Blake Lively is taking a look at her finances.
As the trial between the actress and her It Ends With Us co-star, Justin Baldoni, nears, her lawyers have revealed how the lawsuit is impacting her financially and professionally.
As a close follower of this case, I was really struck by what Lively’s expert, Dr. Ashlee Humphreys – a marketing communications professor at Northwestern University – outlined in her recent filing. She claims that the negative statements Baldoni made about Lively – specifically using phrases like ‘tone deaf,’ ‘bully,’ and ‘mean girl’ – reached a massive 176 million people and had an estimated advertising value of around $36.5 to $40.5 million. It’s a huge number, and really highlights the potential reach of what Lively alleges was a smear campaign.
The lawsuit claims that comments made by Bryan Freedman, the attorney for the director of It Ends With Us, were seen an estimated 116.9 million times, resulting in approximately $24.4 million in exposure. These comments are described as retaliatory.
Lively’s expert, Humphreys, determined the financial impact of the reputational damage by calculating how widely the problematic phrases and statements were seen. He counted the number of times they were viewed – the ‘impressions’ – and then assigned a specific dollar amount to each instance.
In response to a memo from Lively, Baldoni argued – in a document filed on April 20th and reviewed by TopMob News – that Lively’s public image was already established before their legal dispute began. He stated that being labeled a ‘mean girl,’ ‘bully,’ or difficult to work with during the alleged smear campaign didn’t further damage her reputation, as those claims were already well-known before she met him and his team.
In court documents, Baldoni’s team argues that while the actress intends to seek a very large sum of money in damages – claiming his actions harmed her previously excellent reputation – they will prove her reputation was already damaged before they went to court.
A New York judge recently dismissed most of Blake Lively’s claims against Jason Baldoni and others. Lively had accused them of retaliation, breaking their contract, and helping with the retaliation. The trial began on May 18th, and court documents from April show the judge dismissed 10 out of 13 of her allegations, as reported by TopMob News.
As a lifestyle expert, I’ve been following this case closely. While the judge didn’t find enough evidence to support the sexual harassment claims, he did acknowledge there’s real evidence someone actively tried to damage Ms. Lively’s reputation and career. He specifically said there’s proof a plan to do just that was actually put in motion. It’s a significant distinction, and suggests something damaging definitely happened, even if it didn’t meet the legal definition of harassment.
The judge explained that there’s a strong disagreement about whether the negative reaction to Lively happened naturally or was intentionally created. The jury needs to determine what actions the other parties took – whether they were trying to defend themselves, or if they were deliberately trying to harm Lively and end her career. Ultimately, it’s up to the jury to decide these crucial questions.
For a closer look at Blake and Justin’s lengthy legal battle, keep reading.
Four months after the movie version of Colleen Hoover’s book It Ends With Us came out, Blake Lively filed a complaint with California’s Civil Rights Department (CRD) on December 20th, as reported by The New York Times. The complaint alleges misconduct by her co-star Justin Baldoni and others connected to his production company.
The complaint, obtained by TopMob News, names Baldoni, his company Wayfarer Studios, its CEO Jamey Heath, 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. as defendants.
Lively claims that Baldoni and those associated with Wayfarer launched a deliberate public relations and online campaign to retaliate after she raised concerns about inappropriate behavior on set. She says she and other cast and crew members experienced behavior from Baldoni and Heath that was invasive, unwelcome, unprofessional, and sexually inappropriate.
The actress asserts this alleged campaign caused significant personal and professional damage. The complaint details accusations including sexual harassment, retaliation, failure to address harassment, aiding and abetting harassment, breach of contract, intentional emotional distress, negligence, invasion of privacy, and interference with her career opportunities.
The following day, The New York Times published a story detailing a supposed smear campaign led by Baldoni and his colleagues against Lively, referencing the complaint she filed with the CRD. The article included messages from Baldoni’s team – including his publicist, Abel, and crisis communications expert, Nathan – which were part of Lively’s complaint. Readers could access the full court documents directly on The New York Times website. Lively told the publication, “I hope my lawsuit exposes these harmful retaliatory tactics and protects others who might be targeted for speaking out about wrongdoing.”
Following Blake Lively’s public complaint, Bryan Freedman, the lawyer representing Antonio Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios, strongly refuted her claims. He issued a statement to The New York Times calling Lively’s accusations “shameful” and “categorically false,” arguing they were a desperate attempt to repair her own reputation after making controversial statements and appearing in unedited interviews during the film’s promotion. Freedman described the claims as intentionally sensational and harmful.
