Blake Lively is trying to put an end to this claim.
Blake Lively is still involved in a legal dispute with her *It Ends With Us* co-star and director, Justin Baldoni. Lively’s representatives have strongly denied claims made by Baldoni’s ex-agent, Danny Greenberg, who described Lively’s behavior during filming as “extortion” in a recent legal testimony. Lively’s team insists this characterization is completely false.
According to a statement released on October 14th to TopMob News, a representative for Lively stated that the court had already rejected the claim about ‘taking over a movie.’ They added that a previously released quote from Baldoni’s former agent, before WME dropped him, doesn’t offer any new information. The representative also pointed out that the court dismissed the claim even when *assuming* the allegations were true, finding it still wasn’t a legally valid claim.
A representative for Lively stressed that her legal dispute with Baldoni is a genuine legal matter, and not something created for attention.
Honestly, they’re trying to change the subject! Their spokesperson just said it’s all a silly distraction, and that it *completely* avoids the real issue – the serious sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit that Baldoni and everyone involved with Wayfarer are dealing with. It’s like they’re desperate to avoid talking about what *really* matters, and it’s infuriating! I just want the truth to come out!
TopMob News reached out to Baldoni and Greenberg for comment but has not yet heard back.
According to a deposition given by Greenberg and obtained by *People* magazine on October 13th, the agent—who no longer works with Baldoni after Baldoni was dropped by WME last year—claimed he helped Baldoni write emails to Sony, the distributor of *It Ends With Us*. These emails were meant to address what Baldoni described as Lively’s ongoing attempts to blackmail him and take over the movie.
According to *People* magazine, Greenberg clarified he wasn’t accusing anyone of a crime, but was describing a pattern of behavior from Lively that Sony, Justin, and Wayfarer Studios needed to deal with.
The legal dispute between Lively and Baldoni began in December when Lively sued Baldoni and his production company. She filed a civil complaint alleging sexual harassment during the filming of the Colleen Hoover adaptation and claimed Baldoni tried to damage her reputation in response.
The following month, Baldoni sued Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and their publicist Leslie Sloane, and also filed a defamation lawsuit against the New York Times after they published an article about Lively’s complaint. However, a judge has since dismissed all of these cases.
A court date to discuss the case between Lively and Baldoni, as well as Wayfarer, is scheduled for October 26th. If the case proceeds, a full trial is expected to begin in March 2026. Read on for more details about this legal battle between the actors.
Four months after the movie version of Colleen Hoover’s novel *It Ends With Us* came out, Blake Lively filed a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department (CRD) on December 20th against her co-star Justin Baldoni and several people associated with him, according to *The New York Times*.
The complaint, which TopMob News obtained, names Baldoni, his production 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 connected to Wayfarer launched a coordinated public relations and online campaign to retaliate after she raised concerns about inappropriate behavior on set. She alleges that she and other members of the cast and crew experienced invasive, unwelcome, unprofessional, and sexually inappropriate conduct from Baldoni and Heath.
The actress states this alleged campaign caused significant personal and professional damage.
The complaint includes 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* 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 – that 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 sheds light on 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. In a statement to *The New York Times*, Freedman called Lively’s accusations “shameful” and “categorically false,” suggesting they were a deliberate attempt to repair damage to her own reputation caused by her previous statements and actions during the film’s promotion. He emphasized that Lively’s interviews and public appearances were unedited and readily available for public viewing, leading to widespread online opinions. Freedman dismissed the claims as false, outrageous, and intentionally designed to harm Baldoni and Wayfarer’s reputations.
Freedman also defended Wayfarer’s decision to hire a crisis manager, explaining it occurred before the film’s marketing campaign began. He further stated that Wayfarer’s team didn’t proactively retaliate, but simply responded to media inquiries to ensure accurate reporting and monitored social media. He added that the released correspondence selectively highlighted certain exchanges, omitting evidence that Wayfarer hadn’t taken any proactive steps with the media – only engaging in standard internal planning and strategy with their PR team.
William Morris Endeavor (WME) ended its relationship with Baldoni after an article was published by *The New York Times* on December 21st, according to Ari Emanuel, CEO of Endeavor, WME’s parent company.
WME refuted claims that Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively’s husband, was the reason for the split, which Baldoni later alleged in a lawsuit against *The New York Times*.
In a statement to *The Hollywood Reporter* on January 1st, WME said Baldoni’s claim that Reynolds pressured his agent at the *Deadpool & Wolverine* premiere was false. WME, which also represents Reynolds and Lively, 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 defamation lawsuit 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, calling Lively a leader, loyal friend, and source of emotional support, and condemning the reported attack on her reputation. Brandon Sklenar, who played a love interest in the film, shared a link to the complaint published by *The New York Times* with the message, “For the love of God read this.” Lively’s *Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants* co-stars—America Ferrera, Alexis Bledel, and Amber Tamblyn—also released a statement expressing their solidarity with her.
