Justin Baldoni’s Parents Speak About His Year of “Turmoil, Injustice”

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Justin Baldoni’s parents are sending him some love.

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve been following the news around Justin Baldoni, and it’s lovely to see such supportive parents! On his 42nd birthday, Sam and Sharon Baldoni shared a sweet message, clearly standing by him as he navigates a tricky legal situation with Blake Lively regarding the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s novel. It’s always heartwarming to see family support during challenging times.

Justin’s father shared the story of his son’s birth and spoke fondly of the person Justin is today, highlighting his continuous growth and dedication to learning about life, love, family, and friendship.

In a message from January 24th, Sam shared his admiration for Justin’s commitment to his family and his deep love for his wife, Emily Baldoni, whom he affectionately called his daughter-in-law. He continued by telling Justin that despite a difficult year, Justin remained strong in his beliefs, confident that truth and justice would ultimately win. Sam finished with a heartfelt birthday wish, expressing his immense love for his son.

Accompanying his post was throwback image of Justin—dad to two—as a baby in his parent’s arms. 

Oh my gosh, you will NOT believe this! Sharon actually wrote to Justin Baldoni – Justin Baldoni! – and told him she’s always planned to name her son Justin if she ever had one! Apparently, there’s this beautiful quote from the Bahá’í writings about justice, and it just always reminded her of him. It’s so sweet and perfectly him, honestly. I’m seriously crying! She just knew if she had a son, Justin was the name, all thanks to this meaningful quote. It’s just… everything!

She wrote that she never expected to see an outpouring of support for her son, with people worldwide demanding ‘Justice for Justin’.

Sharon expressed her deep gratitude to everyone who supported him through these challenging times.

Justin and Blake have been involved in a lawsuit regarding the book It Ends With Us since late 2024. Recently, text messages and other communications between Blake and several celebrities – including Taylor Swift and her It Ends With Us co-star Jenny Slate – became public.

According to documents obtained by TopMob News, the former Saturday Night Live cast member stated she didn’t want any contact or conversation with Justin or Jamey Heath, the CEO and partner at Wayfarer Studios.

Jenny described the filming experience as unpleasant and upsetting in a message, saying many others felt the same way. She and Blake had already voiced their concerns directly to Sony executive Ange Giannetti, who reportedly shared their views.

She also took aim at Justin, calling him a “false ally.”

She was incredibly frustrated, saying she’d never met anyone quite like him. She described him as a complete fraud, a ridiculous person, and a deeply self-absorbed narcissist.

TopMob News tried contacting Justin’s lawyers and a representative for Jamey, but they didn’t receive a response.

For more on the public drama and legal 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 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 says this alleged campaign caused significant personal and professional damage.

The complaint details accusations including sexual harassment, retaliation, failure to address harassment, aiding and abetting harassment, breach of contract, intentional emotional distress, negligence, invasion of privacy, and interference with her career opportunities.

The following day, The New York Times reported on a supposed smear campaign led by Baldoni and those working with him, targeting Lively and stemming from her complaint to the California Civil Rights Department. The article included messages from Baldoni, his publicist Abel, and crisis communications specialist Nathan, all of which were part of Lively’s complaint. Readers could access the full court documents directly on The New York Times website. Lively stated to the outlet, “I hope my lawsuit exposes these harmful tactics used against those who report wrongdoing and helps protect others who might be targeted.”

Following reports of Blake Lively’s complaint, Bryan Freedman, the lawyer representing Antonio Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios, strongly refuted her claims. In a statement to The New York Times, he called Lively’s accusations “shameful” and “categorically false,” arguing they were a desperate attempt to repair her reputation after her own public statements and actions during the film’s promotion. He emphasized that Lively’s interviews and press appearances were public, unedited, and allowed the public to form their own opinions. Freedman dismissed the claims as false, outrageous, and intended to damage Baldoni and Wayfarer’s reputations.

Freedman also defended Wayfarer’s decision to hire a crisis manager, explaining that it happened before the film’s marketing campaign began. He stated that Wayfarer did not proactively retaliate but only responded to media inquiries to ensure accurate reporting and monitored social media. He further clarified that internal planning and private discussions with PR professionals are standard practice and that there was no evidence of proactive negative measures taken by Wayfarer.

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, according to Ari Emanuel, CEO of WME’s parent company, Endeavor.

