Blake Lively has initiated a high-stakes legal battle against her co-star Justin Baldoni, accusing him of hijacking the film "It Ends With Us" and orchestrating a smear campaign against her. This lawsuit, filed in a Los Angeles court, not only names Baldoni but also includes his production company, Wayfarer, and PR representatives Melissa Nathan and Jennifer Abel as defendants. Lively's claims center around allegations of defamation, civil extortion, and breach of contract, with her legal team seeking at least $400 million in damages. The lawsuit underscores the escalating tensions between the two actors, which have played out both on and off the screen.
The controversy surfaced when Lively alleged that Baldoni's behavior during a promotional Q&A session for the film was "tone deaf" and uncomfortable. Further fueling the fire, a 2016 interview with Norwegian journalist Kjersti Flaa resurfaced, revealing Lively's early discontent with her job. According to Lively's legal team, Baldoni's actions led to his dismissal from his agency, WME, due to inappropriate conduct. However, Baldoni's attorney, Bryan Freedman, has staunchly denied these allegations, defending Baldoni as a "good guy" who is being unfairly targeted.
In the film "It Ends With Us," a particular scene meant to depict the characters' budding romance became a focal point of Lively's discomfort claims. She asserted that Baldoni's conduct during this scene crossed professional boundaries. Despite these allegations, Baldoni maintained that both actors remained committed to their roles with mutual respect and professionalism. His statement emphasized that video evidence from May 23, 2023, contradicted Lively’s accusations.
"The following videos captured on May 23, 2023 clearly refute Ms. Lively’s characterization of his behavior. The scene in question was designed to show the two characters falling in love and longing to be close to one another. Both actors are clearly behaving well within the scope of the scene and with mutual respect and professionalism.” – Baldoni's statement
The legal proceedings have garnered significant attention from Hollywood insiders and fans alike. Several of Lively’s industry peers, including America Ferrera, Amber Tamblyn, and Alexis Bledel, have expressed their support for her, denouncing the alleged smear campaign. Meanwhile, Sklenar, Lively's co-star, broke his silence on the matter through an Instagram post in August, advocating for the women involved in the film and their dedication to its message.
"Colleen and the women of this cast stand for hope, perseverance, and for women choosing a better life for themselves. Vilifying the women who put so much of their heart and soul into making this film because they believe so strongly in its message seems counterproductive and detracts from what this film is about." – Brandon Sklenar
Melissa Nathan, one of the PR representatives named in the lawsuit, is no stranger to high-profile cases. Known for representing Johnny Depp during his legal battle with Amber Heard, Nathan has been implicated in allegedly orchestrating damaging narratives against Lively. Text messages and emails uncovered by Lively's team purportedly reveal a concerted effort to undermine her reputation.
"We know when we send over documents we can't send over the work we will or could do because that could get us in a lot of trouble. We can't write it down to him We can't write we will destroy her. We will go to this. We will do this," – Nathan
Lively's legal team argues that this case exemplifies DARVO — Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim Offender — a tactic often used by perpetrators of abuse to shift blame onto victims.
"This is an age-old story: A woman speaks up with concrete evidence of sexual harassment and retaliation and the abuser attempts to turn the tables on the victim. This is what experts call DARVO. Deny. Attack. Reverse Victim Offender." – Lively's legal team
Despite the controversy surrounding its release, "It Ends With Us" became a financial success at the global box office, grossing $350 million. The film received mixed reviews from critics but managed to capture audiences worldwide. Meanwhile, both Lively and Baldoni continued to promote the film separately, appearing on different talk shows and events amidst rising tensions.
Baldoni has publicly praised Lively for her involvement in the project, acknowledging her creative contributions and collaboration throughout its production.
"Blake was involved in every aspect of the film once she came onto the project, from scenes and dialogue until the end, until now," – Justin Baldoni
"She's been involved in all of it, and she's been a powerhouse of a creative and a wonderful collaborator." – Justin Baldoni
Yet Lively contends that these public statements mask an underlying attempt to control the narrative and marginalize her contributions to the project.
