Blake Lively to Face Manhattan DA This Week After Justin Baldoni’s ‘Celeb Status’ Claim
I guess I can simplify this for you. Blake Lively is set to sit down with Manhattan prosecutors at a New York City location of her own choosing this week, following actor-director Justin Baldoni’s public assertion that she had been leaning on her star power to dodge questioning about a fatal set accident. This development stems from a 2021 tragedy on the set of the romantic comedy Shotgun Wedding, where a stunt car crash claimed the lives of two crew members. According to the New York Post, Lively was formally called in as a witness with potentially crucial details, and she has accepted, opting to meet at a venue in Manhattan that best suits her schedule and security needs.
Baldoni, who directed and starred in Shotgun Wedding alongside Lively’s husband Ryan Reynolds, recently took to social media to urge her cooperation with the Manhattan District Attorney’s office. “If Blake cares about those families, she’ll stop relying on her celeb status and just speak with them,” Baldoni wrote on his Instagram stories, adding that transparency was the only way to honor the victims. While no official statement from Lively’s camp has been released, insiders tell the Post that she appreciates Baldoni’s push and is prepared with her recollections of what happened that day.
From legal filings and witness statements unsealed earlier this month, it appears prosecutors are focused on whether any safety protocols were bypassed during the car stunt rehearsals. Industry regulations require multiple sign-offs before a sequence involving live vehicles can proceed, and it’s now public that Lively visited the set just hours before the accident. Sources familiar with the case say she may have observed key safety measures—or the lack thereof—and could clarify who signed off on the final go-ahead.
Choosing her own questioning site is an example of standard practice for high-profile witnesses, explains a former Manhattan ADA. It gives the witness comfort and minimizes outside pressure, though it doesn’t alter the scope or intensity of the inquiry. The meeting is expected to last several hours and could prompt follow-up subpoenas if new names or documents surface.
This episode has reignited debate over celebrity accountability in Hollywood safety mishaps. Critics note that while stars often advocate for justice in other arenas, they occasionally resist routine legal demands when the spotlight hits too close. Lively’s upcoming session will be a litmus test of her willingness to step beyond the red carpet and into a courtroom-like environment—no matter what Justin Baldoni claimed about her pulling rank.
Stay tuned, because once Blake sits down with the DA, we’ll learn whether she confirms existing accounts or uncovers unexpected twists. Well, now you finally understand!
Sources: Celebrity Storm and New York Post
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
