During the post-production phase of the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s novel It Ends With Us in May 2024, Blake Lively reached out for support from several industry figures, including an email addressed to Ben Affleck, her former co-star and director of The Town. In this email, Lively, referencing the ongoing editing disputes, leveled harsh criticism at director and co-star Justin Baldoni, accusing him of hindering the film’s progress and describing him as a “chaotic clown.” This correspondence emerged amid Lively’s legal battle against Baldoni, spotlighting an intense behind-the-scenes conflict over the film’s final cut and leadership.
Blake Lively’s Frustration with Justin Baldoni’s Direction
The email sent by Lively detailed her extensive involvement in reshaping the movie, which Baldoni had directed but which she alleges required her to
“rewrite and restructure the entire script.”
Officially credited to Christy Hall, the script had, according to Lively, been heavily modified to accommodate competing creative visions. Within the email, she criticized Baldoni’s multiple roles as director, actor, producer, financier, and studio head, describing his interference as chaotic and disruptive. Lively wrote,
I also ended up having to direct the movie via the chaotic clown ‘director’/actor/producer/financier/studio head at the center, Yes that’s all the same person.
The actress further charged that everyone Baldoni brought onto the production was involved in a cult, highlighting what she framed as a toxic and dysfunctional environment exacerbated not only by creative clashes but also by severe human resources issues.
Despite these tensions, Lively sought Affleck’s input on her cut of the film amid what she called a “bake off” between her and Baldoni’s editorial versions. She invited Affleck, his children, and Jennifer Lopez, his then-wife, to watch her 1 minute and 58-second cut, emphasizing the low pressure and her desire for thoughtful feedback. She expressed admiration for Lopez, saying,
I’m such a fan of Jennifer’s, I’ve told her as much every time I’ve met her, and it would be an honor to have her take.
Lively acknowledged the emotional toll of the project, stating,
This movie nearly killed me.
Alongside Affleck, Lively mentioned that Matt Damon, a close friend of Affleck’s and a collaborator, would also be viewing her cut, noting with gratitude,
Ryan asked Matt to watch also so I think he’s watching this weekend. Good men showing up. I’m beyond grateful for that.
She humorously remarked about Damon,
Also. Can you believe Jason Bourne is watching my movie!?!?! I’ll get you an autograph one day. Don’t worry.
She concluded her email with a witty observation directed to Affleck, writing,
If you’re still reading this, whoa. You’re not nearly as busy as you think. or you’re a very nice person.
Legal Battles Begin with Formal Complaints and Allegations
Only months after the film’s theatrical release, Blake Lively formally initiated legal action against Justin Baldoni and his company Wayfarer Studios by filing a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department (CRD) on December 20, 2024. The complaint named Baldoni, his production company, key executives including CEO Jamey Heath, co-founder Steve Sarowitz, publicists Jennifer Abel and Melissa Nathan, as well as various communications contractors as defendants.
Lively’s complaint accused Baldoni and his team of engaging in a retaliatory smear campaign after she raised concerns about alleged misconduct on set. She and other cast and crew members, she alleged, endured invasive and sexually inappropriate behavior primarily attributed to Baldoni and Wayfarer’s leadership. The complaint detailed claims of sexual harassment, retaliation, breach of contract, emotional distress, negligence, invasion of privacy, and economic interference, among others. She described the counteractions by Baldoni’s team as a
“sophisticated press and digital plan in retaliation”
to silence her and damage her reputation.
Media Coverage Highlights the Smear Campaign Allegations
The following day, The New York Times published an in-depth report outlining Lively’s allegations and the alleged retaliatory tactics employed by Baldoni and his associates. The article included excerpts from internal messages, court documents, and communications revealing attempts to undermine Lively’s credibility. Lively expressed hope that her legal fight would expose these “sinister retaliatory tactics” and help protect others from similar treatment.
In response, Baldoni’s attorney Bryan Freedman condemned the accusations as false and motivated by a desire to repair Lively’s public image, stating the claims were
“completely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious with an intent to publicly hurt.”
Freedman also defended the use of crisis management by Wayfarer as standard practice and denied any proactive retaliation, emphasizing that communications were limited to handling incoming media inquiries.
Talent Agency Cuts Ties and Industry Figures Take Sides
Shortly after the media reports broke, talent agency William Morris Endeavor (WME) dropped Justin Baldoni as a client. WME, which also represents Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds, denied any involvement by Reynolds in the agency’s decision, directly refuting Baldoni’s lawsuit claim that Reynolds pressured them at the premiere of Deadpool & Wolverine.
Backlash and public support quickly followed from prominent figures. Colleen Hoover, author of It Ends With Us, commended Lively on Instagram, praising her honesty and kindness. Actress Jenny Slate, a castmate and friend of Lively, voiced support, calling the attacks on Lively
“terribly dark, disturbing, and wholly threatening.”
Other co-stars, including America Ferrera, Alexis Bledel, and Amber Tamblyn, publicly aligned themselves with Lively. Brandon Sklenar, who played Lively’s love interest in the film, urged the public to read the complaint attentively.
Podcast Host Liz Plank Departs Amidst Controversy
On December 23, Liz Plank announced her decision to leave The Man Enough Podcast, which she co-hosted with Baldoni and Heath. Though she did not explicitly cite the ongoing dispute, her departure came soon after Lively’s filing. Plank thanked listeners for their support over the years and reiterated her commitment to fighting injustice and holding people accountable. She hinted at forthcoming details as she continued to process the situation.
Former Publicist Files Lawsuit Alleging Conspiracy and Smear Tactics
On December 24, Baldoni’s former publicist Stephanie Jones and her agency Jonesworks LLC filed a separate lawsuit accusing Baldoni, Wayfarer, and publicists Jennifer Abel and Melissa Nathan of orchestrating a secret media smear campaign against Jones, aimed at breaching contracts, stealing business, and damaging her professional standing. The suit accuses Abel and Nathan of falsely portraying Jones as the source of the smear campaign while working secretly with Baldoni’s company. Jones’s legal team also claimed the defendants refused to resolve disputes through arbitration. The defendants did not provide comment.
Escalation and Counterclaims: Lawsuits Multiply
On December 31, 2024, both parties escalated the legal fight with multiple lawsuits. Baldoni, Wayfarer, and affiliates filed a $250 million libel and defamation suit against The New York Times, accusing the newspaper of selecting misleading excerpts and ignoring contradictory evidence, claiming Lively orchestrated the smear campaigns instead. The Times vowed to vigorously defend the reportage, affirming their story was carefully and responsibly sourced from thousands of documents.
On the same day, Lively filed a federal lawsuit naming Baldoni, Wayfarer, Heath, Sarowitz, Beth Nathan, Abel, and production company It Ends With Us Movie LLC. The lawsuit reiterated sexual harassment, retaliation, breach of contract, emotional distress, negligence, and invasion of privacy allegations first raised in her CRD complaint. Lively’s attorneys rejected Baldoni’s claims that she never intended litigation, calling such assertions false and affirming their commitment to pursuing justice through the courts.
Baldoni’s Legal Team Plans Further Action Against Lively
In early January 2025, Baldoni’s attorney Freedman announced intentions to file additional lawsuits related to the ongoing dispute, stating,
There are other bad actors involved, and make no mistake—this will not be the last lawsuit.
Freedman also denounced social media rumors regarding Ryan Reynolds’ supposed trolling of Baldoni through the character “Nicepool” in Deadpool & Wolverine, emphasizing serious responses to harassment claims are the appropriate course of action.
Meanwhile, Lively’s lawyers stressed that their client’s federal case involved serious claims backed by evidence, insisting the dispute was not a mere “feud” or “he said/she said” matter. They condemned attempts to blame or discredit Lively, stating such tactics normalize and trivialize misconduct. They declared their intent to prosecute fully in court, highlighting that media statements do not constitute a defense.
Baldoni’s team fired back, accusing Lively of manipulating the media by leaking “grossly edited documents” prior to official filings, and asserting a history of bullying on her part. The legal clash deepened as both sides accused each other of deception and misconduct, setting the stage for a high-profile court battle.
Additional Lawsuits and Legal Maneuvers Unfold
On January 16, 2025, Baldoni, Wayfarer, Abel, Nathan, and others filed a civil extortion, defamation, and false light lawsuit against Lively, Reynolds, her publicist Leslie Sloane, and Sloane’s PR firm Vision PR, alleging interference with contractual relations and economic advantage. The suit disputed Lively’s allegations of harassment and retaliatory smear campaigns, accusing her of seizing control of the film’s production and orchestrating negative press. Freedman claimed that Lively deliberately misrepresented the facts to the media.
