Justin Baldoni’s legal journey has experienced a major setback.
In a court decision on June 9th, Judge Lewis J. Liman allowed the dismissal of a $400 million countersuit brought by the director, star, and production team of ‘It Ends With Us’, along with Wayfarer Studios and some of its employees, against Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, and their publicist Leslie Sloane. Additionally, Baldoni’s $250 million lawsuit against ‘The New York Times’ has been dropped as well, according to TopMob News reports.
In his ruling, Liman tackles two key points raised in Baldoni’s case: initially, he contends that Lively, working with Reynolds and Sloane, unlawfully seized the movie from Baldoni and Wayfarer. He alleges this was done through threats such as refusing to endorse the film and publicly disparaging Baldoni and Wayfarer if the Wayfarer Parties did not yield control and credit for the film to Lively instead of Wayfarer, which they assert is a form of extortion in civil court.
Additionally, Liman counters the allegation that Baldoni was falsely accused of sexual misconduct towards Lively and that The Times and other parties involved maliciously tarnished her reputation, by referencing the publication of an article in The New York Times in December.
Initially, it was argued that Lively and other parties were involved in “civil extortion.” However, the ruling states that the Wayfarer Parties failed to sufficiently prove that Lively’s threats were unlawful extortion, instead of legitimate hard bargaining or contract renegotiation. Furthermore, regardless of whether Lively’s actions were appropriate or not, they do not meet the criteria for civil extortion as defined by California law.
Regarding Baldoni and the other parties’ accusations of defamation, the ruling mentions that “The Wayfarer Parties haven’t claimed that Lively is accountable for any statements besides those in her California Civil Rights Department complaint, which are protected by privilege.
Furthermore, in response to allegations of sexual misconduct made by Reynolds, Sloane, and The Times against Baldoni, the dismissal states, “However, the Wayfarer Parties have not claimed that Reynolds, Sloane, or The Times would have genuinely questioned the truthfulness of these accusations if they had the necessary information, as is essential for them to be held liable for defamation under relevant law.
Liman points out that despite this, Baldoni’s legal representatives have the option to submit a revised lawsuit, modifying solely the “charges related to the allegations of tortious interference with contract and breach of implied agreement” by the deadline of June 23rd.
After the dismissal of the suits, lawyers Esra Hudson and Mike Gottlieb issued a statement to TopMob News, describing the decision as “a total win and a complete exoneration for Blake Lively, along with those who were unfairly involved in Justin Baldoni and the Wayfarer Parties’ retaliatory lawsuit.
From the very beginning, as we’ve consistently maintained,” the statement went on, “the so-called ‘$400 million’ lawsuit was nothing more than a hoax. The court, in its wisdom, recognized this.
TopMob News has attempted to contact the legal representatives of both Baldoni and Wayfarer, however, we are still waiting for their response.
For more on the ongoing legal battle between Baldoni and Lively over It Ends With Us, keep reading.
Approximately four months following the cinematic release of the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s book “It Ends With Us,” Blake Lively submitted a complaint to the California Civil Rights Department (CRD) against her costar Justin Baldoni and various associates on December 20, according to The New York Times.
The complaint, obtained by TopMob News, named Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios (Wayfarer), 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.
In the complaint, Lively claimed that Baldoni and his Wayfarer associates initiated a “sophisticated press and digital plan” in retaliation for expressing concerns about alleged misconduct on set. She stated that she and other cast and crew members were subjected to “invasive, unwelcome, unprofessional, and sexually inappropriate behavior” by Baldoni and Heath.
The actress further asserted that this alleged campaign against her caused significant harm to both her personal and professional life. The accusations listed in the complaint include sexual harassment, retaliation, failure to address harassment, aiding and abetting harassment and retaliation, breach of contract, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence, false light invasion of privacy, and interference with prospective economic advantage.
The following day, The New York Times released an article detailing a supposed counterattack smear strategy that Baldoni and his colleagues allegedly employed against Lively, referencing her CRD complaint. In their report, the news outlet shared messages exchanged between Baldoni, Abel (his publicist), Nathan (crisis communications specialist) and others, which were included in her complaint. Additionally, readers had access to the court documents on The New York Times‘s website. Lively spoke to the outlet, saying, “I hope my legal action serves to unveil these underhanded retaliatory moves aimed at harming those who expose misconduct, and offer protection to others who might face similar treatment.
