Chelsea Handler Goes There with Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni Jokes at 2025 Critics Choice Awards

Chelsea Handler cracked jokes about Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni’s ongoing It Ends With Us legal battle at the 2025 Critics Choice Awards. 

While hosting the ceremony on Friday, Feb. 7, the comedian, 49, made remarks in her monologue about the legal back-and-forth between Lively, 37, and Baldoni, 41, dominating headlines. 

"I want to acknowledge that we've been through a lot lately, not just here in Los Angeles, but our entire country," Handler said, "waking up every day not knowing what news we're going to hear that will disappoint or horrify us."

"So it is important in times like these to have a distraction, and that's why I want to personally extend my gratitude to Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively," Handler joked.

"Thank you for providing us with that distraction," she continued. "I'm grateful. I think we're all grateful. And I think we're good. I think everybody in this room, no matter whose side you're on, we can all agree to accept that there's probably not going to be a sequel."

"It ends with us, guys," she said in reference to the 2024 romantic drama that Baldoni directed and starred in alongside Lively. 

In December, Lively sued Baldoni, alleging sexual harassment and a retaliatory smear campaign, which he denied. In January, Baldoni countered with a $400 million lawsuit against Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds, alleging defamation and extortion. Her lawyers called the lawsuit "meritless."

In Lively's complaint, her legal team described the "extreme" emotional impact felt by the actress as a result of the alleged actions from Baldoni and his team. It was "not only affecting her, but her family," they said.

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"While she has fought to maintain her personal life and business interests, behind closed doors she has suffered from grief, fear, trauma and extreme anxiety," read her complaint. Reynolds, 48, it added, "has been affected mentally, physically and professionally by his wife and children’s pain."

Lawyers from the opposing sides came face to face in court for the first time on Feb. 3 for a pre-trial hearing, where the judge warned them to refrain from litigating the case in public. Their trial is currently scheduled to be held in March 2026.

See PEOPLE's full coverage of the 30th annual Critics Choice Awards as they're broadcasting live on E! from Barker Hangar in Santa Monica. The show will also be available to stream the following day on Peacock.