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Blake Lively’s It Ends With Us Credits Hint at Deadpool & Wolverine Connection - E! Online
Blake Lively seemingly nodded to Ryan Reynolds' Deadpool & Wolverine in the It Ends With Us credits before fans pointed out similarities between Nicepool and her film's director Justin Baldoni.
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Watch : ‘A Simple Favor 2’ Director Addresses Blake Lively, Anna Kendrick Feud Rumors Delaying Release
Blake Lively may have hinted at a connection between It Ends With Us and Ryan Reynold's Nicepool character.
Before fans pointed out alleged similarities between Ryan's Deadpool & Wolverine alter ego role and Blake's It Ends With Us director and costar Justin Baldoni, the Gossip Girl alum seemingly nodded to Nicepool in the end credits of the Colleen Hoover movie adaptation.
During It Ends With Us' closing credits, Blake thanked "Gordon Reynolds," which is Ryan’s alias—the same name he used in the credits of Deadpool & Wolverine for portraying Nicepool, a fictitious superhero who wears his hair in a man bun. In the movie, Nicepool (Ryan) declares that it's OK that he commented on the post-baby appearance of Ladypool (played by Blake) because, as he puts it, "I identify as a feminist."
And Blake—who filed a formal lawsuit in December 2024 accusing Justin of sexually harassing her on set of It Ends With Us, including making inappropriate comments about her appearances and post-baby weight—referenced the Deadpool & Wolverine character in another message related to It Ends With Us months before her legal battle.
Back in July 2024, the A Simple Favor actress appeared to reference Nicepool in a message explaining why she was encouraging women to go see the superhero film—even though her movie It Ends With Us would compete with it in theaters only three weeks later.
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Stars React to Blake Lively's Complaint Against Justin Baldoni
The main reason? Blake—who shares kids James, 10, Inez, 8, Betty, 5, and Olin, born in 2023, with Ryan—said the Marvel film drew inspiration from her and her "y2k girlies," including their feelings "post-baby" and "about Nice men who use feminism as a tool."
"MY WORD… it’s hard not to encourage my ladies to spot all the ways we’ve influenced @deadpoolmovie," Blake concluded her Instagram post. "I’ve never been more proud. And I’ve given birth 4 times."
Taylor Hill/WireImage
Shortly after fans called attention to resemblances between Nicepool and Justin—who denies all of Blake's sexual harassment allegations—Justin's lawyer Benjamin Freedman said that he believed the character's portrayal was a dig at Justin and shared his thoughts on the comedic tone of Nicepool's scenes in the movie.
"What I make of that is that if your wife is sexually harassed, you don't make fun of Justin Baldoni," Freeman said during a Jan. 7 appearance on The Megyn Kelly Show. "You don't make fun of the situation. You take it very seriously, you file HR complaints, you raise the issue and you follow a legal process. What you don't do is mock the person and turn it into a joke."
Freedman has since sent a litigation hold letter calling on Marvel and Disney to preserve “any and all documents relating to the development of the ‘Nicepool’ character,” according to documents viewed by Variety Jan. 14. He also asked the same of "all documents relating to or reflecting a deliberate attempt to mock, harass, ridicule, intimidate, or bully Baldoni through the character of ‘Nicepool.’”
E! News reached out to reps for Justin, Blake and Ryan for comment but has not heard back.
For a complete timeline of Justin and Blake's legal battle, keep reading.
Lisa/Shutterstock; AFF-USA/Shutterstock
Dec. 20, 2024: Blake Lively Files CRD Complaint Against Justin Baldoni and His Wayfarer Associates
Four months after the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover's book It Ends With Us debuted in theaters, Blake Lively filed a California Civil Rights Department (CRD) complaint against her costar Justin Baldoni and his associates on Dec. 20, according to The New York Times.
In the complaint obtained by E! News, Baldoni, his production company Wayfarer Studios (Wayfarer), its CEO Jamey Heath, its cofounder Steve Sarowitz, Baldoni's publicist Jennifer Abel, her company RWA Communications, crisis communications specialist Melissa Nathan, her company The Agency Group PR LLC (TAG), contractor Jed Wallace and his company Street Relations Inc. were listed as defendants.