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 support, saying she would miss the community they had built together over the past four years. 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 stood for and stated that ‘we all deserve better.’ She also indicated she would share more information later and reaffirmed her support for those speaking out against injustice and holding people accountable.
Stephanie Jones, a former publicist for Baldoni, and her firm, 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 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 when she wasn’t involved. Abel previously worked at Jonesworks until last summer. The suit further alleges that Abel and Nathan are now trying to deflect blame onto Jones as their own actions come to light and are continuing to harm her reputation within the industry. Jonesworks also claims Baldoni and Wayfarer violated their contractual obligations and refused to attempt a private resolution through arbitration. TopMob News has reached out to those named in the suit for comment.
Okay, so I’ve been following this whole thing *so* closely, and apparently Blake Lively’s lawyers told *Variety* they got those texts that were published in *The New York Times* by legally requesting them from this company, Jonesworks. And get this – the lawyer for Nathan, Abel, and even Baldoni and his friends said *none* of his clients were asked for anything! He’s actually planning to sue Jones for handing over Abel’s private messages to Lively’s team. Seriously, the drama is unreal!
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 published false and damaging information about them in an article concerning allegations of a retaliatory campaign against Lively.
The plaintiffs allege libel, invasion of privacy, and breach of contract, arguing the article was based on unsubstantiated claims made by Lively following her concerns about misconduct on set. They claim the article misrepresented messages and took them out of context. They assert that Lively, not them, was the one who engaged in a smear campaign.
The lawsuit states *The New York Times* relied heavily on Lively’s account while ignoring evidence that contradicted her claims.
*The New York Times* responded that it intends to vigorously defend the lawsuit, stating its story was carefully reported 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 in New York against Justin Baldoni, Wayfarer Entertainment, Heath, Sarowitz, the production company It Ends With Us Movie LLC, Nathan, Nathan’s company TAG, and Abel.
The lawsuit, details of which were obtained by TopMob News, accuses the defendants of sexual harassment, retaliation, failing to address harassment, contributing to harassment and retaliation, breaking their contract with Lively, intentionally causing her emotional distress, negligently causing her emotional distress, and violating her privacy.
These claims were initially outlined 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 name Lively as a defendant), Lively’s attorneys told TopMob that her original complaints remain unchanged. They stated the new lawsuit incorrectly suggests Lively’s CRD complaint was a tactic to avoid suing Baldoni and Wayfarer, and that she never intended to pursue legal action. They clarified, however, that her recently filed federal complaint proves 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 also involved and that this won’t be their final case. 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 referenced Baldoni in his upcoming film, *Deadpool & Wolverine*, through the character Nicepool. While Reynolds hasn’t addressed these claims, Baldoni’s lawyer, Freedman, did speak out. In an interview on *The Megyn Kelly Show* posted on January 7th, Freedman stated that if your wife experiences sexual harassment, you shouldn’t joke about it or the person involved. Instead, you should take it seriously, file HR complaints, and follow proper legal procedures.
Lively’s legal team stated that since she filed her lawsuit, there’s been an increase in negative attacks against her. They emphasized that her case, which alleges sexual harassment and retaliation, is supported by evidence and isn’t a simple disagreement or a matter of differing opinions. According to the lawyers, Wayfarer and those connected to it have been unfairly attacking Lively in response to her attempts to ensure a safe work environment on a film set.
The legal team urged the public to remember that sexual harassment and retaliation are illegal, and warned against common tactics used to discredit victims – such as blaming them, questioning their motives, or portraying them as the aggressor. They stressed that these approaches minimize the seriousness of the allegations. They also made it clear that public statements won’t protect Wayfarer from Lively’s claims, and that they intend to pursue the case fully in court.
Responding to Blake Lively’s accusations, Justin Baldoni’s lawyer, Freedman, stated to TopMob that it’s ironic she’s claiming he used the media to his advantage, considering her team sent heavily edited documents to *The New York Times* before even filing the complaint. He added that they are releasing evidence demonstrating a pattern of bullying and threats aimed at taking control of the film, and that Lively has a history of using others to deliver threats and get her way, with full documentation to prove it.
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 breaching 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, launched a negative public relations campaign after facing criticism for how the film was marketed. Lively maintains she followed Sony’s marketing plan.
The lawsuit further alleges the defendants collaborated with *The New York Times* to publish a damaging and false news report, though the newspaper 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 common tactic used by abusers. They claim Baldoni is attempting to portray her as the aggressor, falsely suggesting she took control of the project and caused issues with the cast. According to Lively’s team, evidence will demonstrate that others also had negative experiences with Baldoni and the production company, and that Sony specifically asked Lively to oversee the final cut of the film, which ultimately proved successful. They strongly condemn Baldoni’s response to her harassment allegations, accusing him of blaming her and attempting to shift responsibility. Her lawyers argue that Baldoni is focusing on attacking Lively instead of addressing the evidence of abuse, a strategy they believe will ultimately fail.
