Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni's It Ends With Us Drama Explained
After costarring in ‘It Ends With Us,’ Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni have raised eyebrows about their off-screen interactions
Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni. Getty Images (2)
UPDATE 1/16/25 at 12:43 p.m. ET:
Justin Baldoni’s Wayfarer Studios filed a $400 million lawsuit against It Ends With Us costar Blake Lively and her publicist, Leslie Sloane, on Thursday, January 16.
In the 179-page filing obtained by Us Weekly, Baldoni claimed that Lively was “determined” to make him a “real-life villain in her story.” He further alleged that Lively wanted to take attention off her “tone-deaf” promotion of the movie after receiving public backlash.
“The suggestion that Wayfarer caused the online backlash against her is absurd given the evidence of her own insensitivity,” the suit alleged, in part. Baldoni also claimed that Lively made sure that he was “excluded” from any promotional efforts for the movie.
He alleged that their public feud started in May 2023, claiming that Lively issued a “takeover strategy” for creative control of the film. Baldoni also claimed that Lively did not read the Colleen Hoover novel the movie was based on “even well into production.”
Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, issued a statement to Us after the suit’s filing.
“This lawsuit is a legal action based on an overwhelming amount of untampered evidence detailing Blake Lively and her team’s duplicitous attempt to destroy Justin Baldoni, his team and their respective companies by disseminating grossly edited, unsubstantiated, new and doctored information to the media,” the statement read. “It is clear based on our own all out willingness to provide all complete text messages, emails, video footage and other documentary evidence that was shared between the parties in real time, that this is a battle she will not win and will certainly regret. Blake Lively was either severely misled by her team or intentionally and knowingly misrepresented the truth.”
UPDATE 12/31/24 at 11:30 p.m. ET:
Justin Baldoni was one of 10 plaintiffs who filed a $250 million lawsuit against The New York Times following its reporting on costar Blake Lively after she sued him for sexual harassment. The lawsuit’s plaintiffs, which also includes publicists Melissa Nathan and Jennifer Abel as well as It Ends With Us producers James Heath and Steve Saraowitz, allege Lively pursued a “strategic and manipulative” smear campaign against Baldoni (rather than the other way around) and “cherry picked” communications while omitting key details.
A New York Times spokesperson told Us it is standing by its story and plans to “vigorously defend against the lawsuit.”
“The role of an independent news organization is to follow the facts where they lead,” the statement read. “Our story was meticulously and responsibly reported. It was based on a review of thousands of pages of original documents, including the text messages and emails that we quote accurately and at length in the article. Those texts and emails were also the crux of a discrimination claim filed in California by Blake Lively against Justin Baldoni and his associates.”
The statement continued, “To address some inaccuracies in the lawsuit, when seeking comments from Mr. Baldoni and others who would be mentioned in the article, The Times shared the information that we intended to publish, including references to specific text messages and documents, asked them to identify any inaccuracies, provide additional context and speak with our team. Mr. Baldoni, Wayfarer and the other subjects chose not to have any conversations with The Times or address any of the specific text messages or documents and instead emailed a joint response, which was published in full. (Also, they sent their response to The Times at 11:16 p.m. ET Dec 20th, not at 2:16 a.m. ET Dec 21st as the complaint says.)”
Lively’s attorneys told Us the lawsuit was based on an “obviously false premise.” Baldoni’s attorney continues to deny any wrongdoing on behalf of his client, describing The New York Times’ article a “vicious smear campaign fully orchestrated by Blake Lively and her team” via a statement to Us.
That same day, Lively filed a lawsuit against Baldoni in a New York court which mirrored her earlier claims, which were filed in California.
UPDATE 12/21/24 at 10:30 a.m. ET:
TMZ reported in December that Lively sued Baldoni for sexual harassment and “severe emotional distress.” His lawyer, Bryan Freedman, said in a statement to Us Weekly that the allegations are “completely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious.” Us reached out to Lively’s rep for comment at the time.
Original story continues below:
It Ends With Us just hit theaters, but Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni ’s off-camera dynamic is what really has fans talking.
Prior to the opening on Friday, August 9, TikTok sleuths suspected that there’s a rift between the pair — partially linked to the movie’s final cut. The feud speculation originally began to swirl when fans noticed that Lively, 36, doesn’t follow Baldoni, 40, on Instagram, nor does anyone else in the cast. (Lively is also a producer on the project, while Baldoni directed the film.)
Lively has shared a lot of promotion for the movie featuring costars Jenny Slate, Brandon Sklenar, Isabela Ferrer and Alex Neustaedter and It Ends With Us author Colleen Hoover.
Baldoni, meanwhile, does follow Lively on social media — and appeared on Hoover’s Instagram several times while shooting the adaptation. Hoover, 44, is not currently following Baldoni, hinting at a bigger falling out.
Related: Everything Justin Baldoni Has Said About Working With Blake Lively
Justin Baldoni initially appeared to have nothing but positive things to say about his It Ends with Us costar, Blake Lively, as reports of an on set feud continue circulating online. The drama officially hit theaters in August 2024, and Baldoni, who both directed and starred opposite Lively, has heaped praise on his onscreen partner. […]
Eagle-eyed fans also pointed out that Baldoni was noticeably absent from joint press events for the movie and there were no big cast photos from the New York City premiere.
Lively added her own fuel to the fire when she revealed that her husband, Ryan Reynolds, wrote part of the rooftop scene in the film. She noted at the time that she and Reynolds, 47, often enlist each other to help with various projects. Reynolds was later tapped to help promote the movie by doing an interview with Sklenar.
Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC ImagesAccording to The Hollywood Reporter, Lively allegedly then asked for a cut of the movie from editor Shane Reid before the film was finalized. (Reid previously worked with Lively on Taylor Swift’s “I Bet You Think About Me” music video, which she directed. He also worked as the editor on Reynolds’ Deadpool & Wolverine.)
Related: Blake Lively Plucks Lily Bloom-Inspired Looks for ‘It Ends With Us’ Tour
Blake Lively’s fresh floral style during the It Ends With Us tour has taken over the internet — and we can’t get enough. While promoting It Ends With Us, which hits theaters on Friday, August 9, Lively has taken inspiration from her character, florist Lily Bloom, and rocked a number of flower-embellished designs, including vibrant […]
The outlet noted that it is unclear whether any of the cut — credited to editors Oona Flaherty and Robb Sullivan — was used in the final version.
Us Weekly has learned that it’s not uncommon for someone to commission a different version of the film as part of the editing process before the movie hits theaters.
In the case of Lively and Baldoni the source noted, “All parties agreed on the final cut of the film and agreed that it’s the best version of the film.”
Despite rumors of tension between Lively and Baldoni, who play Lily Bloom and Ryle Kincaid, respectively, Baldoni has sung Lively’s praises throughout his press tour. He also pitched his costar to direct the possible sequel, which would be based on Hoover’s It Starts With Us novel.
Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images“I think there are better people for that one,” Baldoni told Entertainment Tonight on Tuesday, August 6, when asked if he’d pull double duty again for the possible next installment.
He added, “I think Blake Lively is ready to direct. That’s what I think,” noting that he needed a “vacation” after starring and directing the movie.
Us Weekly reached out to Lively and Baldoni’s reps for comment.
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