Lively’s attorneys condemned Baldoni’s countersuit as
“another chapter in the abuser playbook,”
describing his defense as DARVO — Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim Offender. They asserted the evidence would show that Sony asked Lively to oversee the film’s final cut, which was ultimately successful, and accused Baldoni’s team of attempting to shift blame onto their client through despicable means.
Behind-the-Scenes Footage Enters Legal Dispute
In late January 2025, Baldoni’s lawyers released behind-the-scenes footage from It Ends With Us, claiming it disproved Lively’s descriptions of inappropriate conduct, showing professional and respectful interaction between actors. Conversely, Lively’s legal team maintained the footage supported her claims, pointing to her visible discomfort and the improvised nature of some scenes directed by Baldoni without her consent. They asserted the video reflected the experience of unwanted contact in the workplace.
Pretrial Actions and Rising Tensions
On January 22, 2025, Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds requested a gag order against Bryan Freedman, Baldoni’s lead attorney, arguing that such a measure was necessary to prevent improper conduct during the legal proceedings. Four days later, a previously unreleased seven-minute voice memo from Baldoni to Lively, recorded at 2 a.m. during production, surfaced publicly. In the message, Baldoni acknowledged mistakes in their collaboration and apologized, praising the creative support from Lively, Reynolds, and Taylor Swift.
A trial date for Lively vs. Baldoni was set for March 9, 2026, marking a significant step forward in the drawn-out legal battle. Shortly thereafter, Baldoni amended his lawsuit to include The New York Times in his $400 million claim, accusing Lively and her team of colluding with the newspaper to spread falsehoods and distort communications by cherry-picking messages without context.
Digital Strategies and High-Profile Legal Teams Involved
In early February 2025, Baldoni’s legal team launched a website sharing their narrative and extensive documentation of the dispute, including text message screenshots between Lively, Reynolds, and Baldoni. Bryan Freedman emphasized the importance of transparency, asserting the public deserved to see all evidence to judge for themselves.
Meanwhile, Lively recruited Nick Shapiro, a former CIA Deputy Chief of Staff and crisis management expert, to advise on her legal communication strategy. Shapiro’s diverse experience includes senior roles at Visa and Airbnb before founding his own consultancy. His involvement signals the rising intensity and complexity of the litigation surrounding the allegations.
The New York Times Seeks to Exit the Lawsuit; Discovery Stalled
Also in February, The New York Times filed a motion to dismiss itself from Baldoni’s $400 million lawsuit, arguing that while the story garnered significant attention, the newspaper was not a party to the underlying dispute. The publication cited the one-sided nature of the claims and stated it should not be involved in the legal proceedings. Subsequently, U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman granted a temporary stay of discovery related to the newspaper, acknowledging the strong grounds for dismissal and determining the plaintiffs would not be unfairly prejudiced by the delay.
Taylor Swift’s Name Dragged into Controversy, Then Withdrawn
In May 2025, Baldoni’s legal team attempted to subpoena singer Taylor Swift, alleging her connection to Lively influenced the ongoing creative disputes. Swift’s representatives quickly dismissed these claims, clarifying she had no involvement beyond licensing a single song for the movie’s soundtrack. They accused the subpoena request of being a publicity stunt designed to attract tabloid attention. Baldoni’s attorneys later withdrew the subpoena.
Major Legal Setbacks for Baldoni as Countersuit Is Dismissed
On June 9, 2025, a significant blow was dealt to Baldoni’s defense when a judge dismissed his countersuit against Lively, Reynolds, and others, ruling that Baldoni failed to provide sufficient evidence to substantiate claims of defamation or civil extortion. Lively posted on social media about experiencing the pain of retaliatory lawsuits but expressed gratitude for the support she received. Baldoni’s legal team rejected her claims of victory, restating that the case involved unfounded accusations of sexual harassment and retaliation.
Depositions and Courtroom Preparation Continue
By the end of July 2025, Lively underwent a deposition in New York, attended by representatives from both sides. Media outlets reported it as a tense face-to-face confrontation with Baldoni, though Lively’s lawyers clarified this characterization, emphasizing the presence of multiple legal teams and disputing sensationalist narratives about her testimony requirements. This deposition marked the continuation of a closely watched and emotionally charged pretrial process.
