Blake Lively is listing A-list names amid her legal battle against Justin Baldoni.
Legal filings submitted in July and made public on November 5th reveal the actress’s lawyers identified a number of celebrities who could potentially have information relevant to her claims of inappropriate behavior by her It Ends With Us co-star.
The legal filing, which TopMob News reviewed, also mentioned several well-known people in addition to Blake Lively’s husband, Ryan Reynolds. These included Gigi Hadid, Emily Blunt, Scooter Braun, Hugh Jackman, and Michele Morrone. Lively’s former co-stars from The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants – Alexis Bledel, America Ferrera, and Amber Tamblyn – were also named in the document.
Taylor Swift was also on the list of people Lively’s team believes may have information relevant to the case. This includes what happened during the making of the movie It Ends With Us, any complaints about the work environment, how the film was edited, and the publicity surrounding it. Lively’s team also suggests Swift might know about the alleged retaliation campaign and resulting damages.
Taylor Swift’s close friends – Ashley Avignone, and the sisters Alana, Este, and Danielle Haim – were also named as potential witnesses who could discuss the alleged behavior of those involved and the claims of retaliation made by Blake Lively. Additionally, Gigi Hadid, a mutual friend of Swift and Lively, might have knowledge of any complaints or conversations about the work environment or on-set behavior during filming.
The document detailing those involved with the film It Ends With Us included actors Jenny Slate and Isabela Ferrer, as well as the book’s author, Colleen Hoover.
TopMob News has contacted the celebrities’ representatives for a statement, but they haven’t responded yet.
Taylor Swift’s representative previously criticized Baldoni’s effort to involve her in the legal case stemming from Lively’s claims. In a statement to TopMob in May, the representative explained that the request for Swift’s testimony seemed intended to generate media attention and sensational headlines rather than address the actual issues in the case.
According to Taylor Swift’s representative, she wasn’t involved in making the movie at all. Her only contribution was allowing the filmmakers to use her song, ‘My Tears Ricochet.’ A court also recently decided she won’t be required to testify in any legal proceedings related to the film.
Blake Lively is suing Jason Baldoni, claiming he sexually harassed her and created a difficult work environment while filming their 2024 movie. She also alleges he tried to damage her reputation after she spoke up about her concerns. Baldoni denies the accusations, but a judge recently dismissed his lawsuit against Lively, finding he didn’t provide enough evidence to prove she had defamed him.
For more about the legal saga between Lively and Baldoni, 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 public relations campaign to retaliate after she raised concerns about inappropriate behavior on set. She states that 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 published a story detailing a supposed smear campaign against Lively, initiated by Baldoni and those working with him. The report referenced Lively’s complaint filed with the California Rights Department (CRD) and included quotes from messages sent by Baldoni, his publicist Abel, and crisis communications specialist Nathan, all of which were part of the 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 protects others who might be targeted.”
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,” characterizing them as a last-ditch effort to repair her reputation after her own statements and actions during the film’s promotion sparked negative online reactions. He described the claims as intentionally sensational and designed to harm Baldoni and Wayfarer.
Freedman also defended Wayfarer’s decision to hire a crisis manager, explaining that it happened before the film’s marketing campaign even began. He further stated that Wayfarer representatives didn’t take any aggressive actions, only responding to media inquiries and monitoring social media to ensure accurate reporting. He emphasized that the released correspondence only showed internal planning and strategy, which is standard practice for public relations professionals, and didn’t demonstrate any proactive negative measures.
Following a New York Times article published on December 21st, talent agency William Morris Endeavor (WME) ended its relationship with director Justin Baldoni, as confirmed by 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. Baldoni had alleged in a lawsuit against The New York Times that Reynolds had pressured WME to drop him.
WME stated to The Hollywood Reporter on January 1st that Baldoni’s claim about Reynolds pressuring his agent at the Deadpool & Wolverine premiere was false. They clarified that Baldoni’s former representative wasn’t even at the premiere and that neither Reynolds nor Lively ever pressured them to end their relationship with Baldoni.