—Reporting by Sara Ouerfelli
Following the release of Lively’s complaint, Bryan Freedman, lawyer for Baldoni, Wayfarer, and their representatives, strongly denounced the accusations made by Lively as baseless. He stated on The New York Times website that it was disgraceful for Lively and her team to make such severe and undeniably false allegations against Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios, and their representatives. This, he claimed, was yet another desperate attempt to improve Lively’s tarnished reputation, which stemmed from her own comments and actions during the film campaign; remarks and activities that were visible in real-time and unedited, allowing the public to form their opinions online. According to Freedman, these claims are utterly false, excessively sensational, and deliberately malicious with the intention of causing harm and perpetuating a story in the media.
Furthermore, Freedman defended Wayfarer’s decision to hire a crisis manager, explaining that this was done before the marketing campaign for the movie began. He later added that the representatives of Wayfarer Studios did not take any proactive measures nor retaliate, only responding to incoming media inquiries to ensure accurate and balanced reporting, and monitoring social activity. Notably absent from the selectively presented correspondence, according to Freedman, is evidence of a lack of proactive measures taken with media or otherwise; instead, it merely shows internal planning and private communication to strategize, which is standard practice among public relations professionals.
After an article by The New York Times was published on December 21, the talent agency William Morris Endeavor (WME) severed ties with Baldoni. Ari Emanuel, CEO of the agency’s parent company Endeavor, confirmed this to the outlet. However, it’s important to note that WME denies Ryan Reynolds, Lively’s husband and a client represented by WME, played any role in the decision to part ways with Baldoni. This allegation was made by Baldoni in a lawsuit he later filed against The New York Times (more details below). In response to this, WME stated to The Hollywood Reporter on January 1 that Baldoni’s claim about Reynolds pressuring Baldoni’s agent at the Deadpool & Wolverine premiere is untrue. They further clarified that Baldoni’s former representative was not present at the Deadpool & Wolverine premiere, and there was no pressure from Reynolds or Lively to drop Baldoni as a client at any point in time.
After Lively’s CRD filing and the New York Times article, several notable figures expressed their support for her allegations against Baldoni. For instance, author Hoover commented on Instagram Stories, praising Lively for her honesty, kindness, patience, and authenticity. Similarly, Jenny Slate, who played Baldoni’s sister in the series, voiced her support for Lively in a statement to Today. Brandon Sklenar, a love interest for Lively’s character Lily Bloom, shared the complaint on The New York Times’ website. Lastly, Lively’s Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants costars America Ferrera, Alexis Bledel, and Amber Tamblyn also declared their solidarity with her.
Liz Plank recently shared her decision to step down from co-hosting “The Man Enough Podcast” on Instagram. In her post, she expressed gratitude for the trust and stories shared by listeners over the past four years, acknowledging the close bond that was formed within the community. However, she didn’t specify a reason for her departure.
Her announcement comes shortly after Blake Lively’s complaint against Baldoni and his associates at Wayfarer, though it’s unclear if the two events are connected. Regardless, Plank assured her followers that she remains committed to the values they built together and believes in their collective ability to create a better future.
She also mentioned that she will share more about her decision as she continues to process the situation. In the meantime, she vowed to continue supporting those who speak out against injustice and hold accountable those who stand in their way.
In a lawsuit filed in New York on Christmas Eve, Stephanie Jones, Baldoni’s former publicist, and her agency Jonesworks LLC accused Baldoni, his company Wayfarer, his current publicist Abel, crisis communications specialist Nathan, and another individual of conspiring against Jones and breaching contracts. The lawsuit claims that Abel and Nathan orchestrated a smear campaign against Jones, secretly colluding with Baldoni and Wayfarer to tarnish the reputation of one of Baldoni’s film co-stars. They allegedly used this incident as an opportunity to create discord between Jones and Baldoni, falsely blaming Jones for the smear campaign when she had no involvement.
Abel, who worked at Jonesworks until last summer according to her LinkedIn profile, is accused of continuing to defame and attack Jones now that her misconduct is being exposed. The suit also alleges that Baldoni and Wayfarer breached their contractual obligations with Jonesworks and refused to settle the dispute privately in arbitration.
When contacted for comment, the defendants did not respond.
According to a statement made to Variety on December 23rd, Lively’s lawyers confirmed they obtained the texts mentioned in the New York Times article through a subpoena issued to Jonesworks. Freedman, who represents both Nathan, Abel, and Baldoni as well as Wayfarer associates, further stated that none of his clients were served with a subpoena concerning this matter. He also expressed his intention to sue Jones for disclosing messages from Abel’s phone to Lively’s lawyers.
