Actor and director Justin Baldoni has filed a defamation lawsuit against Blake Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds, escalating an already public legal feud. The dispute stems from allegations tied to the 2024 film It Ends With Us, in which Baldoni starred alongside Lively and also served as director.
The lawsuit, filed in a New York federal court, accuses Lively and Reynolds of attempting to destroy Baldoni’s reputation through accusations of sexual harassment and an alleged retaliatory smear campaign. Baldoni, along with his production partner Jamey Heath and Wayfarer Studios, is seeking $400 million in damages.
The allegations from Lively first came to light in December, when she filed a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department accusing Baldoni of harassment during the filming of It Ends With Us. She claimed Baldoni launched a targeted campaign to tarnish her reputation in response. Private text messages and emails included in her filing reportedly show Baldoni and Heath consulting with a public relations expert about damage control.
Lively’s legal team dismissed Baldoni’s latest suit as an unfounded counterattack, stating, “This strategy of discrediting the woman is baseless and does nothing to address the evidence presented.”
Baldoni counters that the accusations are false and part of a calculated effort by Lively and Reynolds to shift blame for the film’s underwhelming reception. In his filing, he alleges Lively used her influence to take control of the film’s narrative during production and later conspired with The New York Times to paint him as a villain.
“This is about two powerful figures manipulating public perception to shift accountability for their choices,” Baldoni’s lawsuit claims.
The feud also entangles The New York Times, which Baldoni has separately sued for defamation in Los Angeles. The Times has stood by its reporting, calling Baldoni’s claims “meritless.”
As both sides trade legal blows, the fallout continues to grip Hollywood and fans of the involved stars. The battle highlights the complexities of power dynamics in the industry and raises questions about accountability, public image, and truth in high-stakes disputes.
The drama surrounding It Ends With Us has now extended far beyond the screen, becoming a real-life saga with no clear resolution in sight.
