Justin Baldoni divides fans with return to spotlight on Dancing with the Stars after Blake Lively legal war

Published: 04:09 EDT, 14 October 2026 | Updated: 04:09 EDT, 14 October 2026

Justin Baldoni shocked viewers when he made a surprise appearance on Dancing With The Stars on Tuesday.

The director, 42, had a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it appearance early in the episode when he and his family were pictured applauding among the audience.

The return to the spotlight comes in the wake of his legal war with Blake Lively, 39, which was set off by a sexual harassment lawsuit she filed against him and his production company.

Surprise appearance: Justin Baldoni on the Tuesday episode of Dancing With The Stars

The Daily Mail has confirmed that it was Baldoni’s longtime friend, co-host Julianne Hough, who set his brief return to the spotlight in motion by inviting him to DWTS as her guest.

The appearance proved to be divisive among viewers on social media, with some fans applauding his presence, while others described his sudden appearance on screen as a ‘jump scare.’

The Daily Mail has reached out to representatives for Baldoni and ABC for comment.

His nemesis: Baldoni was making his return to the spotlight following his legal battle with Blake Lively

Baldoni was joined in the audience by his wife, Emily Baldoni, and their daughter, Maiya Grace Baldoni, 11.

The couple, who married in 2013, also share a seven-year-old son, Maxwell Roland-Samuel Baldoni, who wasn’t immediately visible but was reported to have attended the taping.

The Baldonis were seen just after Irish TV presenter and model Maura Higgins had danced a tango with her professional dancer partner, Mark Ballas.

Page Six first reported that Baldoni and his family would appear on DWTS as guests of Hough, who has been a family friend for around a decade.

According to the publication, Baldoni and Hough have been close ever since they worked together on the documentary series My Last Days in 2016.

Hough reportedly had a woman who was featured in the series choreograph a dance number that she performed back in season 25.

Prior to the taping, Baldoni and his family – who are based in Nashville, Tennessee – had celebrated Maxwell’s birthday at Universal Studios with some of his cousins.

Family moment: Baldoni was joined in the audience by his wife Emily and their daughter Maiya Grace, 11

On X, viewers reacted to Baldoni’s short time on screen with a mix of disgust and delight.

Several viewers described the appearance as a ‘jump scare,’ while others wondered how he had even gotten inside the studio.

‘Why are they allowing Justin Baldoni in the ballroom…’ one viewer wondered.

A second added: ‘What on earth is Justin Baldoni doing at DWTS?’

A third wrote: ‘Gross, take Baldoni out of my screen.’

Buddies: Baldoni’s longtime friend, co-host Julianne Hough (right), had invited him and his family as her special guests