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 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 end their relationship with Baldoni.

As a huge fan of Blake Lively, I’ve been so impressed with how she’s handled everything since filing that complaint and with the article in The New York Times. It’s been amazing to see so many people come out in support of her. Colleen Hoover, the author of It Ends With Us, shared a heartfelt message on Instagram, thanking Blake for her kindness and honesty and encouraging everyone to read the article. Jenny Slate, who played Ryle’s sister, publicly stated she stood with Blake, praising her as a leader and a loyal friend. She said what happened was deeply disturbing and she admired Blake’s bravery. Even Brandon Sklenar, who played a love interest in the film, shared the complaint and urged everyone to read it. And of course, her Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants sisters – America Ferrera, Alexis Bledel, and Amber Tamblyn – all rallied around her, declaring their solidarity. It just shows how much everyone loves and respects her, and I’m so proud of her for speaking out.

As many of you may have heard, I’ve stepped down from co-hosting The Man Enough Podcast. It was a tough decision, and I wanted to share a bit about why. I’m incredibly grateful for the last four years, the amazing conversations we had, and especially for you, our listeners. You shared your hearts with me, and I truly cherished being a part of that community. While I’m not going into specific details right now, my departure came shortly after Blake Lively publicly shared her experiences, and it led me to some serious reflection. I remain committed to the values we built on the show – things like honesty, vulnerability, and growth – and I believe everyone deserves a safe and respectful environment. I’ll be taking some time to process everything, but I want you to know I’ll always support those who speak up against injustice and demand accountability. I’ll share more when I’m ready, but for now, thank you for everything.

Stephanie Jones, a former publicist for Baldoni, and her agency, Jonesworks LLC, have filed a lawsuit against Baldoni, his company Wayfarer, and current publicists Abel and Nathan. The lawsuit, filed in New York on December 24th, claims that Abel and Nathan secretly worked together for months to damage Jones and Jonesworks’ reputation, break contracts, and steal clients. According to the suit, they coordinated with Baldoni and Wayfarer to launch a negative media campaign against Baldoni’s co-star, then falsely blamed Jones for the campaign after using the crisis to create conflict between her and Baldoni. Abel previously worked at Jonesworks until last summer. The lawsuit further alleges that Abel and Nathan are now attempting 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 violating their contractual obligations and refusing to resolve the dispute through private arbitration. 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, who represents Nathan, Abel, Baldoni, and those connected to Wayfarer, stated that none of his clients were asked to provide information and that he plans to sue Jones for sharing messages from Abel’s phone with Lively’s legal team.

On December 31st, Baldoni, Wayfarer, Heath, Sarowitz, Nathan, TAG, Abel, RWA Communications, and Street Relations filed a $250 million lawsuit against The New York Times. The suit claims the newspaper falsely reported on a supposed retaliatory campaign the plaintiffs conducted against someone who raised concerns about potential misconduct.

According to the lawsuit, The New York Times published libelous statements and invaded the plaintiffs’ privacy by relying on unverified claims from the individual who made the initial accusations. The plaintiffs argue the newspaper misrepresented messages and ignored evidence that contradicted those claims. They state the newspaper essentially repeated the accuser’s story without proper investigation, while ignoring evidence of the accuser’s own misconduct.

The plaintiffs claim the accuser, not them, was the one who engaged in a deliberate smear campaign. The New York Times stated it intends to vigorously defend the lawsuit, asserting that its reporting was meticulous, responsible, 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, Sarowitz, the production company It Ends With Us Movie LLC, Nathan, Nathan’s company TAG, and Abel in New York.

The lawsuit, as detailed in court documents obtained by TopMob News, alleges sexual harassment, retaliation, failure to address harassment, aiding and abetting harassment and retaliation, breach of contract, intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress, and a false portrayal of her privacy.

These claims were initially outlined in a complaint Lively filed with the California Civil Rights Department (CRD) earlier that month.

Regarding Baldoni’s lawsuit against The New York Times (which did not include Lively as a defendant), Lively’s attorneys stated to TopMob that her claims remain unchanged. They argued that Baldoni’s lawsuit incorrectly suggests Lively’s CRD complaint was a tactic to avoid suing him directly, and that she never intended to pursue legal action. They emphasized 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 only lawsuit. In a January 2nd interview with NBC News, Baldoni and Wayfarer’s lawyer, Freedman, confirmed their plans to also 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 YouTube January 7th), Freedman stated that if someone’s wife experiences sexual harassment, the appropriate response isn’t to make fun of the person involved. Instead, he emphasized the importance of taking the situation seriously, filing HR complaints, and following proper legal procedures rather than turning it into a joke.