He also defended Wayfarer’s decision to hire a crisis manager, explaining it happened before the movie’s marketing campaign began.
Freedman stated that Wayfarer Studios only responded to media inquiries and monitored social media, ensuring accurate reporting. He emphasized that the studio didn’t take any proactive steps to influence the narrative, only engaging in standard internal planning and communication with PR professionals – a common practice in the industry.
Following the publication of a New York Times article on December 21st, talent agency William Morris Endeavor (WME) ended its relationship with Baldoni, as confirmed by Ari Emanuel, CEO of WME’s parent company, Endeavor.
WME refuted claims that Blake Lively’s husband, Ryan Reynolds, was the reason for the split, despite Baldoni later alleging Reynolds pressured his agent at the premiere of Deadpool & Wolverine in a lawsuit against The New York Times.
WME stated to The Hollywood Reporter on January 1st that the claim about Reynolds pressuring Baldoni’s agent is false. They confirmed that Baldoni’s former representative wasn’t even at the premiere and that neither Reynolds nor Lively ever pressured them to drop Baldoni as a client.
Following Blake Lively’s legal complaint and a New York Times article detailing her allegations, several well-known figures publicly voiced their support. Colleen Hoover, author of It Ends With Us, shared a message on Instagram thanking Lively for her honesty, kindness, and patience, and encouraging others to read the article. Jenny Slate, who acted alongside Lively, released a statement to Today affirming her support, describing Lively as a leader, loyal friend, and source of emotional support. She called the revelations about the alleged attack on Lively “terribly dark” and praised her bravery. Brandon Sklenar, a co-star in the film, shared the legal complaint on social media with a plea for people to read it. Lively also received a statement of solidarity from her Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants co-stars America Ferrera, Alexis Bledel, and Amber Tamblyn.
On December 23rd, Liz Plank announced she was leaving The Man Enough Podcast, which she co-hosted with Justin Baldoni and Heath. In an Instagram post, Plank thanked listeners for their trust and for creating a special community, saying she would miss them and cherish the memories. While she didn’t explain her reasons for leaving, her departure came shortly after Blake Lively publicly accused Baldoni and others at Wayfarer of inappropriate behavior. Plank expressed her continued commitment to the values the podcast represented and stated that everyone deserves better. She also said she would share more information later and would continue to support those who speak out against injustice and hold people accountable.
Stephanie Jones, a former publicist for Baldoni, and her agency, Jonesworks LLC, have filed a lawsuit against Baldoni, his company Wayfarer, and current publicists Abel and Nathan. The suit, filed in New York on December 24th, claims Abel and Nathan secretly worked together for months to damage Jones and Jonesworks’ reputation, break contracts, and steal clients. According to the lawsuit, they coordinated with Baldoni and Wayfarer to launch a negative media campaign against Baldoni’s co-star, then falsely blamed Jones for the campaign after she had no involvement.
Abel previously worked at Jonesworks until last summer. The suit further alleges that Abel and Nathan are now falsely accusing Jones as their misconduct is revealed and are continuing to harm her professional reputation.
Baldoni and Wayfarer, who are no longer Jonesworks clients, are accused of breaking their contractual obligations and refusing to resolve the dispute through private arbitration. TopMob News has reached out to those named in the lawsuit for comment.
According to a December 23rd report in Variety, Lively’s lawyers received text messages published in The New York Times through a legal request to Jonesworks. Freedman, who represents Nathan, Abel, Baldoni, and his associates, stated that none of his clients were asked to provide information and that he plans to sue Jones for sharing messages from Abel’s phone with Lively’s legal team.
On December 31st, Baldoni, Wayfarer, Heath, Sarowitz, Nathan, TAG, Abel, RWA Communications, and Street Relations filed a $250 million lawsuit against The New York Times. The suit claims the newspaper falsely reported on a supposed retaliatory campaign the plaintiffs conducted against an actress, identified as Lively, after she raised concerns about potential misconduct on set.
The plaintiffs allege libel, invasion of privacy, fraud, and breach of contract, arguing the Times based its article on a complaint filed by Lively and presented accusations and messages out of context. They claim the newspaper relied heavily on Lively’s unverified account while ignoring evidence that contradicted her claims and revealed her own motivations. They assert that Lively, not themselves, was the one who engaged in a deliberate smear campaign.