Baldoni, Wayfarer, Heath, Sarowitz, Nathan, TAG, Abel, RWA Communications, Wallace and Street Relations filed a lawsuit against The New York Times Dec. 31.
In the lawsuit obtained by TopMob News, The New York Times is accused of libel, false light invasion of privacy, promissory fraud and breach of implied-in-fact contract for its article about a retaliatory smear campaign the plaintiffs allegedly conducted against Lively after she voiced concerns about purported misconduct on set.
Saying the report was “false” and based on Lively’s CRD complaint, the plaintiffs denied the accusations and alleged messages cited in the article and complaint were taken out of context.
“Despite its claim to have ‘reviewed these along with other documents[,]’ the Times relied almost entirely on Lively’s unverified and self-serving narrative,” the lawsuit says, “lifting it nearly verbatim while disregarding an abundance of evidence that contradicted her claims and exposed her true motives.”
They also allege “it was Lively, not Plaintiffs, who engaged in a calculated smear campaign.” She has denied this.
The New York Times said it plans to “vigorously defend against the lawsuit.”
“The role of an independent news organization is to follow the facts where they lead,” it stated to TopMob. “Our story was meticulously and responsibly reported. It was based on a review of thousands of pages of original documents, including the text messages and emails that we quote accurately and at length in the article.”
On that very day, Lively initiated a legal action against Baldoni, Wayfarer, Heath, Sarowitz, It Ends With Us Movie LLC, Nathan, Nathan’s company TAG, and Abel in New York. As per court documents obtained by TopMob News, she is accusing the defendants of sexual harassment, retaliation, failing to address harassment, aiding and abetting harassment and retaliation, breach of contract, intentionally causing emotional distress, negligently causing emotional distress, false light invasion of privacy.
The accusations in this lawsuit mirror those made in the CRD complaint she filed earlier that month. In response to the lawsuit filed against them (which does not include Lively as a defendant), Baldoni and his associates have countered by filing a suit against The New York Times. However, Lively’s legal team has stated to TopMob that “the content of this lawsuit doesn’t alter anything about the claims in her CRD and federal complaints.”
They further added that the premise that Lively’s administrative complaint against Wayfarer and others was a ruse and that she didn’t intend to sue Baldoni, Wayfarer, is false. This is evident from the federal complaint filed by Lively today, they concluded.
In their legal action against The New York Times, Baldoni and his team have made it clear that they are not finished. As court documents indicate, there are more individuals involved who have acted wrongly, and they intend to file additional lawsuits. During a January 2 interview with NBC News, Baldoni’s attorney Freedman confirmed that they indeed plan to take legal action against Lively.
The headlines regarding Baldoni and Lively haven’t ended yet. For example, social media users have proposed that Reynolds, Lively’s husband, made fun of Baldoni in his movie “Deadpool & Wolverine” through the character Nicepool.
Reynolds has not spoken out on these rumors publicly; however, Baldoni’s lawyer Freedman has shared his thoughts. In an interview on The Megyn Kelly Show, posted to YouTube on Jan 7, Freedman stated, “If your wife is sexually harassed, you don’t make light of Justin Baldoni’s situation. You take it seriously. You follow proper procedures. What you don’t do is joke about it.
In a statement to TopMob News on January 7, Lively’s legal team clarified that the ongoing lawsuit against Wayfarer Entertainment in the Southern District of New York is based on substantial evidence of sexual harassment and retaliation. They emphasized that this is not a dispute arising from creative differences or a he-said-she-said situation, as alleged by Wayfarer and their associates. Instead, they claim Wayfarer engaged in unlawful, retaliatory astroturfing against Lively for standing up for herself and others on a film set. Moreover, the lawyers stated that since the lawsuit was filed, there have been more attacks against Lively.
They further urged everyone to recognize that sexual harassment and retaliation are illegal in every workplace and industry. They warned against tactics commonly used to divert attention from allegations of misconduct, such as blaming the victim or suggesting that the offender is actually the victim. Such tactics, they explained, serve to trivialize serious allegations. Lastly, they emphasized that media statements are not a defense to Lively’s claims and that they will pursue her case in court.
On January 16th, Baldoni, Heath, Wayfarer, publicist Abel, crisis communication specialist Nathan, and It Ends With Us Movie LLC filed a lawsuit against Lively, Reynolds, Leslie Sloane (her publicist), and Sloane’s firm Vision PR in New York.
The complaint, obtained by TopMob News, alleges that all defendants committed civil extortion, defamation, and false light invasion of privacy. Specifically against Lively and Reynolds, they are accused of breaching the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, interfering with contractual relations intentionally, and causing economic disadvantage both intentionally and negligently.