Lively alleged in her complaint that Baldoni and his Wayfarer associates "embarked on a sophisticated press and digital plan in retaliation" for her voicing her concerns about purported misconduct on set—with her saying she and other cast and crew members "experienced invasive, unwelcome, unprofessional and sexually inappropriate behavior" by Baldoni and Heath.
The actress added the alleged campaign against her caused "substantial harm" to her personally and professionally.
The accusations listed in the complaint include sexual harassment; retaliation; failure to investigate, prevent and/or remedy harassment; aiding and abetting harassment and retaliation; breach of contract; intentional infliction of emotional distress; negligence; false light invasion of privacy and interference with prospective economic advantage.
Gary Hershorn/Getty Images
Dec. 21, 2024: The New York Times Publishes Report About the Alleged Smear Campaign Against Lively
The next day, The New York Times published a report about a retaliatory smear campaign Baldoni and his associates allegedly waged against Lively—citing her CRD complaint. In its article, the outlet quoted messages sent from Baldoni and his team—including publicist Abel and crisis communications specialist Nathan—that were part of her complaint. Readers could also scroll through the court documents on The New York Times' website.
“I hope that my legal action helps pull back the curtain on these sinister retaliatory tactics to harm people who speak up about misconduct," Lively told the outlet, "and helps protect others who may be targeted.”
Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images/Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for Sony Pictures
Baldoni and Wayfarer’s Attorney Responds to Lively’s CRD Complaint
After news of Lively’s complaint broke, Bryan Freedman—the attorney for Baldoni, Wayfarer and its representatives—slammed Lively’s allegations.
“It is shameful that Ms. Lively and her representatives would make such serious and categorically false accusations against Mr. Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios and its representatives, as yet another desperate attempt to ‘fix’ her negative reputation which was garnered from her own remarks and actions during the campaign for the film; interviews and press activities that were observed publicly, in real time and unedited, which allowed for the internet to generate their own views and opinions,” he said in a statement on The New York Times website. “These claims are completely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious with an intent to publicly hurt and rehash a narrative in the media.”
Freedman also defended Wayfarer’s decision to hire a crisis manager, saying this was done before the marketing campaign of the movie.
"The representatives of Wayfarer Studios still did nothing proactive nor retaliated, and only responded to incoming media inquiries to ensure balanced and factual reporting and monitored social activity,” he later added. “What is pointedly missing from the cherry-picked correspondence is the evidence that there were no proactive measures taken with media or otherwise; just internal scenario planning and private correspondence to strategize which is standard operating procedure with public relations professionals.”
Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images
Baldoni Is Dropped by Talent Agency
Talent agency William Morris Endeavor (WME) dropped Baldoni after The New York Times’ article was published on Dec. 21, Ari Emanuel, CEO of the agency’s parent company Endeavor, confirmed to the outlet.
However, WME denied that Lively's husband Ryan Reynolds was to blame for the agency's parting of ways with Baldoni, which the It Ends With Us director later allege in his lawsuit filed against The New York Times (more on that below).
"In Baldoni’s filing there is a claim that Reynolds pressured Baldoni’s agent at the Deadpool & Wolverine premiere. This is not true,” WME—which also represents Reynolds and Lively—said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter Jan. 1. "Baldoni’s former representative was not at the Deadpool & Wolverine premiere nor was there any pressure from Reynolds or Lively at any time to drop Baldoni as a client."
John Nacion/Variety via Getty Images
It Ends With Us Cast Members and More Stars React to Lively’s Allegations Against Baldoni
In the days following Lively's CRD filing and The New York Times article, several famous figures shared their reactions to her allegations against Baldoni—including It Ends With Us author Hoover.
"@blakelively, you have been nothing but honest, kind, supportive and patient since the day we met," she wrote on Instagram Stories Dec. 21, linking out to The New York Times. "Thank you for being exactly the human that you are. Never change. Never wilt."
Jenny Slate, who played the sister of Baldoni's character Ryle, also noted she stood with Lively.
“As Blake Lively’s castmate and friend, I voice my support as she takes action against those reported to have planned and carried out an attack on her reputation,” Slate said in a Dec. 23 statement to Today. “Blake is a leader, loyal friend and a trusted source of emotional support for me and so many who know and love her.”
“What has been revealed about the attack on Blake is terribly dark, disturbing, and wholly threatening," she added. "I commend my friend, I admire her bravery, and I stand by her side.”
