Justin Baldoni Sues Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds Amid Legal Dispute
Los Angeles — Justin Baldoni, known for his role in “It Ends With Us” as both actor and director, has initiated a lawsuit against his co-star Blake Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, for defamation and extortion. This legal action, filed in federal court in New York, seeks a staggering $400 million in damages, arguing that Lively and Reynolds seized control of the film’s production and marketing while casting unfounded accusations against Baldoni and others involved in the project.
The lawsuit portrays Lively and Reynolds as powerful figures who misused their influence to undermine Baldoni’s leadership and credibility. “This is a case about two of the most prominent stars in the world utilizing their significant power to hijack a film from its rightful director and production studio,” the suit asserts. It continues to claim that following an unsuccessful attempt to gain recognized acclaim, they unjustly targeted Baldoni as a scapegoat.
This legal confrontation unfolds shortly after Lively filed her own lawsuit against Baldoni and several others associated with the film. She accused them of retaliation after she disclosed her troubling experiences on set. The previous legal skirmish occurred mere hours following Baldoni’s libel lawsuit against the New York Times, where he accused the publication of collaborating with Lively to damage his reputation.
No immediate response was provided to an email sent to publicist Leslie Sloane, who is included as a defendant in the case. Meanwhile, the New York Times maintains its defense of its reporting and plans to contest Baldoni’s allegations vigorously.
“It Ends With Us,” adapted from Colleen Hoover’s acclaimed 2016 novel, made its debut in August, exceeding box office projections with an impressive opening of $50 million. The film begins with typical romance elements but shifts into a darker narrative centered on domestic abuse, which has led to widespread discussions regarding the treatment of women in the entertainment industry.
Baldoni’s lawsuit highlights the irony that a film intended to honor survivors of domestic violence has become overshadowed by the ongoing legal issues initiated by Lively. It argues that her actions and alleged manipulations have harmed the film’s original mission.
Further allegations within the lawsuit describe Lively’s claims of inappropriate behavior by Baldoni as utterly unfounded. Baldoni asserts that their rapport was such that Lively felt at ease enough to breastfeed publicly during meetings, contradicting her accusations of harassment. Additionally, the lawsuit contends that all of Lively’s requests for an intimacy coordinator to assist with delicate scenes were met, including claims regarding a birthing scene that reportedly mischaracterized the circumstances as inappropriate.
At one point during filming, Baldoni claims to have respectfully inquired about Lively’s weight to facilitate safe lifts as part of the production, which led to backlash from Reynolds, who accused Baldoni of fat-shaming his wife. In truth, Baldoni had aimed to offer support to Lively, who had expressed insecurities regarding her postpartum appearance.
While Lively took the spotlight in promoting “It Ends With Us,” Baldoni chose to step back, amid claims that Lively’s public relations stunts, like naming a drink at the premiere after a character involved in domestic violence, were tone-deaf. The situation escalated to the point where Baldoni was dropped by his agency, WME, allegedly at Reynolds’ instigation, who expressed disdain for Baldoni at a related event.
Baldoni’s previous works include his role in the television show “Jane the Virgin,” directing the film “Five Feet Apart,” and authoring “Man Enough,” which challenges traditional views of masculinity. Lively, on the other hand, rose to fame with “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” and gained further recognition through her role in “Gossip Girl” before starring in films such as “The Town” and “The Shallows.”
The lawsuit also claims Lively orchestrated the process of serving legal documents to Baldoni during the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles, making the timing especially cruel as Baldoni and his family were preoccupied with emergency preparations.
This contentious legal battle highlights the complexities surrounding the film and the impact of personal grievances on professional endeavors within the entertainment industry. The lawsuit against Baldoni had been filed at the close of the year, with required legal notifications dispatched shortly after.