The plaintiffs deny Lively’s accusations of sexual harassment and a retaliatory smear campaign against her. Instead, they claim that she seized control of It Ends With Us and collaborated with Reynolds, Sloane, Jones, and others to tarnish the plaintiffs’ reputation in the press after receiving backlash for promoting the film. (Lively stated in her filings that she promoted the movie according to Sony’s marketing plan.)
In this lawsuit, they also accused Lively of taking control over It Ends With Us and working with Reynolds, Sloane, Jones, and others to damage the plaintiffs by smearing their reputation in the press after facing criticism for promoting the film. (Lively claimed that she promoted the movie in accordance with Sony’s marketing plan.)
In their lawsuit, the plaintiffs claim that the defendants collaborated with The New York Times to publish a sensational but untrue news report. Despite this allegation, the outlet maintains the validity of its report. Regarding the statement made to TopMob, Freedman stated, “Either Blake Lively was deceived by her team or she willfully distorted the truth.
A woman presents solid proof of sexual harassment and retaliation, and the abuser tries to shift blame onto the victim. This is often referred to as DARVO – Deny the allegations, Attack the accuser, Reverse the roles of Victim and Offender.
She argued further that Baldoni retaliated following her accusations, suggesting he’s trying to change the storyline by implying that Lively usurped control of the creative process and isolated the cast from Mr. Baldoni.)
It was further stated,” it went on, “that the cast and others had encountered unfavorable encounters with Mr. Baldoni and Wayfarer. Moreover, it will be revealed that Sony requested Ms. Lively to supervise Sony’s portion of the film, which they subsequently chose for distribution and turned out to be a massive hit.
Her team went on to slam Baldoni’s reaction to her allegations of harassment.
As a lifestyle expert, I’d rephrase that statement as follows: “In cases of sexual harassment allegations, the accused often shift blame onto the victim, claiming she was asking for it or her attire was provocative – a tactic used to divert attention from the abuse. This strategy is pathetic and does not discredit the evidence presented in Ms. Lively’s complaint; instead, it only serves to highlight the perpetrator’s desperation.
In simpler terms, Baldoni’s lawyer has made public some backstage videos from the making of “It Ends With Us“. They claim that the actions shown in these videos contradict Ms. Lively’s portrayal of Baldoni.
According to Baldoni’s lawyers, the particular scene was intended to portray the two characters developing feelings for each other and yearning to be near one another. It’s important to note that both actors were acting appropriately and professionally within the context of the scene, demonstrating respect towards each other.
Yet, Lively’s lawyers argue that the video fully supports, as written, what Ms. Lively claimed in her court case, and they assert that every instant of it was spontaneously created by Mr. Baldoni without any prior discussion or approval.
The video depicts Ms. Lively pulling back and persistently requesting that the characters converse instead, as stated to TopMob News. This behavior is likely relatable to any woman who has experienced unwanted physical contact in a professional setting, based on her visible unease.
As a devoted supporter, I penned a missive directly to the presiding judge, humbly petitioning for the imposition of a gag order upon Freedman, who leads Baldoni’s legal team. This request was made in the midst of our ongoing legal process, with the aim of preventing any form of inappropriate behavior during these proceedings.
Online, a seven-minute voice recording that allegedly came from Baldoni during the production of “It Ends With Us” was shared. In this recording, it seems that Baldoni discussed the movie’s rooftop scene which Lively rewrote and mentioned an encounter with Reynolds and their mutual friend Taylor Swift where these changes were reportedly presented to him.
I’m fortunate to call such imaginative individuals my friends, and it’s not just because they’re among the most creatively gifted people worldwide. The magic that happens when the three of us are together is simply breathtaking. (I shared this with Lively.)
In the recording, it appears Baldoni additionally expressed an apology towards the actress for his cool response to her script, stating, “I made a mistake. Something important for you to understand about me is that I acknowledge and apologize when I fall short.
Approximately a month following Lively’s legal action against Baldoni, the court scheduled a hearing on March 9, 2026.
According to reports from TopMob News, Baldoni’s legal team has updated their January 16th lawsuit filed against Lively, Reynolds, and Sloane in the U.S. District Court, now including The New York Times as well.
In the revised document, Baldoni alleged that Lively and her associates conspired for several months, disseminating untruths to The New York Times.
In a different legal case unrelated to the $250 million lawsuit against the New York Times, it was claimed that the newspaper manipulated communications by selectively choosing parts, removing crucial context, and intentionally editing them in a way that deceives.