The New York Times stated it intends to vigorously defend the lawsuit, maintaining that its reporting was meticulous, responsible, and based on a thorough review of thousands of documents, including text messages and emails accurately quoted in the article.
That day, Lively filed a lawsuit against Justin Baldoni, Wayfarer Entertainment, Heath Meldrum, Morris Sarowitz, the production company It Ends With Us Movie LLC, Nathan and his company TAG, and Abel in New York.
The lawsuit, as detailed in court documents obtained by TopMob News, alleges sexual harassment, retaliation, and a failure to address harassment. It also includes claims of breach of contract, intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress, and invasion of privacy.
These allegations were initially outlined in a complaint Lively filed with the California Civil Rights Department (CRD) earlier in the month.
Regarding a lawsuit Baldoni and others filed against The New York Times (which did not name Lively as a defendant), Lively’s attorneys stated to TopMob that her CRD and federal complaints remain unchanged. They argued that Baldoni’s lawsuit falsely claims Lively’s original complaint was a scheme to avoid suing him and that she never intended to pursue legal action. They pointed to the federal complaint Lively filed that same day as proof that this claim is untrue.
As a lifestyle expert, I’ve been following the legal situation surrounding Baldoni and Wayfarer, and it’s clear this isn’t over. Their lawsuit against The New York Times was just the beginning. According to court documents, they believe others were involved and are prepared to file more suits. In fact, their attorney, Freedman, confirmed in a recent NBC News interview that they definitely plan to sue Lively as well. They’re making it very clear: this is far from settled.
The controversy surrounding Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni continued to gain attention online. Some social media users theorized that Lively’s husband, Ryan Reynolds, subtly referenced Baldoni in his upcoming movie, Deadpool & Wolverine, through the character Nicepool. While Reynolds hasn’t addressed these rumors, Baldoni’s lawyer, Freedman, did speak out. In an interview on The Megyn Kelly Show (posted January 7th on YouTube), Freedman stated, “If your wife is sexually harassed, you don’t make fun of Justin Baldoni, or the situation. You take it seriously, file HR complaints, and follow legal procedures. You don’t mock the person and turn it into a joke.”
Lively’s legal team stated that since she filed her lawsuit, she has faced increased negative attacks. They emphasized that the case, which involves serious allegations of sexual harassment and retaliation, is supported by solid evidence and is not a simple disagreement or a matter of differing opinions. The lawyers claim that Wayfarer and its associates illegally attempted to discredit Lively after she tried to ensure a safe work environment on a film set.
They urged the public to remember that sexual harassment and retaliation are illegal, and warned against common tactics used to deflect blame, such as accusing the victim or portraying them as the aggressor. These tactics, they said, downplay the seriousness of the alleged misconduct. The lawyers also made clear that public statements won’t protect Wayfarer from Lively’s claims, and they intend to pursue the case fully in court.
Okay, so I’ve been following this whole thing closely, and honestly? It’s insane! Justin Baldoni’s lawyer just dropped a bomb on TopMob. Basically, they’re saying it’s totally hypocritical of Blake Lively to accuse Justin of using the media when her team was the one who secretly sent a messed-up version of the documents to the New York Times even before they officially complained! Can you believe it?!
And get this – they’re promising to release everything to prove Blake has a history of bullying and trying to strong-arm her way into taking over the movie. Apparently, this is exactly how she always operates – using other people to deliver threats and get what she wants. They say they have proof of everything, receipts and more! I knew something was off about this whole situation, and it’s all starting to come out now!
As a lifestyle and media expert, I’ve been following this unfolding drama closely. Here’s the breakdown: Colleen Hoover, along with several entities involved in the It Ends With Us movie – including the production company and publicists – have filed a lawsuit against Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, and Lively’s PR team. They’re alleging a coordinated effort to damage their reputations through false and damaging statements to the press.
The suit claims Lively and Reynolds interfered with their business relationships and intentionally harmed their economic prospects, while also accusing Lively’s PR firm of essentially running a smear campaign. The plaintiffs strongly deny Lively’s claims of harassment and retaliation, stating she took control of the film’s marketing and, with the help of Reynolds and her team, attempted to discredit them after some backlash. They even allege Lively worked with The New York Times to publish a deliberately damaging – and false – story.