Following Blake Lively’s defamation lawsuit and a report in The New York Times, several well-known figures publicly expressed their support. Colleen Hoover, author of It Ends With Us, posted on Instagram thanking Lively for her honesty, kindness, and patience, and shared a link to the New York Times article. Jenny Slate, who played Ryle’s sister in the film, stated she stood with Lively, praising her as a leader and trusted friend. Slate described the reported attack on Lively as “terribly dark, disturbing, and wholly threatening,” and commended her bravery. Brandon Sklenar, who played a love interest for Lively’s character, shared the lawsuit complaint from The New York Times and urged people to read it. Lively’s Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants co-stars—America Ferrera, Alexis Bledel, and Amber Tamblyn—also voiced their solidarity with her.
On December 23rd, Liz Plank announced she was leaving The Man Enough Podcast, which she co-hosted with Matt Baldoni and Justin Heath. In an Instagram post, Plank expressed her gratitude to listeners for their trust and for creating a special community. She said she would miss them and valued what they had built together.
While Plank didn’t explain her reasons for leaving, her announcement came shortly after Blake Lively publicly accused Baldoni and others at Wayfarer of inappropriate behavior.
Plank’s message emphasized her continued commitment to the values the podcast represented, thanking her followers for their support over the past four years. She stated that everyone deserves better and expressed her belief in the power of collective action. She also indicated she would share more information later and would continue to support those who speak out against injustice and hold others accountable.
As a longtime supporter of Stephanie Jones and her agency, Jonesworks, I was shocked to learn they’ve filed a lawsuit against Antonio Baldoni, his company Wayfarer, and his current PR team. Apparently, things went really south after Abel, who used to work at Jonesworks, and a crisis communications specialist named Nathan, secretly plotted to damage Stephanie’s reputation and steal clients. The suit claims they worked behind Stephanie’s back with Baldoni and Wayfarer to launch a smear campaign related to a film co-star, then tried to blame her for it – even though she had nothing to do with it! It’s incredibly frustrating to see them now, according to the lawsuit, continuing to falsely accuse Stephanie as their actions come to light and actively trying to damage her career. What’s even worse is that Baldoni and Wayfarer apparently refused to even try to resolve this privately through mediation, simply breaking their contracts with Jonesworks. I’m hoping Stephanie gets the justice she deserves and that the truth comes out.
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, who represents Nathan, Abel, Baldoni, and those connected to Wayfarer, stated that none of his clients were asked to provide information in this matter. 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 newspaper falsely reported on their actions following concerns raised by Lively about alleged misconduct on set.
The plaintiffs allege libel, invasion of privacy, and breach of contract, arguing The New York Times based its article on Lively’s unverified claims and ignored evidence that contradicted her. They claim Lively, not them, engaged in a smear campaign.
The Times stated it will vigorously defend the lawsuit, asserting its story was meticulously reported and based on a thorough review of thousands of documents, 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 Nathan’s 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 the harassment. It also includes claims of aiding and abetting, 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 his associates filed against The New York Times (which did not name Lively as a defendant), Lively’s attorneys stated that her claims remain unchanged. They emphasized that her administrative complaint and federal lawsuit were not a tactic to avoid suing Baldoni and Wayfarer, and that she was pursuing legal action. They confirmed this with the filing of her federal complaint that same day.
Following their lawsuit against The New York Times, Baldoni and his colleagues indicated they intend to pursue further legal action. Court filings revealed they believe others were involved and warned this won’t be their final case. In a January 2nd interview with NBC News, Baldoni and Wayfarer’s lawyer, Freedman, confirmed they definitely plan to sue Lively.
The controversy surrounding Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni continued to unfold 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 publicly, Baldoni’s lawyer, Freedman, did speak out. In an interview on The Megyn Kelly Show posted on January 7th, Freedman stated, “If your wife is sexually harassed, you don’t make fun of Justin Baldoni or the situation. You treat it seriously, file complaints with HR, and follow legal procedures. You don’t mock the person and turn it into a joke.”