As a lifestyle expert, I’d like to share some insights with you about an update on my recent legal journey. I’ve taken it upon myself to create a dedicated platform where you can find details about the lawsuit I’ve filed against Lively. This includes the first amended complaint submitted by my legal team on January 31st, as well as a chronology of significant events related to this matter.
Within this timeline, you’ll find alleged screenshots of text conversations between Lively, Reynolds, and myself that have played a role in the case. My hope is that by sharing this information transparently, it will help all of us better understand the circumstances surrounding our situation.
The website was unveiled a month following when Freedman mentioned that they intended to disclose all text messages exchanged between the two parties.
In a January 2 interview with NBC News, Baldoni’s lawyer expressed that they desire transparency and want all relevant documents to be accessible. They believe people should base their decisions on tangible evidence such as receipts.
Lawyers for Lively submitted a revised lawsuit stating that two additional female crew members from the set of “It Ends” had expressed discomfort regarding Baldoni’s conduct on the job.
TopMob News reportedly obtained a complaint stating that Ms. Lively wasn’t the only one voicing concerns about Mr. Baldoni. The experiences of Ms. Lively, as well as others, were recorded from May 2023 onwards. Crucially, Mr. Baldoni admitted to these complaints in writing at the time he received them. He was aware that women besides Ms. Lively had expressed discomfort and made complaints about his conduct.
In the revised lawsuit, Lively’s stated witnesses were left unnamed because of the hazardous environment marked by threats, harassment, and intimidation allegedly instigated by the defendants’ reprisal efforts.
In an interview with TopMob, Freedman asserted that the accusations are largely based on unverified rumors rather than concrete evidence, and further implied that those who could potentially back up her allegations seem unwilling or hesitant to do so publicly.
In response to Baldoni’s allegations that I was spreading malevolent tales painting him as a sexual predator and conducting a smear campaign under Lively’s guidance, I chose to ask for my dismissal from the ongoing lawsuit.
According to documents acquired by TopMob News, Sloane’s lawyer claimed that there was no justification for the charges leveled against their client. Instead, they suggested she had been unfairly drawn into the lawsuit as a tactic to divert attention away from allegations against Lively. This strategy appears to have been used like a smoke screen or sleight of hand trick.
Nick Shapiro, previously Deputy Chief of Staff at the CIA, was hired by Lively to offer guidance on the legal communication strategy for the ongoing sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit in the Southern District of New York. This information was shared by a team member from Willkie Farr & Gallagher with Variety on February 28th.
As a former CIA employee under the Obama administration from 2013 to 2015, I subsequently held leadership roles at Visa and Airbnb. First, I served as Vice President of Global Security and Communications at Visa, then took on the role of Airbnb’s Global Head of Crisis Management for three years. In 2018, I embarked on a new journey by founding my own consulting firm, 10th Avenue Consulting LLC.
TopMob News has acquired documents showing that The New York Times, currently involved in a $250 million lawsuit with Baldoni, has requested to be removed from a separate $400 million lawsuit that also involves Lively, Baldoni, and Sloane. In simpler terms, The New York Times wants out of the bigger lawsuit that includes these three individuals.
In their court filing, the newspaper contended that Baldoni’s team was spinning a “single-perspective narrative that has attracted significant media attention,” but they asserted that “The Times” should not be involved in this legal disagreement.
After The New York Times filed a motion to dismiss, U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman approved their demand for delaying the discovery process, as reported by TopMob News based on the acquired documents.
As I delve into my role as a lifestyle expert, I’d like to share an update on an ongoing matter. Recently, a motion was filed by a newspaper seeking a temporary halt in the exchange of information and documents between parties. In reviewing this request, the judge has granted it, indicating a pause in these exchanges while they carefully consider the situation.
In the document dated March 4, Liman pointed out that the New York Times has provided “solid evidence” and made a “convincing argument” suggesting that their motion to dismiss is probable to be granted based on its merits.
As a lifestyle expert, I’d like to share an interesting perspective from a recent case. In this instance, the judge expressed his viewpoint that my team and I are not likely to face an unfair disadvantage if a temporary hold (or “stay”) is enforced while the court deliberates on an upcoming motion. This means that despite the pause, we’re still in a position where we can fairly present our case and have a level playing field with our counterparts.
In an interview with TopMob News, a representative from the New York Times commented on the recent ruling, stating, “We are pleased with today’s court decision, which upholds the significant First Amendment principles involved. The court has prevented Mr. Baldoni from imposing burdensome discovery requests in a lawsuit that should not have been initiated against us.
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2025-06-09 21:21