Interestingly, The New York Times is standing by its reporting. One of the plaintiff’s attorneys has stated that Lively was either misinformed by her team or knowingly misrepresented the truth. It’s a complex situation with serious accusations on both sides, and it’s playing out publicly as the legal process unfolds.
Lively’s lawyers have responded to a lawsuit filed against her, calling it a common tactic used by abusers. They claim Baldoni is attempting to portray her as the aggressor after she came forward with evidence of sexual harassment and retaliation – a strategy experts call DARVO, which stands for Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim Offender.
Lively’s team alleges Baldoni is trying to falsely claim she took over creative control and caused issues with the cast. They state evidence will prove the cast and others had negative experiences with Baldoni and the production company, Wayfarer, independently of Lively’s allegations. They also point out Sony requested Lively oversee the final cut of the film, which ultimately proved successful.
The lawyers strongly criticized Baldoni’s reaction, accusing him of blaming Lively for the alleged harassment and attempting to shift responsibility. They stated his defense relies on victim-blaming and ignores the evidence supporting Lively’s claims, predicting his strategy will ultimately fail.
Lawyers for actor Justin Baldoni have released footage from the set of It Ends With Us, arguing it disproves claims made by his co-star, Blake Lively. They state the scene was intended to portray a developing romance and that both actors behaved professionally and respectfully.
Lively’s lawyers, however, disagree, claiming the video actually supports her account of events. They assert that Baldoni improvised all of his actions without prior discussion or Lively’s consent.
According to Lively’s team, the footage shows her visibly uncomfortable and repeatedly requesting the actors simply have a conversation. They believe anyone who has experienced inappropriate workplace contact will recognize the discomfort she displays.
The couple asked the judge handling their case to prevent Freedman, Baldoni’s lawyer, from speaking publicly about it. They said this was necessary to ensure everyone involved behaves appropriately during the legal process.
A seven-minute voice memo reportedly sent by director Baldoni to actress Lively during the making of It Ends With Us was released online. In the memo, Baldoni seemed to discuss a rooftop scene Lively had revised and how she presented the changes to him, allegedly with her husband, Ryan Reynolds, and Taylor Swift present. He praised their collaborative creativity, saying, “The three of you together, it’s unbelievable.”
Baldoni also appeared to apologize for his initial reaction to Lively’s revised script, admitting, “I f—ked up. I’ll admit and apologize when I fail.”
According to documents obtained by TopMob News, Stephen Baldoni has updated his lawsuit against Blake Lively, her representatives Reynolds and Sloane, and Sloane’s PR firm, Vision PR, Inc. to also include The New York Times. The updated filing claims Lively and her team spent months working together to spread false information to the newspaper. Baldoni alleges that The New York Times selectively used and changed communications, removing important context and deliberately editing them to be misleading.
Baldoni published a website detailing his lawsuit against Lively, including the official complaint and a chronological overview of key events. This overview featured what Baldoni claimed were screenshots of text conversations between Lively, Reynolds, and himself.
The website went live about a month after Baldoni’s legal team announced they would be releasing all text messages related to the case.
In an interview with NBC News on January 2nd, Baldoni’s lawyer stated they wanted to make all evidence public so people could draw their own conclusions based on the facts.
Lively’s lawyers have updated her lawsuit, stating that two other women who worked on the movie It Ends With Us also felt uncomfortable with Baldoni’s behavior on set.
The updated complaint, obtained by TopMob News, asserts that Lively wasn’t the only one to raise concerns. It claims that these experiences, along with Lively’s, were recorded starting in May 2023, and that Baldoni acknowledged the complaints in writing at the time. He was aware that multiple women were uncomfortable with his actions.
The complaint doesn’t reveal the names of these two witnesses, citing a threatening environment created by the defendants’ response to Lively’s claims.
Freedman, representing the defendants, responded to TopMob, calling the complaint unsubstantiated hearsay and suggesting the unnamed women are no longer willing to support Lively’s allegations.
Following accusations from Baldoni that Sloane spread false and damaging rumors, painting him as a “sexual predator,” and ran a negative campaign at Lively’s behest, Sloane requested the lawsuit be dismissed.
According to legal documents obtained by TopMob News, Sloane’s lawyer claims the accusations against her are completely unfounded and that she was brought into the lawsuit only to divert attention from the claims made by Lively.