Lively’s legal team says she’s faced increased criticism since filing her lawsuit. In a statement to TopMob News on January 7th, they emphasized the seriousness of her claims of sexual harassment and retaliation, stating they are supported by evidence. They clarified this isn’t a simple disagreement or a matter of differing opinions, but rather a case of unlawful retaliation by Wayfarer and its associates after Lively attempted to ensure a safe work environment on a film set. They claim Wayfarer responded to the lawsuit by intensifying attacks against Lively.
The lawyers stressed that sexual harassment and retaliation are illegal everywhere, and warned against common tactics used to discredit victims – such as blaming them for the harassment, suggesting they misinterpreted the actions, or falsely accusing them of lying. They also cautioned against portraying the harasser as the victim. They stated that these tactics downplay serious misconduct and that media statements won’t shield Wayfarer from Lively’s legal claims, which they intend to pursue in court.
Responding to Blake Lively’s accusations, Justin Baldoni’s lawyer, Freedman, stated to TopMob that it’s ironic Lively is claiming Baldoni misused the media, considering her team sent heavily edited documents to The New York Times before even filing their complaint. He added that they are releasing evidence demonstrating a pattern of bullying and threats aimed at taking control of the film, consistent with Lively’s past behavior of using others to deliver threats and get her way. He claims they have proof to support these claims.
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, accuses all defendants of civil extortion, defamation, and violating privacy rights. Lively is specifically accused of breaking an implied agreement to act in good faith, while both Lively and Reynolds are accused of intentionally disrupting contracts and harming economic opportunities, as well as negligently interfering with potential business deals.
The plaintiffs deny Lively’s claims of sexual harassment and a retaliatory smear campaign, and claim she took control of the It Ends With Us movie promotion and worked with Reynolds, Sloane, and others to damage their reputations in the press after receiving criticism for her marketing efforts. Lively maintains she followed Sony’s approved marketing plan.
The lawsuit alleges the defendants collaborated with The New York Times to publish a damaging and false news report, though the publication stands by its reporting.
In a statement to TopMob, the plaintiffs’ lawyer, Freedman, said 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 Lively as the aggressor, alleging she took over creative control and caused issues with the cast, after she came forward with evidence of sexual harassment and retaliation.
According to Lively’s team, evidence will demonstrate that other members of the production team also had negative experiences with Baldoni and the production company, Wayfarer. They also state that Sony specifically asked Lively to oversee the final cut of the film, which ultimately proved successful.
The lawyers strongly criticized Baldoni’s reaction to the harassment allegations, accusing him of blaming Lively and focusing on her actions rather than addressing the abuse. They argue that this tactic – denying the abuse, attacking the accuser, and reversing the roles of victim and offender – is a desperate attempt to discredit Lively and will ultimately fail.
Lawyers for actor Justin Baldoni have released footage from the filming of It Ends With Us, arguing it disproves claims made by his co-star, Blake Lively. They state the scene was meant to portray a romantic connection and that both actors behaved professionally and respectfully. However, Lively’s lawyers disagree, asserting the video actually supports her account of the events. They claim Baldoni improvised his actions without discussing them with Lively beforehand, and that the footage clearly shows her discomfort and attempts to redirect the scene to dialogue. Lively’s team believes any woman who has experienced inappropriate workplace conduct will recognize her reaction.
The couple wrote a letter to the judge asking that the lead attorney for the other side, Freedman, be prohibited from speaking publicly about the case. They hoped this would prevent unfair or inappropriate behavior 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 recently surfaced online. In the recording, Baldoni seems to discuss a rooftop scene Lively had revised for the film and how those changes were brought to him in a meeting allegedly involving Lively’s husband, Ryan Reynolds, and singer Taylor Swift. He praised their collaborative creativity, saying, “The three of you together, it’s unbelievable.”
Baldoni also appears to apologize for his initial reaction to Lively’s revised script, admitting, “I fked up. I’ll admit and apologize when I fail.”
A court date of March 9, 2026, was scheduled about a month after Lively officially sued Baldoni.
