Justin Baldoni, Blake Lively Dispute: Here’s What We Know

The ongoing feud between It Ends with Us co-stars Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni has encountered a shocking turn of events, with Baldoni now planning to countersue Lively, who in December accused him of sexual harassment and launching a smear campaign against her. 

The feud, which began with tensions during the film's August 2023 release, has escalated into a complex legal battle involving multiple parties.

On 20 December 2024, Lively filed a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department, accusing Baldoni, who also directed the film, of sexual harassment and orchestrating a "smear campaign" against her. The complaint alleges that Baldoni and lead producer Jamey Heath created a "hostile work environment that had almost derailed the film." Specific allegations include unwanted improvised kissing scenes, inappropriate discussions of personal matters, and unauthorised changes to the film's content.

The situation became public during the movie's promotional tour when fans noticed Baldoni's conspicuous absence from joint press events and a lack of social media interaction between the co-stars. According to reports, Lively, other cast members, Lively’s husband and fellow A-lister Ryan Reynolds, and the book's author Colleen Hoover, had avoided making appearances alongside Baldoni and unfollowed him on Instagram. Lively also evaded the use of Baldoni’s name in interviews. 

On 31 December, Baldoni filed a $250 million lawsuit against The New York Times for their coverage of the controversy, claiming the newspaper "relied almost entirely on Lively's unverified and self-serving narrative." His attorney, Bryan Freedman, has strongly denied all allegations detailed in the paper’s 21 December article, calling them "false, outrageous and intentionally salacious." Freedman has offered to publicly release all relevant text messages to prove his client's innocence.

The same day as Baldoni’s countersuit, Lively escalated the situation by filing a federal lawsuit against Baldoni and his production company, alleging a "carefully crafted, coordinated, and resourced retaliatory scheme" designed to silence her. Her legal documents, which span 80 pages, include thousands of text messages and emails that allegedly show how Baldoni's team planned to "bury" her reputation.

The saga has garnered considerable industry attention, with several figures speaking out. Lively's sister, Robyn Lively, has publicly supported her claims. Hoover praised Lively as "nothing but honest, kind, supportive, and patient." The New York Times has defended its reporting, stating their story was "meticulously and responsibly reported" based on extensive documentation.

As both parties prepare for legal proceedings, Baldoni's attorney maintains that his client never intended to harm Lively, though he acknowledges that some behaviour might have made people uncomfortable. The clash continues to develop, with both sides promising to present additional evidence to support their claims.