In a dramatic and bitter legal dispute, It Ends With Us actor and director Justin Baldoni has filed a lawsuit against his co-star Blake Lively and her husband, actor Ryan Reynolds, accusing them of defamation and extortion. The lawsuit, which was filed in federal court in New York, seeks at least $400 million in damages for lost future income and other claims. Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios, allege that Lively and Reynolds took control of the film’s production and marketing, manipulating the media to spread false accusations of sexual and other forms of harassment against Baldoni and others involved in the film.
The suit argues that the couple used their power and influence to derail the film’s success, and when their attempts failed to win them the attention and acclaim they expected, they targeted Baldoni as their scapegoat. This legal action follows a lawsuit filed by Lively two weeks earlier, in which she accused Baldoni and others from the film of retaliating against her after she spoke out about mistreatment on set.
Amid the turmoil, Baldoni counters Lively’s claims of harassment, asserting that her accusations of being shown pornography and subjected to inappropriate discussions were entirely false. He maintains that Lively had made several requests for an intimacy coordinator on set, all of which were honored. He also disputes Lively’s account of a birthing scene, stating that she was not exposed inappropriately as she had claimed. Additionally, Baldoni recounts an instance where he asked Lively her weight for safety reasons, only to be accused by Reynolds of fat-shaming her.
The dispute has also had professional consequences for Baldoni, with his agency, WME, reportedly dropping him after Reynolds allegedly influenced them with negative remarks about Baldoni. The situation has cast a shadow over the film’s release and reception, which had initially exceeded expectations with a $50 million debut. The controversy surrounding Lively and Baldoni’s interactions on set has sparked broader discussions about the treatment of women in Hollywood.
This case, which also involves claims of emotional cruelty, has had a significant impact on the careers and reputations of those involved, highlighting the complex and often fraught nature of high-profile Hollywood productions.
