Justin Baldoni’s studio is suing Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, and publicist Leslie Sloane for $400 million. The shocking lawsuit claims Lively tried to make Baldoni the “real-life villain” to distract from her own alleged “tone-deaf” promotion of their film It Ends With Us.
The allegations against Blake Lively
According to court documents fromJanuary 16, Baldoni alleges that Lively used the film’s media buzz to promote her own haircare and alcohol brands. The lawsuit states that the feud began in May 2023 during the film’s production when Lively allegedly launched a “takeover strategy” to gain creative control. Emails included in the lawsuit reportedly show Lively initially expressing gratitude for Baldoni’s preparation but later attempting to undermine his authority.
Claims of unpreparedness
Baldoni’s lawsuit also claims that Lively didn’t read the source material, Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel, and instead Googled details about her character. “She even tried to Google the color of her character’s hair rather than pick up the book,” the filing alleges.
Baldoni’s lawyer speaks out
Bryan Freedman, Baldoni’s lawyer, issued a fiery statement to Us Weekly following the lawsuit. “This legal action is based on overwhelming evidence detailing Blake Lively and her team’s duplicitous attempts to destroy Justin Baldoni, his team, and their companies,” Freedman said. He added, “We have complete text messages, emails, video footage, and other documentary evidence to prove our case. This is a battle she will not win.”
Accusations of exploiting victims
Freedman’s statement continued with sharp accusations against Lively. “Ms. Lively exploited real victims of harassment for personal gain. Her team bulldozed reputations for selfish reasons. We know the truth, and now the public does too. Documents don’t lie,” he declared.
Silence from Lively’s publicist
Lively’s publicist, Leslie Sloane, who is also named in the lawsuit, has not commented publicly. Freedman had hinted at this lawsuit earlier in January, telling “We plan to release every single text message between the two of them. We want the truth out there. People deserve to see the receipts.”
Previous lawsuit against The New York Times
Baldoni, 40, previously sued The New York Times for libel and invasion of privacy. He accused the newspaper of publishing a biased report that painted him in a negative light, allegedly using “cherry-picked” messages between him and Lively. Freedman blasted The Times in a December 2024 statement, calling it part of a “vicious smear campaign orchestrated by Blake Lively and her team.” He claimed the publication omitted crucial context to favor Lively’s narrative and revitalize her public image.
Lively’s legal defense
Lively’s attorney denied these allegations, stating that her administrative complaint against Baldoni’s studio, Wayfarer, was not a publicity stunt. “This lawsuit is based on the false premise that Ms. Lively’s complaint was a ruse,” her lawyer said.
On-set tensions
Rumors of tension between Baldoni and Lively surfaced during the production of It Ends With Us. The film, based on Hoover’s novel, explores a toxic and abusive relationship. Lively and Baldoni, who played the lead couple Lily and Ryle, reportedly kept their distance during the promotional cycle. A source told Us Weekly there were “two camps” on set, and the duo did no joint interviews.
Lively’s sexual harassment lawsuit
Adding fuel to the fire, Lively filed a lawsuit against Baldoni last month, accusing him of sexual harassment. She alleged that Baldoni fostered a hostile work environment and caused her severe emotional distress. Lively’s legal team also claimed that Baldoni’s publicity team launched a “social manipulation” campaign to ruin her reputation.
Ongoing legal battles
The ongoing legal battles have thrust both stars into the spotlight, overshadowing the release of their film. As the lawsuits unfold, Hollywood watchers are eager to see how this high-stakes drama will end. One thing is clear: the feud between Baldoni and Lively is far from over.