Lively’s lawyers have stated that she has faced increased criticism since filing her lawsuit. They emphasize that the case, which alleges sexual harassment and retaliation, is supported by solid evidence and isn’t simply a disagreement or a matter of differing opinions. The lawyers claim that Wayfarer and those connected to it have engaged in a deliberate campaign to discredit Lively after she attempted to ensure a safe work environment on a film set, and that this campaign has intensified since the lawsuit was filed.

They also cautioned against common tactics used to deflect from allegations of misconduct, such as blaming the person who experienced the harassment or falsely portraying the harasser as the victim. They stressed that these approaches minimize the seriousness of such claims.

The lawyers made it clear that public statements won’t protect Wayfarer from the lawsuit and that they intend to pursue the case fully in court. They also reiterated that sexual harassment and retaliation are illegal in all workplaces.

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 own team sent heavily edited documents to The New York Times even before filing their complaint. He further explained they are releasing evidence demonstrating a pattern of bullying and threats aimed at taking control of the film. According to Freedman, this behavior is consistent with Lively’s past actions, where she allegedly used others to deliver threats and get her way, and they have ample proof to support their 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, claims the defendants engaged in civil extortion, defamation, and invasion of privacy. Lively is specifically accused of violating an implied agreement to act in good faith, while both she and Reynolds are accused of interfering with contracts and unfairly damaging the plaintiffs’ economic opportunities.

The plaintiffs deny Lively’s claims of sexual harassment and a retaliatory campaign against her. They allege Lively took control of the It Ends With Us movie promotion and, with the help of Reynolds, Sloane, and others, launched a negative media campaign after facing criticism for her marketing efforts. (Lively maintains she followed Sony’s approved marketing plan.)

The lawsuit claims the defendants worked with The New York Times to publish a damaging and false news report, though the outlet defends its reporting.

In a statement, Freedman stated that Blake Lively was either misinformed by her team or deliberately 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 problem, alleging he’s falsely suggesting she took over 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. They also state Sony specifically asked Lively to oversee the final cut of the film, which ultimately proved successful.

The lawyers strongly condemned Baldoni’s reaction to the harassment allegations, accusing him of blaming Lively and focusing on her actions rather than addressing the abuse. They argue his defense relies on victim-blaming and won’t disprove the evidence supporting Lively’s claims. They characterize his strategy as a desperate attempt to shift the focus and ultimately, a failing one.

Attorneys for actor Justin Baldoni have released footage from the set of It Ends With Us, arguing it disproves allegations made by co-star Blake Lively. They state the scene was intended to depict a loving connection between the characters and that both actors behaved professionally and respectfully.

Lively’s lawyers, however, disagree, claiming the video actually supports her claims. They assert that Baldoni improvised all of his actions without prior discussion or Lively’s consent. They point to moments in the video where Lively is seen pulling away and asking to simply have the characters converse. Lively’s team believes the footage clearly demonstrates her discomfort and will resonate with anyone who has experienced inappropriate touching in a professional setting.

The couple sent a letter to the judge asking that Freedman, the lead lawyer for the other side, be prohibited from speaking publicly about the case. They want to prevent any unfair or inappropriate behavior that could influence the legal process.

A seven-minute voice memo reportedly sent by director Baldoni to actress Lively during the filming of It Ends With Us was leaked online. The memo appears to discuss a rooftop scene Lively had revised and how those changes were brought to him, allegedly during a meeting with Lively’s husband, Ryan Reynolds, and singer Taylor Swift. Baldoni told Lively, “We should all have friends like that, especially considering how incredibly creative you three are together.” In the recording, he also seemed to apologize for not initially being enthusiastic about her revised script, admitting, “I messed up. I always admit when I’m wrong and apologize.”

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 Blake Lively, her representatives Reynolds and Sloane, and Sloane’s PR firm, Vision PR, Inc., to now include The New York Times. The updated filing claims Lively and her team spent months secretly working together and providing false information to the newspaper. Baldoni alleges 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 chronological overview of key events. This overview featured what Baldoni claims are screenshots of text conversations between Lively, Reynolds, and himself.

