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Blake Lively Brings Mahjong Set to Court Amid Mediation with Co-Star
The 'Gossip Girl' actress reportedly had a mahjong set delivered as she met with Justin Baldoni for court-ordered mediation.
Published on Feb. 13, 2026
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Blake Lively was spotted arriving at a Manhattan federal courthouse early for a mediation session with her co-star Justin Baldoni. During the mediation, which lasted around six hours, Lively reportedly had her chauffeur bring her a mahjong set to play with while the process went on. Lively and Baldoni, who starred together in the film 'It Ends with Us,' have been embroiled in a high-stakes legal battle, with Lively seeking over $160 million in damages from Baldoni.
Why it matters
The legal dispute between Lively and Baldoni has drawn significant public attention, with private messages involving other celebrities like Taylor Swift also coming under scrutiny. The fact that Lively brought a mahjong set to the mediation session suggests she was trying to find a way to pass the time and stay occupied during the lengthy proceedings, which did not result in a settlement.
The details
Lively arrived at the Daniel Patrick Moynihan Courthouse around 8:30 a.m., while the mediation was scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. By late morning, she reportedly asked for her mahjong set to be delivered to the courthouse. Lively has previously spoken about her love of the tile-based game, saying she has taught friends how to play and often gifts them her own sets. The mediation session lasted around six hours, but Lively and Baldoni did not reach a settlement. The legal battle is now set to go to trial, with a start date of May 18 scheduled by the court.
- Lively arrived at the courthouse around 8:30 a.m. on February 11, 2026.
- The mediation session began at 10 a.m. on February 11, 2026.
- The mediation session lasted approximately six hours on February 11, 2026.
- The court has set a trial start date of May 18, 2026.
The players
Blake Lively
An American actress best known for her role in the TV series 'Gossip Girl' and her legal dispute with co-star Justin Baldoni.
Justin Baldoni
An American actor who starred alongside Blake Lively in the film 'It Ends with Us' and is involved in a high-stakes legal battle with her.
What they’re saying
“I have been teaching friends how to play Mahjong, though I need to say I'm not a certified teacher. But I know enough to teach my friends how to play with me, and in the end, I always end up gifting them my own set because they are obsessed and want to practice.”
— Blake Lively (Vogue)
What’s next
The court has set a trial start date of May 18, 2026, as the legal battle between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni continues.
The takeaway
This case highlights the lengths that high-profile celebrities will go to in order to find ways to occupy themselves during lengthy legal proceedings, with Lively's reported request for a mahjong set delivery during the mediation session being a unique and unexpected development in the ongoing dispute.
