<p>After two years of legal mudslinging between “Gossip Girl” actress Blake Lively and actor-director Justin Baldoni, a civil trial was set to unfold in New York.</p><br><p>The “It Ends With Us” co-stars instead capped their bitter dispute with a settlement deal that ended an ugly and costly two-year public ordeal that battered their reputations.</p><br><p><em>The Trial: USA</em> this week examines the history of the litigation and explains why a last-minute settlement was a likely outcome. Kayla Brantley interviews entertainment and sports attorney Thomas H. Herndon Jr. about the legal drama.</p><br><p>In this episode, Herndon Jr. breaks down the legal strategies at play and weighs in on what a trial may have looked like.</p><br><p>Help shape the Crime Desk by taking our quick,&nbsp;<a href="https://ex-plorsurvey.com/survey/selfserve/550/260205?list=104" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">listener survey</a>. It takes just five minutes, and you could win a £50 Amazon voucher.</p><br><p>Terms and conditions</p><p>&nbsp;</p><ul><li>Open to UK residents aged 18 or over.</li><li>Enter between 00:01 BST on 23rd April 2026 and 23:59 BST on 23rd May 2026, inclusive</li><li>The Promotion is free to enter by&nbsp;<a href="https://ex-plorsurvey.com/survey/selfserve/550/260205?list=104" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">visiting</a>, completing the online survey and providing your contact details (including email address).</li><li>There will be one (1) winner.</li><li>The winner will win £50 Amazon Voucher</li><li>Amazon Vouchers are subject to Amazon’s T&amp;Cs found here:&nbsp;<a href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.co.uk%2F&amp;data=05%7C02%7CJames.Greenwood%40dailymail.co.uk%7C040ff26a20d6460353eb08dea05969f4%7C0f3a4c644dc54a768d4152d85ca158a5%7C0%7C0%7C639124503048937558%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=OSLXMmfUZRIznR8DWKradmGGrI446IrRIQ9Ly9tXFHw%3D&amp;reserved=0" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.amazon.co.uk/</a></li><li>Full T&amp;Cs apply,&nbsp;<a href="https://ex-plorsurvey.com/survey/selfserve/550/260205/TandCs.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">click here</a>&nbsp;to read them.</li></ul><p><br></p><p><br></p><ul><li>Email us: <a href="mailto:[email protected]" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">[email protected]</a>&nbsp;</li><li>WhatsApp us: +44 7796 657512 Start your message with Trial</li><li>Presenter: Kayla Brantley</li><li>Producer: Lucy Robson</li><li>Editor: Chelsey Ranore</li><li>Creative Director: Caroline Cheetham</li><li>Executive Producer: Jamie East</li></ul><p>Follow us on TikTok: @DailyMailCrime</p><p>Email us:&nbsp;<a href="mailto:[email protected]" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">[email protected]</a></p><p>WhatsApp us:&nbsp;<a href="tel:+447796657512" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">+44 7796 657512</a>&nbsp;Start your message with Trial</p><br><p>Presenter: Kayla Brantley</p><p>Producer: Lucy Robson</p><p>Creative Director: Caroline Cheetham</p><p>Executive Producer: Jamie East</p><br><p><a href="https://link.news.dailymail.co.uk/join/4w5/crime-desk-sign-up?utm_source=dailymail.co.uk&amp;[%E2%80%A6]&amp;utm_term=crime_newsletter_podcast&amp;utm_budgetpot=organic" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Click here to sign up to The Crime Desk's weekly newsletter</strong></a>. <strong> </strong></p><p>It's free and packed with exclusive interviews, expert insight, and gripping deep dive investigations from across the world.</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>