Justin Baldoni is celebrating the settlement of his It Ends With Us legal dispute with Blake Lively, with his lawyer describing him as “ecstatic” at the outcome, though emphasising that Baldoni himself was already out of the case before a deal was struck.

Attorney Bryan Freedman told Extra TV in an interview released on Wednesday that his client was “very pleased at where this ended up,” pointing out that Baldoni, 42, had been removed as a defendant after a judge dismissed ten of Lively’s thirteen allegations last month, including her sexual harassment, defamation and conspiracy claims. 

“This is not his settlement,” Freedman said, noting that it was Baldoni’s production company Wayfarer Studios, not Baldoni personally, that was still involved when settlement talks resumed over the weekend. 

“Justin and the other individuals felt pretty comfortable [with] where they were at the time.”

Freedman described the settlement as a natural conclusion given how much the case had changed. 

“The case was very different after several of Lively’s allegations were tossed out,” he said, adding that Baldoni views it “as a logical ending to a case he’s already out of.”

Looking ahead, Freedman said Baldoni intends to use his experience to help others in similar situations. 

“Justin wants to help people who have experienced similar experiences when they felt they were accused of something they did not do. And to be a leader in helping other people in that way.” 

Freedman also said Baldoni would continue to advocate for women’s rights and the domestic violence survivor community.

Photos obtained by Page Six shortly after the interview showed Baldoni making his first public appearance since the settlement, stepping out in Nashville with his wife Emily, both in baseball caps and light-wash jeans, holding hands and smiling as they left a restaurant.

Lively, meanwhile, made her own first public appearance following the settlement’s conclusion at Monday’s Met Gala.

The three remaining claims, breach of contract, retaliation and aiding and abetting in retaliation, had been set for trial on 18 May before the settlement was reached. 

Both sides released a joint statement confirming they stand behind the film. 

“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,” it read in part. 

“Raising awareness, and making a meaningful impact in the lives of domestic violence survivors, and all survivors, is a goal that we stand behind.”

Dave Chappelle has hit back at media coverage of his transgender jokes, claiming his comedy is frequently taken out of context and misunderstood. 

Speaking on a recent episode of the IMO podcast, the stand-up veteran insisted that the public perception of his work as an attack on the LGBTQ+ community is incorrect. 

He argued that instead of a personal feud, his sets represent a wider negotiation of culture and corporate interests. 

Chappelle urged his critics and the media to allow for a “margin of error” in live performance, noting that the unique atmosphere of a comedy club is often lost when transcribed into news reports.

The comedian explained that the environment inside a comedy club is far more diverse and collaborative than outsiders might realise. 

He noted that every imaginable perspective is represented on stage, including transgender, Black, white, and Asian performers, all of whom champion their own opinions without seeking to silence one another.

According to Chappelle, comedians spend their time off-stage discussing different cultural lenses and points of view, a nuance he feels the media fails to capture. 

He expressed frustration at how his work is portrayed, stating that nothing makes a comedian angrier than seeing their jokes “read wrong” in the papers.

For Chappelle, the intention behind a comedy show is fundamentally different from a serious political statement. 

He described stand-up as a process of playing with the building blocks of culture, breaking them down to see what works and what doesn’t. 

He maintained that for any art to reach a level of greatness, the artist must be allowed the space to get things wrong occasionally. 

He suggested that many of his most vocal critics are like people with their faces pressed against the glass, commenting on a world they aren’t actually part of or participating in.

The clarification comes as the star prepares for a string of high-profile performances at the Hollywood Palladium from 7-9 May as part of the Netflix Is a Joke Fest. 

Despite the ongoing debate surrounding his material, Chappelle remains a central figure in the festival’s line-up. 

His latest comments suggest he has no plans to change his approach, as he continues to defend the comedy club as a space where all perspectives can be challenged and explored through humour, provided the audience understands the experimental nature of the craft.

Jane Fonda has paid a moving tribute to her former husband Ted Turner, describing the billionaire CNN founder as a “swashbuckling pirate” following his death at the age of 87. 

Turner, the visionary media tycoon who transformed the global news landscape, passed away on Wednesday. 

While a specific cause of death was not confirmed, it was well known that he had been living with Lewy body dementia in his later years. 

Fonda, who was married to Turner for a decade until 2001, shared her “immediate thoughts” on social media, reflecting on a man she admired for both his brilliant mind and his unexpected vulnerability.

The 88-year-old actress admitted that Turner completely changed her life when he “swept” into it, noting that being both needed and cared for by such a powerful figure was a transformative experience. 

She credited the creator of Turner Classic Movies with giving her a new sense of confidence, while also teaching her about everything from business strategy to the intricacies of wildlife and nature. 

Fonda fondly recalled his intense competitiveness, noting he was the only person who could rival Katharine Hepburn in that department, whether they were tallying up ski runs or discussing the vast swathes of land he stewarded.

Turner’s legacy as a “giant” of broadcasting was echoed by current industry leaders, including CNN Worldwide CEO Mark Thompson, who called him the “presiding spirit” of the network. 

Beyond the boardroom, Fonda highlighted Turner’s softer side, suggesting that his greatest strength was actually his ability to show need, a trait not often expected of men in his position. 

She spoke warmly of his five children, whom she had the privilege of mothering as a stepmother, acknowledging that while being married to such a complex man was a challenge, he was always worth it. 

Fonda ended her tribute with a poignant snap of Turner at the pearly gates, being applauded by the many endangered species, from bison to Mexican Gray Wolves, that his conservation efforts helped save from extinction.