Lively has hired Nick Shapiro, a former Deputy Chief of Staff for the CIA, to help with the legal strategy for the sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit happening in New York. This information came from a member of Lively’s legal team at Willkie Farr & Gallagher, as reported by Variety on February 28th.
From 2013 to 2015, Shapiro worked at the CIA during the Obama administration. He later held leadership roles at Visa, overseeing global security and communications, and at Airbnb, leading crisis management. After three years with Airbnb, he started his own company, 10th Avenue Consulting LLC.
According to documents obtained by TopMob News, The New York Times has asked a court to dismiss them from the $400 million lawsuit. The lawsuit also involves Lively, Baldoni, and the company Sloane and Sloane.
In a court filing, the newspaper asserted that Baldoni’s team was presenting a biased account that had attracted significant media attention, but maintained that The Times shouldn’t be involved in the conflict. According to court documents obtained by Deadline, The New York Times’ lawyers also pointed out that Baldoni and his associates at Wayfarer initially filed a $250 million lawsuit against the paper, which was later dropped when they expanded the claim to $400 million and included The New York Times as a defendant.
As a longtime supporter of the New York Times, I was really pleased to hear about the latest development in their case. Judge Lewis J. Liman has temporarily halted the exchange of information and documents – what’s called ‘discovery’ – based on the Times’ request. It seems the judge believes the Times has a very strong argument for dismissing the case altogether, and that their motion is likely to succeed. He doesn’t think delaying things a bit will unfairly harm the other side. The Times themselves released a statement saying they’re grateful for the decision, emphasizing that it protects important First Amendment rights and that this lawsuit never should have happened in the first place. It’s a relief to see the court recognizing the importance of a free press!
Following accusations from Baldoni that Lively was using her friendship with Taylor Swift to gain more control over the film adaptation of It Ends With Us—and after Baldoni’s lawyers attempted to subpoena Swift—a spokesperson for the singer responded.
A spokesperson confirmed to TopMob News on May 9th that Taylor Swift had no involvement in the movie. They stated she wasn’t part of the casting process, didn’t contribute to the music, and never reviewed any version of the film or provided feedback.
Taylor Swift allowed the film to use her song, ‘My Tears Ricochet,’ explained her representative. They believe this legal request for documents isn’t about the actual case, but rather an attempt to use Swift’s popularity for media attention and sensational headlines, as 19 other artists also licensed music for the film.
Baldoni’s attorneys withdrew their request later that month, per Lively’s legal team.
The judge dismissed the lawsuit brought against Lively, Reynolds, their publicist Sloane, Sloane’s company Vision PR, and The New York Times. The judge determined that Baldoni and his lawyers didn’t provide enough evidence to support their claims of defamation or attempted illegal coercion.
After the lawsuit against her was dropped, Lively spoke on Instagram about how upsetting it was to be targeted with a retaliatory suit, and the feeling of being unfairly shamed. She also pointed out that many people don’t have the money or support to defend themselves in similar situations.
She expressed her love and thanks to everyone who supported her, both those she knew and those she didn’t. She promised to always be grateful for and fight for them.
Baldoni’s lawyer told TopMob News that Lively’s claim of winning is untrue.
According to the lawyer, this case centers on false claims of sexual harassment, subsequent retaliation, and a fabricated attempt to damage someone’s reputation. Ms. Lively’s legal team has called this alleged campaign ‘untraceable’ because they can’t provide any evidence it ever occurred.
Lively gave a deposition at her lawyers’ office in New York. While some news outlets described it as a tense confrontation between Lively and Baldoni, her legal team later formally objected to reports suggesting she required a large group of supporting witnesses.
According to Lively’s lawyer, Baldoni was present in the room with the other people she was suing, and their lawyers too.
According to a court document obtained by TopMob News, Isabela Ferrer – who portrayed a younger Lily in the film It Ends With Us – claims that Justin Baldoni and people working with him attempted to intimidate, control, and improperly influence her after she received a subpoena related to the ongoing legal case.
According to Ferrer’s lawyers, she asked Wayfarer Studios to pay her legal bills as outlined in her contract for the film. However, the studio responded by requesting that she give them control over how she responded to a subpoena from Lively before they would cover her costs.
According to their court filing, Ms. Ferrer previously addressed inappropriate behavior from Baldoni related to the Lively Subpoena. They claim Baldoni attempted to intimidate Ferrer by filing a motion against her.
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2026-04-22 02:23