Lawyers for actor Justin Baldoni have released footage from the filming of *It Ends With Us*, arguing it proves he did not behave inappropriately, as alleged by his co-star Blake Lively. They state the scene was meant to portray a romantic connection and that both actors maintained professionalism and respect for each other.
However, Lively’s lawyers disagree, claiming the video actually supports her claims. They insist that Baldoni improvised all of his actions without discussing them with Lively beforehand. They point out that Lively visibly pulls away and asks to simply rehearse the dialogue, and that her discomfort will be relatable to anyone who has experienced unwanted physical contact at work.
The couple asked the judge handling their case to prevent Freedman, the lead lawyer for the other side, from speaking publicly about the case, hoping to ensure fair proceedings.
Oh my god, you guys, I’ve been losing it over this! A leaked voice memo from Justin Baldoni to Blake Lively surfaced, and it’s EVERYTHING. Apparently, it’s from when they were filming *It Ends With Us*, and he’s talking about that rooftop scene she rewrote. He even mentions how she, Ryan Reynolds, and Taylor Swift – *Taylor Swift!* – presented the changes to him in a meeting. He was basically gushing, saying how amazing it was that they all worked together, and that we all need friends like that. But the best part? He *apologized*! He actually said, ‘I fed up,’ and admitted he was wrong about her script. Can you believe it? He said he always owns up to his failures. I’m seriously obsessed with how supportive they all are of each other, and this just proves it!
A court date was scheduled for March 9, 2026, 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* as a defendant.
Baldoni claims Lively and her team spent months working together to spread false information to *The New York Times*.
The lawsuit alleges the newspaper selectively used and changed communications, removing important context and intentionally piecing them together in a way that was misleading.
Baldoni published a website detailing his lawsuit against Lively, including the updated legal complaint and a chronological overview of key events. This website 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 intended to publicly release all text messages between the parties involved.
In an interview with NBC News on January 2nd, Baldoni’s lawyer stated they wanted to make all evidence available so the public could judge the situation for themselves.
Lively’s lawyers have updated her lawsuit, stating that two other women who worked on the film *It Ends With Us* also felt uneasy about 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 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 lawsuit doesn’t identify these two women, citing a climate of threats and intimidation created by the defendants’ response to Lively’s claims.
Baldoni’s attorney, Freedman, dismissed the updated complaint as containing unreliable hearsay and suggested the unnamed women are unwilling to support Lively’s allegations.
Following accusations by 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 documents obtained by TopMob News, Sloane’s lawyer claims the accusations against her are unfounded and that she was included in the lawsuit only to divert attention from the claims made by Lively.
Lively 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 in New York. A lawyer from Lively’s firm, Willkie Farr & Gallagher, shared this information with Variety on February 28th.
David Shapiro began his career with the CIA from 2013 to 2015 during the Obama administration. He later held leadership positions at Visa, overseeing global security and communications, and at Airbnb, where he led crisis management. After three years at Airbnb, he established his own consulting 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, which also involves Lively, Baldoni, and the company Sloane and Sloane.
In a court filing, the newspaper claimed that Baldoni’s team was presenting a biased story that had attracted significant media attention, but insisted 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 New York Times*, which was later dropped after they included *The New York Times* in a larger $400 million lawsuit.
U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman has temporarily paused the exchange of information and documents in a case brought against *The New York Times*, following the newspaper’s request. Documents obtained by TopMob News show the judge agreed to halt the process while he reviews *The New York Times’* motion to dismiss the case.
Judge Liman stated that the newspaper presented a strong argument that its motion to dismiss should be successful and that the delay wouldn’t unfairly harm the opposing side, led by Baldoni.
A *New York Times* spokesperson told TopMob News that they were pleased with the court’s decision, which acknowledges the important First Amendment principles involved 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 say in 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 with 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.
Taylor Swift allowed the film to use her song, ‘My Tears Ricochet,’ explained her representative. They believe this legal request for documents is simply an attempt to generate publicity and sensationalize the case by using Swift’s name, as the film also features songs from 19 other artists. The focus should be on the actual facts, not creating tabloid headlines.
Baldoni’s attorneys withdrew their request later that month, per Lively’s legal team.
As a lifestyle expert, I’ve been following this case closely, and it’s interesting to see how it’s unfolding. Basically, the judge has dismissed the lawsuit brought *against* Lively, Reynolds, their publicist, and even *The New York Times*. The court found that the person bringing the suit, Baldoni, simply didn’t provide enough evidence to support claims of defamation or any kind of illegal pressure – meaning they couldn’t prove what they were alleging.
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, many people don’t have the money or support to defend themselves against unfair lawsuits designed to punish 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 an alleged smear campaign that Ms. Lively’s team admits they can’t trace – simply because it never 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 witnesses for support.
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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