Justin Baldoni's Sister Is 'Proud' of His 'Dedication to Truth' amid Legal Battle with Blake Lively
"I am so proud to call you my big brother," the actor's sister Sara Baldoni wrote in a birthday tribute
Justin Baldoni's sister shared a message of support via a birthday tribute in the middle of his legal battle with Blake Lively.
The It Ends With Us director-actor turned 41 on Friday, Jan. 24, and in a message on Instagram the following day, his younger sister Sara wished him a happy birthday.
"I love you and I celebrate you - the man you are, the love you embody, the strength of your connection to God, the essence of your being, your dedication to truth, to service and to love - today and all days," she wrote alongside a photo of them hugging.
She added, "I am so proud to call you my big brother and annoyingly squeeze the hell out of you until the end of time."
The birthday post comes after Lively, 37, sued Baldoni, accusing him of sexual harassment and orchestrating a retaliatory smear campaign, which he denies. He has countersued Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds for $400 million, alleging defamation and extortion, a lawsuit Lively's lawyers called "meritless" and "desperate."
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Baldoni's wife Emily, with whom he shares two kids, broke her silence on Jan. 24 to honor Baldoni on his birthday. "Happy birthday my love. Celebrating the man, husband, and father that you are. I’d choose you again and again," wrote Emily, who shared a scene with Lively for a cameo in It Ends With Us.
Additionally, Baldoni's mother Sharon wrote a message to the Jane the Virgin alum on Instagram, saying, in part, "Life has its moments and also its surprises- as you keep your integrity through it all Justice and truth will shine today and into eternity. I love you more than you will ever know! Happy Birthday my beautiful boy! May God continue to bless you in truth."
Lively's family members have also spoken out in support of her amid the legal battle, as well as members of the It Ends With Us cast. After Lively's legal complaint made news in December, her sister Robyn, 52, wrote, "FINALLY justice for my sister," in an Instagram Stories post.
In another post on Dec. 23, Robyn said her sister is "one of the kindest, most honest and loving humans I know," and added, "Blake isn’t a villain. She’s a mama bear to her core, a loving and supportive wife, a sister, a friend, and someone who worked her ass off on a film in abominable working conditions."
At the time, Robyn added that she was "so proud" of how Lively "handled herself with such grace and didn’t cave, that she didn’t allow herself to be silenced in the face of adversity and lies. I hope this gives others the strength to do the same."
Lively and Baldoni have a pre-trial conference scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 12 in New York City.
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