Justin Baldoni’s longtime friend Adam Mondschein is sharing a glimpse into the actor’s mindset after his It Ends With Us legal battle with Blake Lively was settled before trial.
“His sentiment, to me, is just relief as a friend, but also needing prayers and love and thoughts to weather the next stage,” Mondschein, 50, exclusively shared with Us Weekly on Thursday, May 7. “The relief is there. The support is beautiful — from the community, from the strangers, from the world.”
Mondschein said his friend was “literally recovering from a cold” this week before adding, “It’s the emotional taxing on the family. It’s the emotional tax of all of this. I think it’s been overwhelming.”
News broke on Monday, May 4, that Lively, 38, and Baldoni, 42, had reached a settlement in their highly contentious It Ends With Us lawsuit, which began in December 2024.
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“The end product – the movie It Ends With Us – is a source of pride to all of us who worked to bring it to life. Raising awareness, and making a meaningful impact in the lives of domestic violence survivors – and all survivors – is a goal that we stand behind,” lawyers for both parties said in a statement to Us. “We acknowledge the process presented challenges and recognize concerns raised by Ms. Lively deserved to be heard.”
The statement continued, “We remain firmly committed to workplaces free of improprieties and unproductive environments. It is our sincere hope that this brings closure and allows all involved to move forward constructively and in peace, including a respectful environment online.”
While a settlement avoids a trial in New York City, Lively filed a notice of settlement on Thursday, in which she requested damages to cover her attorneys’ fees and costs, as well as compensatory and punitive damages.
“I think they’re waiting to truly celebrate. But there’s just no question that this is a win,” Mondschein claimed to Us about the settlement. “I think they’re very relieved, and they’re excited for the day that the celebration can actually begin, but because it’s not truly over for them, I think we’re the ones that get to kind of, like, celebrate a little bit for them. … We’ll all be very glad when this is, I mean, no longer part of the general conversation.”
“They have weathered this in their hearts for such a long time,” Mondschein added. “I think there is an emotional cost to this on a personal level.”
Baldoni and Lively’s settlement came as both parties appeared to be preparing for their upcoming trial, with jury selection expected to begin on Monday, May 18.
According to Mondschein, Baldoni didn’t fear having to go to trial.
“He never was going to quit,” Mondschein claimed. “They were excited for the day in one way to tell it in court along the way, but you’re seeing it tax your children, tax your wife, and then having to carry that. Also, having to keep staying firm. It is exhausting. He is not a quitter, I will tell you that.”
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Before Baldoni found himself in a legal battle with his It Ends With Us costar, the actor gained success in Hollywood with roles in projects like Jane the Virgin, The Bold and the Beautiful and Everwood.
When asked if he could see his friend returning to the big or small screen for a role, Mondschein appeared optimistic that the opportunity would come one day soon.
“[I] feel like he needs the time to heal,” Mondschein shared. “For him to contemplate putting his heart out there to pick another project, he’ll just need the time to, like, truly feel safe as an artist.”
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