Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni's It Ends with Us feud takes a dramatic turn as Baldoni plans to countersue following Lively's December accusations of sexual harassment and smear campaign. The stars' legal battle escalates with multiple lawsuits and industry-wide repercussions.
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.
The director of It Ends With Us accuses Hollywood power couple Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds of attempting to 'destroy' him with false allegations in a new legal filing
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for May 19th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
U.S. President Donald Trump lashed out at Walmart on Saturday, urging the retail giant to absorb the costs of import tariffs rather than pass them on to consumers, as the company warned it would begin raising prices later this month due to the ongoing trade war.
Steve Witkoff, U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy to the Middle East, expressed confidence that Monday's planned phone call between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin could help advance peace efforts.
Austria is basking in the glow of a triumphant Eurovision Song Contest victory, but celebrations have quickly turned to practical concerns over where to host next year’s event and how to pay for it, officials said Sunday.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on May 15, with discussions reportedly focusing on upcoming peace talks between Ukrainian and Russian delegates in Istanbul.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the war in Gaza will not stop until Hamas is destroyed, following the release of US-Israeli soldier Edan Alexander.
Qatar signed a landmark agreement with U.S. aerospace giant Boeing on Wednesday to acquire 160 aircraft for Qatar Airways, a deal valued at $200 billion. The signing took place in Doha during the visit of U.S. President Donald Trump.
Ukrainian and Russian delegations meet behind closed doors at Istanbul’s Dolmabahçe Palace at 10:00 local time today to explore security guarantees, territorial integrity and a possible ceasefire.
EU approves 17th Russia sanctions, blacklisting almost 200 shadow‑fleet ships, 30 evasion firms and 75 defence figures, banning missile chemicals and arming Brussels to strike Kremlin hybrid and operations.
Cristiano Ronaldo has once again been named the world’s highest-paid athlete by Forbes, marking his third consecutive year at the top and the fifth time in his career.
British police have arrested U.S. singer Chris Brown in connection with an alleged assault at a London nightclub last year, ahead of his scheduled UK tour performances.
The 78th Cannes Film Festival opened with a star-studded ceremony, honoring Robert De Niro with an honorary Palme d’Or, as Hollywood’s finest gathered to celebrate cinema.
The excitement of Eurovision 2025 continues, with the following countries securing a spot in the Grand Final on Saturday, May 17
Sean Combs’ ex-girlfriend Casandra Ventura, known as Cassie, offered harrowing testimony in a federal trial, accusing the music mogul of repeated physical abuse and coercion.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for May 19th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
U.S. President Donald Trump lashed out at Walmart on Saturday, urging the retail giant to absorb the costs of import tariffs rather than pass them on to consumers, as the company warned it would begin raising prices later this month due to the ongoing trade war.
Steve Witkoff, U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy to the Middle East, expressed confidence that Monday's planned phone call between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin could help advance peace efforts.
Austria is basking in the glow of a triumphant Eurovision Song Contest victory, but celebrations have quickly turned to practical concerns over where to host next year’s event and how to pay for it, officials said Sunday.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment