The It Ends With Us legal drama is being pushed back.
The trial originally set for March 9, 2026, between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni has been moved to May 18, 2026, according to a ruling by Judge Lewis J. Liman on December 9th.
According to People magazine, Judge Liman explained in court that he currently has two criminal trials scheduled and, while acknowledging the importance of this case, stated that criminal trials must take priority. The next hearing is set for January 22nd, and will involve arguments regarding a summary judgement.
After the recent developments, Wayfarer Studios, co-founded by Baldoni, released a statement to TopMob News saying that whether a trial happens, and what issues would be discussed in it, will depend on the judge’s decision after reviewing all the available evidence.
The trial centers around a lawsuit filed by Lively in December 2024 against Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios. She claims Baldoni sexually harassed her during the filming of It Ends With Us and then attempted to damage her reputation by hiring a public relations firm. Baldoni denies these accusations.
Blake Lively’s legal team argues she suffered around $161 million in losses because of the damaging claims made against her.
Lively’s legal team recently filed an updated statement revealing she has lost an estimated $56.2 million in potential earnings. This includes $18.3 million in wages already earned and a projected $37.9 million from future work like acting roles, public appearances, and endorsement deals.
The document also claims that Blake Brown Beauty lost $49 million in profits, and Betty Booze experienced about $22 million in lost revenue.
The lawsuit also alleges that false statements have damaged Lively’s reputation, resulting in $34 million in losses.
Judge Liman dismissed Baldoni’s $400 million countersuit against Lively and The New York Times (related to an article published in December 2024) in June. Although Baldoni didn’t meet the deadline to revise the lawsuit, he and his fellow plaintiffs can still appeal the dismissal after the court decides whether Lively will be reimbursed for her legal costs.
Despite plans to vigorously defend himself, Justin Baldoni is still facing a lawsuit from The New York Times. The Times is seeking financial compensation and punitive damages from Baldoni to cover the costs associated with his previous countersuit.
Regardless of the outcome, we won’t back down to those in power, even when things look hopeless,” said Bryan Freedman, his lawyer, in a statement to People magazine in October. “We remain steadfast because we are committed to finding the truth, no matter how powerful the opposition.
For more details on the ongoing case, read on.
Four months after the movie version of Colleen Hoover’s book It Ends With Us came out, Blake Lively filed a complaint with the California 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 several associates.
The complaint, obtained by TopMob News, names Baldoni, his production company Wayfarer Studios, its CEO Jamey Heath, cofounder Steve Sarowitz, 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 connected to Wayfarer launched a deliberate campaign to discredit her after she raised concerns about inappropriate behavior on set. She says she and other members of the cast and crew experienced behavior from Baldoni and Heath that was invasive, unwelcome, unprofessional, and sexually inappropriate.
The actress asserts that this alleged campaign caused significant personal and professional damage. The complaint details accusations of 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 reported on what it described as a retaliatory effort by Baldoni and those working with him against Lively, referencing the complaint she filed with the CRD. The article included messages from Baldoni, his publicist Abel, and crisis communications specialist Nathan, all of which were part of Lively’s complaint. The New York Times also made the full court documents available on its website. Lively told the newspaper, “I hope my lawsuit exposes these harmful tactics used against people who report wrongdoing and helps protect others who might be targeted.”
As a lifestyle and reputation expert, I’ve been following this situation closely, and it’s become quite a public dispute. After Blake Lively voiced her concerns, Bryan Freedman, the attorney representing Leonardo DiCaprio, Wayfarer Studios, and their teams, strongly refuted her claims. He characterized them as a shameful and false attempt to repair her own reputation, which he believes suffered due to her own statements and actions during the film’s promotion – things people saw firsthand in unedited interviews and press events. He emphasized that the internet formed its own opinions based on what was publicly available.
Freedman firmly denied any wrongdoing by Wayfarer, calling Lively’s claims outrageous and intentionally damaging. He also clarified that the decision to bring in a crisis manager happened before the film’s marketing even began. He explained that Wayfarer didn’t proactively retaliate or take action; they simply responded to media inquiries to ensure accurate reporting and monitored social media. He stressed that the released information only showed internal planning and strategy, which is standard practice for any PR team – they were simply preparing for various scenarios, not actively trying to damage anyone’s reputation.
Following the publication of a New York Times article on December 21st, talent agency William Morris Endeavor (WME) ended its relationship with director Justin Baldoni, as confirmed by Ari Emanuel, CEO of WME’s parent company, Endeavor.