This website went live just a month after Baldoni’s legal team announced they intended to publicly share all text messages between the parties involved.

In an interview with NBC News on January 2nd, Baldoni’s lawyer stated they want to make all the evidence available so the public can draw their own conclusions.

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 Baldoni’s behavior on set.

The updated lawsuit, obtained by TopMob News, asserts that Lively wasn’t the only one to complain about Baldoni. It claims that these complaints, along with those of Lively, were recorded as they happened starting in May 2023, and that Baldoni acknowledged them in writing at the time. He was aware other women were also uncomfortable with his behavior.

The lawsuit doesn’t name these two witnesses, as Lively fears a climate of threats and harassment created by the defendants’ response to her claims.

Baldoni’s attorney, Freedman, responded to the updated lawsuit by calling it filled with unreliable hearsay and suggesting the unnamed women are no longer willing to support Lively’s accusations.

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 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 claims made by Lively.

I was really interested to learn that Alex Lively has brought Nick Shapiro, a former Deputy Chief of Staff for the CIA, onto her team. Apparently, he’s there to help guide the legal strategy for the lawsuit happening in New York – the one dealing with sexual harassment and retaliation. Someone from her law firm, Willkie Farr & Gallagher, told Variety about it just a few days ago, on February 28th.

David Shapiro began his career with the CIA from 2013 to 2015, serving during the Obama administration. He later held leadership positions at Visa, overseeing global security and communications, and at Airbnb, leading crisis management. After three years at Airbnb, he established his own firm, 10th Avenue Consulting LLC.

As a longtime reader, I was surprised to learn that The New York Times is trying to get itself removed from that big $400 million lawsuit. Apparently, they’ve filed a motion to dismiss, and TopMob News got a hold of the court documents. It seems Lively, Baldoni, and Sloane – along with Sloane’s company – are all involved too.

In a court filing, the newspaper asserted that Baldoni’s team was presenting a biased account that had attracted significant media attention, but maintained that The Times should not be involved in the conflict. Lawyers for The New York Times also pointed out that Baldoni and his colleagues at Wayfarer initially sued the paper for $250 million, a case which was dropped when they filed a larger $400 million lawsuit that included The New York Times, according to documents obtained by Deadline.

U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman has temporarily paused the exchange of information and documents in a case involving 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.

Judge Liman stated that The New York Times 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 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 rights at stake and prevents Mr. Baldoni from unnecessarily burdening the newspaper with requests in a case 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 his lawyers attempted to subpoena Swift – a spokesperson for the singer responded.

A spokesperson confirmed to TopMob News on May 9th that Taylor Swift had no involvement in the movie. They stated she wasn’t part of the casting process, didn’t contribute to the music, and never reviewed any version of the film.

Taylor Swift’s team explained that her only contribution to the film was allowing the use of her song, ‘My Tears Ricochet.’ They believe the legal request for her involvement is simply an attempt to generate publicity and sensationalize the case by using her name, when it should be focused on the actual facts. Many other artists also licensed songs for the film.

Baldoni’s attorneys withdrew their request later that month, per Lively’s legal team.

As a long-time follower of this case, I was relieved to hear the judge dismissed the countersuit against Lively, Reynolds, their publicist Sloane, Vision PR, and The New York Times. It seems Baldoni and his lawyers just couldn’t provide enough evidence to support their claims of defamation or civil extortion, which is a real win for everyone involved. It’s good to see things moving forward and hopefully putting this whole situation to rest.

After the lawsuit against her was dropped, Lively spoke on Instagram about how damaging these kinds of cases can be, saying she experienced the hurt and public embarrassment they often cause. She also pointed out that many people don’t have the money or support to defend themselves when unfairly sued.

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, subsequent retaliation, and a fabricated attempt to damage someone’s reputation. Ms. Lively’s legal team has called this alleged campaign ‘untraceable’ because they can’t provide any evidence it ever occurred.

Lively gave a deposition at her lawyers’ office in New York. While some news outlets described it as a tense confrontation between Lively and Baldoni, her legal team later formally objected to reports suggesting she required a large group of supporting witnesses.

According to Lively’s lawyer, Baldoni was present in the room with the other people she was suing, and their lawyers, too.

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2026-01-26 23:50