Scarlett Johansson celebrates her confident directorial debut, Eleanor the Great. [Image Source: ABCNEWSFE]
In newly surfaced audio recordings, billionaire Steve Sarowitz, cofounder of Wayfarer Studios, openly praised Scarlett Johansson’s work on her directorial debut, Eleanor the Great. The conversation, recorded in May 2024, also revealed Sarowitz’s contrasting views on Blake Lively, particularly relating to the production drama surrounding the film It Ends With Us. The discussion sheds new light on tensions between the actors and production figures behind the scenes.
Sarowitz, 61, expressed excitement about supporting Johansson, 41, portraying her as a confident and capable first-time director. In the exchange with filmmaker Claire Ayoub, Sarowitz stated,
“I love this women’s empowerment. We have another first-time director we supported,”
illustrating the backing Johansson received from the company. When Ayoub mentioned Johansson by name, Sarowitz jokingly added,
“We’re trying to give her her first big break. Maybe people will hear of her after this.”
Distinct Experiences Working With Johansson and Blake Lively
Sarowitz vividly described his experience working with Johansson as very positive, calling her
“cool, calm, collected and confident … and nice.”
He drew a stark comparison when discussing Blake Lively, 38, who starred in It Ends With Us. Sarowitz described Lively as “totally different than everyone else,” though careful not to use overtly negative language. Reflecting on general interpersonal dynamics on set, he remarked,
“I think for the most part most people see what we are doing see we’re nice and they’re nice back. Even if they weren’t perfectly nice. I just think some people forgot to learn how to be nice.”
The tension appears rooted not only in personalities but in how the film’s promotion and production unfolded, especially given the ongoing legal battles and public disputes involving Lively and director Justin Baldoni. Sarowitz acknowledged the drama surrounding the film, stating plainly,
Image of: Scarlett Johansson
“The It Ends With Us drama is simply a drama. I’m done with it. Let the chips fall where they may.”
The leaked audio is part of larger legal conflicts related to It Ends With Us. In December 2024, Blake Lively filed a lawsuit against Baldoni, accusing him of sexual harassment, which he denied. Baldoni’s countersuit was dismissed in 2025, with a trial scheduled for May 2025. The lawsuit has brought detailed scrutiny of the movie’s production and interpersonal conflicts on set.
Ayoub, who worked with Baldoni on the female-led project Empire Waist, also alleged experiencing negative interactions and verbal abuse from the director, adding depth to the reported tensions within the creative team. Sarowitz even defended Baldoni in the conversation, claiming that many allegations were
“manufactured on purpose to take Justin down.”
Colleen Hoover and Crew Members Voice Concerns About Baldoni
Author Colleen Hoover, whose novel inspired the film, gave testimony during legal proceedings revealing her disappointment with Baldoni’s approach. Hoover stated that during a dinner, Baldoni described Lively as exhibiting narcissistic tendencies about the movie, leaving Hoover with the impression she was being persuaded to side with the director’s perspective. According to court documents, Hoover said,
“For a man who has a platform of building women up, that I left the dinner disappointed that it felt like I was made to not like her. I left the dinner feeling like the intention was to get me on their side or, you know, just explain their side before I heard it from her.”
Additional crew members expressed frustration with Baldoni’s behavior. Actress Jenny Slate, who played Baldoni’s character’s sister in the film, sent a text to Lively in October 2023 expressing regret over misreading signs about Baldoni’s true nature, saying,
“Sometimes I get so angry at myself for ignoring signs in Justin that I should have taken seriously in terms of ‘wait…is this person ACTUALLY in line w a feminist perspective?’”
Slate’s messages also condemned Baldoni as a fraudulent ally, stating in June 2023,
“Justin is truly a false ally and I’m unwilling to do anything that promotes the image that he’s crafting as a ‘male feminist’ … like … honestly i have no words to describe what a fraud he is. I honestly have never ever encountered anything like this dude. He’s the biggest clown and the most intense narcissist.”
Former Podcast Host Describes Difficulties Working With Baldoni
Liz Plank, Baldoni’s former co-host on his Man Enough podcast who resigned in December 2024, warned Lively’s husband Ryan Reynolds in an April 2023 text about Baldoni’s problematic behavior, writing,
“I tried to warn blake on the red flags but was hoping he (Justin) had gotten better.”
She described her experience on Baldoni’s set as one of the worst days she had endured but offered to support others who suffered similarly, stating,
“Working on his set was truly one of the worst days of my life, but it’s survivable and I’ll help.”
These revelations are supported by unsealed court documents that include communications between Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios CEO Jamey Heath. These messages indicate Heath was not fully briefed on concerns expressed by female team members, even though Baldoni was aware of them.
Production Dynamics and Power Struggles Behind the Scenes
One message from Baldoni to Heath mentioned plans to confront Lively regarding her behavior on set, to which Heath responded with a warning that Baldoni underestimated the subtlety needed when handling such issues. Baldoni said,
“He said he should come to sit and remind Blake whose money this is and I said that’s not the best idea.”
Heath relayed,
“He said that to me too regarding how difficult she is to work with. He doesn’t quite get the nuance.”
The tension and ongoing disputes around It Ends With Us highlight significant challenges in managing interpersonal relationships in the film industry, especially on projects involving powerful personalities and sensitive subject matter like domestic violence. Sarowitz noted the team’s efforts to keep the film’s focus on its partnership with the No More Foundation but admitted,
“We did our best to keep it centered on that. We didn’t succeed.”
Context of Relationships and Wider Impact
The conflict gains further complexity given the personal connections involved. Ryan Reynolds was married to Johansson from 2008 to 2011 before marrying Lively in 2012. Meanwhile, Johansson married Saturday Night Live’s Colin Jost in 2020 following a previous marriage that ended in 2017. These intertwined relationships add another layer to the public interest and intensity surrounding the controversies teased in the audio leak.
As the trial involving Lively and Baldoni draws near, the content of these recorded conversations and extensive public allegations may influence public perceptions of those involved, particularly Scarlett Johansson’s directorial ambitions amidst the scrutiny. The ongoing legal battles and outspoken testimonies expose the pressures female actors and creators face in Hollywood, highlighting the fragile balance between empowerment and conflict in high-profile projects.