WME refuted claims that actor Ryan Reynolds, husband of Blake Lively, was the reason for the split. Baldoni later alleged in a lawsuit against The New York Times that Reynolds had pressured his agent.
WME stated to The Hollywood Reporter on January 1st that Baldoni’s claim of Reynolds pressuring his agent at the Deadpool & Wolverine premiere was 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 report in The New York Times, several public figures 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 New York Times article. Jenny Slate, who acted alongside Lively, publicly stated her support, describing Lively as a leader, loyal friend, and source of emotional support. Slate called the revelations about the attack on Lively “terribly dark” and praised her bravery. Brandon Sklenar, a co-star, shared the complaint from The New York Times and urged people to read it. Additionally, Lively’s Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants co-stars – America Ferrera, Alexis Bledel, and Amber Tamblyn – expressed their solidarity with her.
Okay, so, I was devastated when Liz Plank announced she was leaving The Man Enough Podcast on December 23rd. I saw her post on Instagram and honestly, I almost cried. She said she’d had her team tell Wayfarer she wouldn’t be co-hosting anymore, and thanked everyone for sharing their stories with her and letting her share hers. She said she’d miss us, the listeners, so much – and you could just feel how much she loved the community we’d all built together. It was so heartfelt! She didn’t say why she was leaving, but it was right after all that stuff with Blake Lively came out about Justin Baldoni and the people at Wayfarer. She ended her message saying she still believed in everything they’d built, and that we all deserved better. She also said she’d share more later, but that she’d always support people speaking out against injustice and holding others accountable. I’m just… really sad about it all, and hoping for the best for Liz. She was such a vital part of the show!
Stephanie Jones, a former publicist for actor Baldoni, and her firm, Jonesworks LLC, are suing Baldoni, his company Wayfarer, and current PR professionals Abel and Nathan. The lawsuit, 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 suit, they collaborated 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 lawsuit further alleges that Abel and Nathan are now trying to deflect blame onto Jones as their own actions are revealed, and are continuing to harm her professional reputation. Baldoni and Wayfarer, who are no longer clients of Jonesworks, are accused of breaking their contractual agreements and refusing to resolve the dispute privately. TopMob News has reached out to those named in the suit for comment.
According to a December 23rd report in Variety, Lively’s lawyers received the text messages published in The New York Times through a legal request to Jonesworks. Freedman, the attorney for Nathan, Abel, Baldoni, and those connected to Wayfarer, stated that none of his clients were asked to provide information. He also 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 Times published false and damaging information about them in an article concerning accusations that they retaliated against someone who raised concerns about misconduct.
The plaintiffs argue the article was based on unsubstantiated claims and selectively used messages to portray them negatively. They state the Times relied heavily on the account of the person making the accusations without properly considering evidence that contradicted it, claiming she, not them, was the one who engaged in a smear campaign.
The New York Times stated they will strongly defend the lawsuit, asserting their reporting was thorough, responsible, and based on a review of extensive documentation, including accurately quoted text messages and emails.
That day, Lively filed a lawsuit against Justin Baldoni, Wayfarer Entertainment, Heath Meldrum, Sarowitz Media, the production company It Ends With Us Movie LLC, Nathan and his company TAG, and Abel in New York.
The lawsuit, details of which were obtained by TopMob News, accuses the defendants of sexual harassment, retaliation, failing to address harassment, and contributing to a hostile work environment. She also alleges breach of contract, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence, and invasion of privacy.
These claims were initially made in a complaint Lively filed with the California Civil Rights Department (CRD) earlier that month.
Regarding a lawsuit Baldoni and others filed against The New York Times (which did not include Lively as a defendant), Lively’s attorneys stated to TopMob that her CRD and federal complaints remain unchanged. They argued that Baldoni’s lawsuit incorrectly suggests Lively’s initial complaint was a tactic to avoid suing him directly, and that she never intended to pursue legal action. They pointed to the federal complaint she filed that same day as proof that this claim is false.
The plaintiffs in the lawsuit against The New York Times, led by Baldoni, have indicated they intend to pursue further legal action. Court documents reveal they believe others were involved and that this won’t be their only lawsuit. In a January 2nd interview with NBC News, Baldoni and their attorney, Freedman, confirmed they definitely plan to sue Lively as well.
The controversy surrounding Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni continued to gain attention online. Some social media users suggested that Lively’s husband, Ryan Reynolds, subtly mocked Baldoni in his upcoming film, Deadpool & Wolverine, through the character Nicepool.
Reynolds hasn’t addressed these rumors publicly, but Baldoni’s lawyer, Freedman, did speak out.
