorney, Benjamin Chew, who represented him in his defamation case against Amber Heard, has commented on the legal dispute surrounding It Ends With Us. Chew described actor-director Justin Baldoni’s legal tactics as “very aggressive” after Baldoni launched a website featuring an amended complaint and a timeline of events aimed at countering Blake Lively’s sexual harassment allegations.
During an appearance on Law&Crime Sidebar with Jesse Weber, Chew noted, “I think it is very aggressive.” He explained that such actions—releasing a website before a hearing—are not typical, but he acknowledged that Baldoni likely vetted the material thoroughly. He clarified that posting a legal pleading isn’t necessarily inappropriate, as these documents are part of the public record. Chew referred to Baldoni’s approach as “a novel approach, a bold approach.”
Baldoni, who both starred in and directed It Ends With Us, launched the website last week amid his ongoing legal battle with Lively. Chew, when asked which side had the advantage in the case, chose not to pick a side, stating, “I’m going to remain agnostic as to who has the edge right now.” However, he emphasized the importance of concrete evidence, particularly video footage and text messages, which can be more persuasive than just verbal assertions.
Baldoni made headlines recently by releasing raw footage from the It Ends With Us set, showing himself and Lively filming a scene where their characters “fall in love.” However, Lively’s legal team argued that the footage was damaging to Baldoni’s defense.
The trial between Baldoni and Lively is set for March 2026. Meanwhile, Depp’s connection to the case emerged when it was revealed that Baldoni had hired The Agency Group, a crisis PR firm previously representing Depp in his legal battle with Heard, led by Melissa Nathan.
