Blake Lively vs. Justin Baldoni: The courtroom showdown

The story unfolding from the sets of It Ends With Us has reached a new peak, with lawsuits filed by both the lead actors. 

What started as messy promotions at the premiere in August 2024 and a 'he said, she said' discourse has now evolved into accusations of sexual harassment, smear campaigns, and unethical crisis management tactics when Blake Lively filed a lawsuit in December 2024. As the dispute intensifies, Lively and Baldoni's legal teams prepare for a trial that could redefine the stars' reputations. 

The root of the conflict can be traced back to the premiere of the movie, based on Colleen Hoover's bestselling novel. Speculations were rife when most of the cast, including the author, maintained limited interaction with the lead actor and director of the movie. The awkward exchanges on the red carpet and other promotional activities suggested tension behind the scenes. The whole saga being carefully orchestrated as a PR stunt for publicity was also speculated.

Disputes over creative control, criticism over how Lively promoted the movie, the undermining of the film's narrative around 'domestic violence', and the opportune launch of her haircare line further fueled the beliefs of a public feud among the lead cast. As rumors of the feud grew, Baldoni hired Melissa Nathan, the PR Manager who represented Johnny Depp in the defamation case against his ex-wife, Amber Heard. According to texts published by the NY Times, Baldoni is accused of initiating a smear campaign against Lively. 

In December 2024, Lively filed a legal complaint with the California Civil Rights Department against Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios, CEO Jamey Heath, and others. The complaint detailed claims of sexual harassment, inappropriate behavior, and a hostile work environment.

Lively's filing accused Baldoni and Heath of subjecting her to sexual harassment, with a series of incidents including the inappropriate improvisation of kissing scenes, unsolicited nudity displayed by Heath, and invasive behavior, such as entering Lively's trailer uninvited while she was changing or breastfeeding.

Lively's team claims that Nathan's strategy included planting negative stories in the media, with the goal of shifting the narrative away from the harassment allegations and painting Lively as difficult or unprofessional.

An incriminating piece of evidence in Lively's filing was a text exchange between Nathan and Jennifer Abel, a PR executive working with Baldoni's team. Nathan allegedly boasted about her ability to "bury anyone" and detailed a plan to use social media, including Reddit, to amplify the backlash against Lively. 

"I hope that my legal action helps pull back the curtain on these sinister retaliatory tactics to harm people who speak up about misconduct and helps protect others who may be targeted," Lively said.

The legal filing also mentioned a Daily Mail article that was seen as particularly damaging to Lively's public image. According to Lively's complaint, the article's headline—"Is Blake Lively set to be CANCELLED?"—was part of a coordinated effort to tarnish her Hollywood reputation.

Lively's filing painted a picture of a powerful public relations machine working behind the scenes to discredit her, with Baldoni's PR team allegedly complicit in orchestrating these attacks. Lively's legal team argued that the relentless media attacks aimed to shift the public's perception, ultimately putting her in a position where she would be unable to defend herself. 

Additionally, Lively's complaint outlined a meeting on Jan. 4, 2024, in which she alleged that Baldoni and Heath created a toxic work environment. The high-level executives' meeting allegedly resulted in a 30-point conduct improvement plan for both men. The improvements, according to Lively, included directives such as no further inquiries about her body without her consent and no more inappropriate interactions.

Following this meeting, Lively and the rest of the cast reportedly refused to return to the set until the issues were addressed. The studio responded by hiring an intimacy coordinator to ensure a safer working environment. Although the allegations led to tension on set, Lively ultimately completed her work on the film and even took on a producer's role, which led to her receiving a producing credit for the final product.

Baldoni released a seven-minute voice recording, allegedly a message he sent to Lively following a disagreement on set. "I'm gonna piss you off, probably, but I will always apologize and find my way back to center. I'm sorry I made you feel that way. I will, for sure, do better," he says. "I'm really sorry. I fucked up. I will admit and apologize when I fail. I'm a very flawed man, as my wife will attest."

Baldoni filed his own lawsuit against The New York Times and other parties in response to the mounting accusations. His $250 million lawsuit claims libel and false light invasion of privacy, accusing the newspaper of publishing a one-sided narrative that heavily favored Lively's version of events. Baldoni's legal team insists that the Times disregarded significant evidence contradicting Lively's claims.

Baldoni also filed a $400 million federal lawsuit in New York against Blake Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and Lively's PR team in January 2025, accusing them of defamation and extortion. 

Baldoni's suit also alleges that the media coverage surrounding Lively's accusations was not the result of his PR team's actions but rather a consequence of Lively's behavior and publicist's efforts. Baldoni's team pointed to text messages that suggested Lively and her public relations team had seeded negative stories about him in the press.

In addition to his lawsuit, Baldoni launched a website on Feb. 1, 2025, titled "The Lawsuit Info," which includes a timeline of events, legal documents, and a series of text messages that he claims exonerated him. The website also consists of a draft statement from August 2024, in which Baldoni and his team were allegedly prepared to publicly take responsibility for the difficulties encountered during production, only for Wayfarer to ultimately refuse to release it.

As the case progresses, both Lively and Baldoni have taken steps to prevent further public leaks of sensitive information. Lively's team has requested a gag order to stop Baldoni's camp from releasing additional materials that could potentially influence the jury pool. However, Judge Lewis J. Liman denied the gag order at the Feb. 3 hearing in New York, though he imposed stricter rules for public statements to ensure a fair trial.

The trial is scheduled for March 9, 2026, unless the parties settle beforehand. Until then, both sides are preparing for what promises to be a highly publicized and contentious courtroom showdown.

As the lawsuits proceed, the underlying themes of the dispute—power dynamics, gender, and the role of public relations in shaping celebrity reputations—continue to resonate. 

Lively's legal team argues that the smear campaign against her is rooted in misogyny, asserting that the media and online communities are quick to tear down women, especially those who speak out against powerful figures in the entertainment industry.

On the other hand, Baldoni's team maintains that their client is being unjustly vilified and that the public relations efforts were not part of an orchestrated campaign but rather a response to the negative media attention surrounding Lively's actions.