In an interview on The Megyn Kelly Show (posted on YouTube January 7th), Freedman stated, “If your wife is sexually harassed, you don’t make fun of Justin Baldoni. You don’t make light of the situation. You treat it with seriousness, file HR complaints, and follow the proper legal procedures. You certainly don’t mock the person involved 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 her case, which alleges sexual harassment and retaliation, is supported by solid evidence and is not simply a disagreement or a matter of differing opinions. According to the lawyers, Wayfarer and those connected to the company have been unfairly attempting to discredit Lively after she tried to ensure a safe working environment on a film set.
The legal team urged the public to remember that sexual harassment and retaliation are illegal and that it’s common for those accused of misconduct to try and blame the person who reported it, or to portray themselves as the victim. They warned that these tactics are used to downplay serious allegations. They also clarified that public statements won’t defend against Lively’s claims and that they intend to pursue the case fully in court.
In a statement to TopMob, Justin Baldoni’s lawyer, Freedman, pointed out the irony of Blake Lively accusing Baldoni of using the media to his advantage, considering her team allegedly sent heavily edited documents to The New York Times before even filing their complaint.
Freedman also said they are releasing evidence showing a pattern of bullying and threats aimed at taking control of the film, adding that Lively has a history of using others to deliver threats and get her way. He claims they have proof to support these accusations.
On January 16th, Heath Baldoni, Wayfarer, publicist Abel, crisis communication specialist Nathan, and the production company It Ends With Us Movie LLC filed a lawsuit against Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, Lively’s publicist Leslie Sloane, and Sloane’s firm, Vision PR.
The lawsuit, obtained by TopMob News, alleges civil extortion, defamation, and invasion of privacy against all defendants. Lively and Reynolds are specifically accused of violating an implied agreement to act in good faith and of interfering with business relationships and potential financial gains.
The plaintiffs deny Lively’s claims of sexual harassment and a retaliatory campaign against her. They claim Lively took control of the film It Ends With Us and, with the help of Reynolds, Sloane, and others, attempted to damage their reputations in the media after facing criticism for her marketing efforts. (Lively maintains she followed Sony’s marketing plan.)
The lawsuit further alleges the defendants conspired with The New York Times to publish a damaging and inaccurate news report, though the outlet stands by its reporting.
In a statement to TopMob, Freedman stated that Blake Lively was either misinformed by her team or intentionally misrepresented the truth.
Lively’s lawyers have responded to a lawsuit filed against her, calling it a typical tactic used by abusers. They argue that Baldoni is attempting to portray Lively 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 claims Baldoni is trying to falsely suggest she took over creative control and caused problems with the cast. They state evidence will prove the cast and others had negative experiences with Baldoni and the production company, Wayfarer, independently. They also point out that 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 focusing on her actions rather than addressing the abuse. They assert his strategy is a desperate attempt to deflect attention and will ultimately fail to disprove Lively’s claims.
Baldoni’s legal counsel released behind-the-scenes footage from the filming of It Ends With Us, saying that the actor’s actions in the video “clearly refute Ms. Lively’s characterization” of him.
“The scene in question was designed to show the two characters falling in love and longing to be close to one another,” Baldoni’s attorneys said in a statement. “Both actors are clearly behaving well within the scope of the scene and with mutual respect and professionalism.”
However, Lively’s legal team believes the video “corroborates, to the letter, what Ms. Lively described” in her lawsuit and that “every moment of this was improvised by Mr. Baldoni with no discussion or consent in advance.”
“The video shows Ms. Lively leaning away and repeatedly asking for the characters to just talk,” they told TopMob News in a statement. “Any woman who has been inappropriately touched in the workplace will recognize Ms. Lively’s discomfort.”
The couple asked the judge handling their case to prevent Freedman, Baldoni’s lawyer, from speaking publicly about it, hoping to ensure fairness and prevent any inappropriate behavior.
A seven-minute voice memo reportedly sent by director Baldoni to actress Lively during the filming of It Ends With Us was leaked online. In the memo, Baldoni seemed to be discussing a rooftop scene Lively had revised and how those changes were brought to him in a meeting with Lively’s husband, Ryan Reynolds, and singer Taylor Swift. He praised their collaborative creativity, saying, “The three of you together are unbelievable.”
Baldoni also appeared to apologize for his initial reaction to Lively’s revised script, admitting, “I messed up. I’ll admit and apologize when I’m wrong.”
A court date of March 9, 2026, was scheduled one month after Lively officially sued Baldoni.