In addition, Brandon Sklenar—a love interest for Lively's character Lily Bloom—shared a screenshot of the complaint published to The New York Times' website and linked out to the outlet writing, "For the love of God read this."
Plus, Lively's Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants costars America Ferrera, Alexis Bledel and Amber Tamblyn wrote they "stand with her in solidarity."
Roy Rochlin/Getty Images for The Ford Foundation
Dec. 23, 2024: Baldoni and Heath's cohost on The Man Enough Podcast Liz Plank Leaves Show
Liz Plank also announced her departure from The Man Enough Podcast, which she cohosted with Baldoni and Heath, on Dec. 23.
"I'm writing to you today to let you know that I have had my representatives inform Wayfarer that I will no longer be co-hosting The Man Enough podcast," she wrote on Instagram at the time. "Thank you for trusting me with your hearts and stories, for holding space for mine, and for making this show what it was. I will miss you, the listeners, so much. I love what this community created together with every fiber of my being, and that's because of you."
While Plank did not give a reason for her exit from the podcast, it came days after Lively's complaint against Baldoni and his Wayfarer associates.
"As this chapter closed for me, I remain committed to the values we've built together," the author continued in her message to her followers. "Thank you for being here, for trusting me, and for being by my side for the last four years. We all deserve better, and I know that together, we can create it."
She added, "I will have more to share soon as I continue to process everything that has happened. In the meantime, I will continue to support everyone who calls out injustice and holds the people standing in their way accountable."
Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images
Dec. 24, 2024: Baldoni's Former Publicist Sues Him, Abel, Nathan and Wayfarer
Baldoni's former publicist Stephanie Jones and her agency Jonesworks LLC filed a lawsuit against him, his company Wayfarer, his current publicist Abel and crisis communications specialist Nathan in New York Dec. 24.
"Defendants Abel and Nathan secretly conspired for months to publicly and privately attack Jones and Jonesworks, to breach multiple contracts and induce contractual breaches, and to steal clients and business prospects," the lawsuit obtained by NBC New reads. "Behind Jones’s back, they secretly coordinated with Baldoni and Wayfarer to implement an aggressive media smear campaign against Baldoni’s film co-star, and then used the crisis as an opportunity to drive a wedge between Jones and Baldoni, and to publicly pin blame for this smear campaign on Jones—when Jones had no knowledge or involvement in it."
Per Abel's LinkedIn profile, she worked at Jonesworks until last summer. The lawsuit alleges Abel and Nathan "continue to point the finger falsely at Jones now that their own misconduct is coming to light," and "defame and attack" her in the industry.
As for Baldoni and Wayfarer, who are no longer Jonesworks clients, the suit alleges they "repudiated their contractual obligations with Jonesworks and rebuffed Jones’s efforts to settle this dispute privately in arbitration."
E! News reached out to the defendants for comment.
Gotham/GC Images
Lively's attorneys told Variety in a Dec. 23 piece that they obtained the texts featured in The New York Times article via a subpoena to Jonesworks. Freedman—who represents Nathan and Abel in addition to Baldoni and his Wayfarer associates—added to the outlet none of his clients were subpoenaed over this topic and that he intends to sue Jones for releasing messages from Abel’s phone to Lively’s attorneys.
Araya Doheny/Variety via Getty Images
Dec. 31, 2024: Baldoni, Wayfarer & Others Sue The New York Times
Baldoni, Wayfarer, Heath, Sarowitz, Nathan, TAG, Abel, RWA Communications, Wallace and Street Relations filed a lawsuit against The New York Times Dec. 31.
In the lawsuit obtained by E! News, The New York Times is accused of libel, false light invasion of privacy, promissory fraud and breach of implied-in-fact contract for its article about a retaliatory smear campaign the plaintiffs allegedly conducted against Lively after she voiced concerns about purported misconduct on set.
Saying the report was "false" and based on Lively’s CRD complaint, the plaintiffs denied the accusations and alleged messages cited in the article and complaint were taken out of context.
“Despite its claim to have 'reviewed these along with other documents[,]' the Times relied almost entirely on Lively’s unverified and self-serving narrative," the lawsuit says, "lifting it nearly verbatim while disregarding an abundance of evidence that contradicted her claims and exposed her true motives."
They also allege "it was Lively, not Plaintiffs, who engaged in a calculated smear campaign." She has denied this.
The New York Times said it plans to "vigorously defend against the lawsuit."
