Justin Baldoni’s father, Sam Baldoni, shared a heartfelt birthday tribute on Instagram to celebrate the director’s 42nd birthday, following what he described as “a year full of turmoil and injustice.”
In the post, Sam included a throwback photo of himself and his wife, Sharon, holding Justin as an infant. He reflected on Justin’s birth, recalling the challenges of Sharon’s 34-hour labor, which ended in a cesarean delivery. Sam remembered being the first to hold Justin and placing the newborn’s face against Sharon’s cheek, calling it a “spiritual, very exhilarating close to God kind of experience.”
Sam praised Justin for bringing joy to their family and lighting up the lives of everyone around him. He expressed pride in his son’s growth as a man, highlighting Justin’s commitment to family, friendship, and learning about love and life. Sam also admitted to admiring Justin’s devotion to his wife, Emily Baldoni, whom he married in 2013, and their two children.
He concluded the message by acknowledging Justin’s resilience during a turbulent year, writing, “Son, in a year full of turmoil and injustice, you have remained steadfast in your faith, knowing that truth and justice will prevail!”
The birthday tribute comes amid Justin’s ongoing legal battle with his “It Ends With Us” co-star Blake Lively. In December 2024, Lively accused him of sexual harassment and attempting to damage her reputation in a complaint first reported by the New York Times. She later filed a formal lawsuit against him. Justin denied the allegations and countersued Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, for $400 million, though his countersuit was dismissed by a judge.
Their trial is scheduled to begin in May. Several celebrities, including Taylor Swift, Ben Affleck, and Johnny Depp, have been mentioned in connection with the case. Newly released court documents reveal Swift referred to Justin as “a bitch” with a “tiny violin” in a text exchange prior to the publication of the New York Times article in December 2024.