According to documents obtained by TopMob News, Stephen Baldoni has updated his lawsuit against Camille Lively, her colleagues Reynolds and Sloane, and Sloane’s PR firm, Vision PR, Inc. The updated filing now also names The New York Times. Baldoni claims Lively and her team spent months secretly working together and providing false information to the newspaper. He alleges that The New York Times selectively used and changed communications, removing important context and intentionally editing them to be misleading.
Baldoni published a website detailing his lawsuit against Lively, including the latest version of his legal complaint and a breakdown of key events. The site featured what Baldoni claimed were screenshots of text conversations between Lively, Reynolds, and himself.
This came just a month after Baldoni’s legal team announced they would be releasing all text messages between the parties involved.
In an interview with NBC News on January 2nd, Baldoni’s lawyer stated their goal was to share all the evidence so the public could form their own opinions 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 uneasy about actor Justin 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 as they happened starting in May 2023, and that Baldoni admitted to receiving the complaints in writing at the time. He was aware other women besides Lively were uncomfortable with his behavior.
The lawsuit doesn’t reveal the names of these two women, citing a threatening environment created by the defendants’ response to Lively’s claims.
Baldoni’s attorney, Freedman, responded to the updated complaint, calling it based on unreliable secondhand information and suggesting that the unnamed women are now unwilling to support Lively’s accusations publicly.
Following accusations from Baldoni that Sloane spread false and damaging rumors painting him as a “sexual predator,” and that Sloane organized a negative campaign at Lively’s behest, Sloane requested the lawsuit be dismissed.
According to legal documents reviewed by TopMob News, Sloane’s lawyer claims the accusations against her are unfounded and that she was brought into the lawsuit only to divert attention from 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. Willkie Farr & Gallagher, the law firm representing Lively, told Variety about the hire 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, where he led crisis management. After three years with Airbnb, he established his own consulting company, 10th Avenue Consulting LLC.
According to documents from TopMob News, The New York Times has asked a court to dismiss them from the $400 million lawsuit. The lawsuit also involves Lively, Baldoni, Sloane, and Sloane’s company.
In a court filing, the newspaper claimed that Baldoni’s team was presenting a biased story that had attracted significant media attention, but asserted 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 newspaper, which was later dropped when The Times was included in a larger $400 million lawsuit.
U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman has temporarily paused the exchange of information in a case involving The New York Times, following the newspaper’s request. According to documents obtained by TopMob News, the judge agreed to halt the process while he reviews The New York Times‘s motion to dismiss the case.
Judge Liman stated that the newspaper presented a strong argument that its motion to dismiss should be accepted, and that delaying the exchange of information wouldn’t unfairly harm the opposing side, led by Baldoni.
A spokesperson for The New York Times said the court’s decision acknowledges the important First Amendment rights at stake and prevents Baldoni from unnecessarily burdening the newspaper with requests in a case they believe should not have been filed.
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 whatsoever. They stated she wasn’t part of the casting process, didn’t contribute to the music, and never reviewed any version of the film.
As a lifestyle expert, I’ve been following this situation closely, and here’s what I understand. Taylor allowed the filmmakers to use her song, ‘My Tears Ricochet,’ which is something 19 other artists also agreed to. It seems this legal request for documents isn’t really about her involvement, but more of a tactic to get attention and generate headlines – a classic case of using a famous name to create buzz instead of dealing with the real issues at hand.
Baldoni’s attorneys withdrew their request later that month, per Lively’s legal team.
The judge dismissed the lawsuit 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 claims of defamation or civil extortion.
After the lawsuit against her was dropped, Lively spoke on Instagram about how damaging these kinds of cases can be. She explained that while she was able to win her case, many people don’t have the money or support to defend themselves against retaliatory lawsuits and the public shaming that often comes with them.
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 them and continue to fight for their well-being.
Baldoni’s lawyer told TopMob News that Lively’s claim of winning is untrue.
The lawyer stated that this case centers around false claims of sexual harassment and subsequent retaliation, along with a fabricated attempt to damage Ms. Lively’s reputation. He pointed out that Ms. Lively’s team themselves admit they can’t prove the accusations because they never actually occurred.
Lively gave a deposition at her lawyers’ office in New York. Initial reports described it as a tense confrontation with Baldoni, but Lively’s legal team quickly disputed those claims, stating she didn’t require a large group of witnesses to support her testimony.
According to Lively’s lawyer, Baldoni was present in the room with the other people she was suing, and their lawyers too.
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2025-12-09 23:53