“The role of an independent news organization is to follow the facts where they lead,” it stated to E!. “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."
Lia Toby/Getty Images
Dec. 31, 2024: Lively Files Lawsuit Against Baldoni and Wayfarer Associates
That same day, Lively filed a lawsuit against Baldoni, Wayfarer, Heath, Sarowitz, production entity It Ends With Us Movie LLC, Nathan, Nathan's company TAG and Abel in New York.
According to the court documents obtained by E! News, she is suing the defendants for sexual harassment; retaliation; failure to investigate, prevent and/or remedy harassment; aiding and abetting harassment and retaliation; breach of contract, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence infliction of emotional distress and false light invasion of privacy.
The allegations in the lawsuit were first detailed in the CRD complaint Lively filed earlier that month.
In response to the lawsuit Baldoni and his associates filed against The New York Times—which does not list Lively as a defendant—her attorneys noted in a statement to E! that "nothing in this lawsuit changes anything about the claims" in her CRD and federal complaints.
"This lawsuit is based on the obviously false premise that Ms. Lively’s administrative complaint against Wayfarer and others was a ruse based on a choice 'not to file a lawsuit against Baldoni, Wayfarer,' and that 'litigation was never her ultimate goal,'" they continued. "As demonstrated by the federal complaint filed by Ms. Lively earlier today, that frame of reference for the Wayfarer lawsuit is false."
Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images
Jan. 2, 2025: Baldoni's Lawyer Expresses Intent to Sue Lively
In Baldoni and his associates' lawsuit against The New York Times, the plaintiffs expressed that they “are not done.”
"There are other bad actors involved," the court documents state, "and make no mistake—this will not be the last lawsuit."
In a Jan. 2 interview with NBC News, Baldoni and Wayfarer's attorney Freedman said they "absolutely" plan to sue Lively.
Araya Doheny/Variety via Getty Images and Gotham/GC Images
The headlines about Baldoni and Lively haven't stopped there.
For instance, social media users have speculated that her husband Reynolds trolled Baldoni in his movie Deadpool & Wolverine through the character Nicepool.
Reynolds has not publicly commented on the rumors; however, Baldoni's lawyer Freedman shared his reaction.
"What I make of that is that if your wife is sexually harassed, you don't make fun of Justin Baldoni," Freeman said during an interview on The Megyn Kelly Show posted to YouTube Jan 7. "You don't make fun of the situation. You take it very seriously. You file HR complaints. You raise the issue and you follow a legal process. What you don't do is mock the person and turn it into a joke."
Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images
Meanwhile, Lively's attorneys say there have been more "attacks" against her since her lawsuit.
"Ms. Lively’s federal litigation before the Southern District of New York involves serious claims of sexual harassment and retaliation, backed by concrete facts," her lawyers said in a Jan. 7 statement to E! News. "This is not a 'feud' arising from 'creative differences' or a 'he said/she said' situation. As alleged in Ms. Lively’s complaint, and as we will prove in litigation, Wayfarer and its associates engaged in unlawful, retaliatory astroturfing against Ms. Lively for simply trying to protect herself and others on a film set. And their response to the lawsuit has been to launch more attacks against Ms. Lively since her filing."
"While we go through the legal process, we urge everyone to remember that sexual harassment and retaliation are illegal in every workplace and in every industry," they added. "A classic tactic to distract from allegations of this type of misconduct is to 'blame the victim' by suggesting that they invited the conduct, brought it on themselves, misunderstood the intentions, or even lied. Another classic tactic is to reverse the victim and offender, and suggest that the offender is actually the victim."
Lively's lawyers said "these concepts normalize and trivialize allegations of serious misconduct." They also noted "media statements are not a defense" to her claims and that they'll prosecute her claims in court.
John Nacion/Variety via Getty Images
In response, Baldoni's lawyer Freedman told E!, "It is painfully ironic that Blake Lively is accusing Justin Baldoni of weaponizing the media when her own team orchestrated this vicious attack by sending the New York Times grossly edited documents prior to even filing the complaint."
"We are releasing all of the evidence which will show a pattern of bullying and threats to take over the movie," he added. "None of this will come as a surprise because consistent with her past behavior Blake Lively used other people to communicate those threats and bully her way to get whatever she wanted. We have all the receipts and more."
(E! and NBC News are both part of the NBCUniversal family).
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