According to documents obtained by TopMob News, Stephen Baldoni has updated his lawsuit against Erika Lively, her team, and her PR firm, Vision PR, to now include The New York Times. Baldoni claims Lively and her associates spent months working together to spread false information to the newspaper. The updated filing alleges that The New York Times selectively used and changed communications, removing important context and deliberately editing them to be misleading.
As a lifestyle expert, I’ve been following this case closely, and it’s become clear that all parties involved are aiming to present their side of the story publicly. Recently, my client created a website to share details of the lawsuit, including the official complaint and a breakdown of key events. This site included what we believe are screenshots of text conversations between all parties – Lively, Reynolds, and myself. This move came shortly after we announced our intention to release the full text message exchange. Our goal is simple: transparency. We want everyone to have access to the facts – the actual messages and documents – so they can draw their own conclusions. We’re confident that when people see the ‘receipts,’ as we call them, the truth will become clear.
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 Baldoni’s behavior on set.
The updated complaint, which TopMob News has seen, asserts that Lively wasn’t the only one to raise concerns. It claims that these experiences, starting in May 2023, were recorded at the time and that Baldoni admitted to receiving the complaints in writing. He was aware that other women besides Lively were uncomfortable with his actions.
The lawsuit doesn’t reveal the names of these two witnesses, citing a threatening environment created by the defendants’ alleged retaliation. Lively says they will testify.
Baldoni’s attorney, Freedman, dismissed the claims as unreliable hearsay and suggested that the women are now unwilling to publicly support Lively’s accusations.
Following accusations from Baldoni that Sloane spread false and damaging rumors, painting him as a “sexual predator,” and ran a coordinated effort to harm his reputation with Lively’s help, Sloane requested the lawsuit be dismissed.
According to legal documents obtained 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 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. Willkie Farr & Gallagher, the law firm representing Lively, shared this information with Variety on February 28th.
David Shapiro started his career with the CIA from 2013 to 2015 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 at Airbnb, he launched his own consulting business, 10th Avenue Consulting LLC.
According to documents from TopMob News, The New York Times has asked a court to dismiss them from a $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 narrative that had attracted significant media attention, but 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 then 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. Court documents obtained by TopMob News show the judge granted the stay while reviewing the newspaper’s motion to dismiss the case, filed on February 28th.
Judge Liman stated that The New York Times presented a strong argument that its motion to dismiss is likely to be successful and that pausing the process wouldn’t unfairly harm the opposing side, led by Mr. Baldoni.
A spokesperson for The New York Times told TopMob News that they were pleased with the court’s decision, which acknowledges the important First Amendment principles at stake and stops Mr. Baldoni from pursuing unnecessary requests for information in a lawsuit they believe is without merit.
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.
According to a statement released on May 9th, Taylor Swift had absolutely no involvement in the movie. A spokesperson for Swift confirmed she didn’t visit the set, participate in casting or creative choices, contribute to the music, or even review any versions of the film.
Taylor Swift allowed the film to use her song, ‘My Tears Ricochet,’ according to her representative. They believe this legal request for documents isn’t about the actual case, but rather an attempt to use Swift’s fame to generate media attention and sensationalize the story, just like many other artists who 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 ruled that Baldoni and his lawyers didn’t provide enough evidence to support their claims of defamation or attempted illegal coercion.
I recently went through a really tough experience – a retaliatory lawsuit. It’s not just the legal battle itself, but the feeling of being publicly shamed that really gets to you. I’m so grateful I was able to defend myself and win, but it made me realize how many people don’t have the means to fight back when something like this happens to them. It’s a huge imbalance of power, and it’s something I’m passionate about highlighting.
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.
As a longtime supporter of Ms. Lively, I’ve been following this case closely, and it’s incredibly frustrating to see her falsely accused of sexual harassment. It’s even worse that they’re claiming retaliation and concocting this whole story of a ‘smear campaign’ that, as her own team admits, they can’t even trace because it simply didn’t happen! It’s clear this is all fabricated, and I’m confident the truth will come out.
Lively gave a deposition at her lawyers’ office in New York. Despite reports describing it as a tense confrontation between Lively and Baldoni, her legal team later formally objected to claims that 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.
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2025-11-07 06:19