Recent court documents unsealed in January have exposed disturbing private remarks from senior Sony Pictures executives about Blake Lively amidst the turmoil surrounding the film It Ends With Us. The revelations focus on the intense internal conflict that emerged during production, bringing the Blake Lively lawsuit controversy under fresh scrutiny.
Depositions and internal emails reveal that an executive labeled Lively a “f—ing terrorist,” while others criticized her business choices during the film’s promotional difficulties, highlighting deep tensions within the studio.
Origin of the ‘Terrorist’ Remark in Executive Depositions
The explosive language was detailed in a deposition given by Andrea “Ange” Giannetti, Sony’s Executive Vice President of Production and Senior Creative, on September 23, 2025. In her sworn testimony, recently made public, Giannetti admitted to calling Lively a “f—ing terrorist” during a private conversation with producer Jamey Heath.
This anger stemmed from a 17-point document Lively submitted in November 2023 titled “Protections for Return to Production,” which she insisted Sony accept without changes before resuming filming after the SAG-AFTRA strike halted production. The studio had already invested more than $28 million by this stage, causing executives to fear the entire movie could collapse if Lively walked away or withheld promotional support.
Giannetti’s testimony described a tense, multi-hour meeting in which the actress’s demands were presented as non-negotiable, revealing the studio’s perception of a critical threat to the project’s survival despite the harsh language used behind closed doors.
The Controversial 17-Point List Driving Disputes
Though the exact contents of Lively’s list have not been fully disclosed, the court filings portray it as a combination of creative controls, workplace safety measures, and anti-retaliation clauses. These demands later formed the foundation of her lawsuit against co-star and director Justin Baldoni, alleging sexual harassment and retaliation.
In contrast, Sony executives described the list as a pressure tactic, feeling blindsided and constrained by the timing and terms of the demands. These differing interpretations represent a central issue in the ongoing legal battle between the parties.
Executive Criticism Over Lively’s Haircare Brand Launch
Additional unsealed emails reveal internal frustration during the film’s 2024 promotional phase. Sanford Panitch, President of Sony Pictures’ Motion Picture Group, criticized Lively for launching her Blake Brown haircare line amid the film’s growing negative media coverage.
In an August 21, 2024 email, Panitch disparaged the timing as “epic level stupid,” asserting that Lively “wouldn’t listen” and “did it to herself.” Other executives shared this harsh assessment, with the chief communications officer calling the situation
“orchestrated… in a totally unsavvy and amateur way,”
and CEO Tom Rothman blaming Lively for her refusal to heed advice.
Despite this internal discord, Sony publicly continued to push the film aggressively and privately congratulated Lively following its strong domestic debut, which earned over $50 million (approximately £37.8 million) during opening weekend.
Legal Battle Deepens as New Evidence Emerges
Lively filed her lawsuit in December 2024, accusing Justin Baldoni and his production company of sexual harassment, retaliation, and a coordinated smear campaign. Baldoni has denied these allegations, and his legal team cites the newly revealed documents as evidence that internal disputes, rather than misconduct, caused the breakdown during filming.
Attorney Bryan Freedman emphasized that the deposition testimony and emails demonstrate the conflicts were rooted in power struggles within the production team.
“The hair sell at the same time was epic level stupid,”
Sanford Panitch, President of Sony Pictures’ Motion Picture Group
“orchestrated… in a totally unsavvy and amateur way,”
Sony’s chief communications officer
“brought it all on herself by refusing to listen to advice,”
Tom Rothman, CEO of Sony Pictures
The revelation that a lead actress was referred to as a “terrorist” in private conversations has sparked intense dialogue about the power dynamics prevalent in Hollywood. Sony has not disputed the accuracy of these quotes, which has intensified the ongoing public and industry reaction to the Blake Lively lawsuit controversy.
As this legal saga unfolds, the exposure of such vitriolic language and internal divisions within Sony Pictures highlights the fraught nature of high-stakes film productions, raising questions about workplace culture and actor-studio relations. Observers will be closely watching forthcoming court proceedings and additional filings that may further illuminate the breakdown behind It Ends With Us.
