Ryan Reynolds is dead serious about supporting Blake Lively.
A day after the actress from “Another Simple Favor” hinted at her ongoing legal dispute with her co-star and director from “It Ends With Us,” Justin Baldoni, during the TIME100 Gala, the star of “Deadpool” praised Blake’s strength and resilience.
In a recent interview with People, published on April 25th, I shared my deep admiration for my wife. There are so many ways she impresses me, and I must admit, I haven’t encountered anyone as strong as her.
He went on saying, “Her ways of dealing are simply drinking coffee, an astonishing fact for me since I can’t imagine maintaining what she does, all while showing such elegance and fortitude. It’s truly thought-provoking.
In late December, Blake initiated a lawsuit against Justin and his production company Wayfarer Studios, which created the movie “It Ends With Us“, alleging sexual harassment and retaliation. Justin and other named parties, including Blake, Ryan (likely another individual), Blake’s publicist Leslie Sloane, and The New York Times, have all denied these accusations. In response, Justin filed a defamation suit against Blake, Ryan, Leslie Sloane, and The New York Times for their coverage of the initial complaint. (All parties maintain their innocence.)
The evening prior at the TIME100 Gala, Blake subtly suggested the emotional strain caused by the legal disputes surrounding her book “It Ends With Us” had its impact on her.
In simpler terms, the former Gossip Girl star expressed, “I have a lot to share about the past two years of my life, but this isn’t the right place for it.” (Credit goes to Variety for the footage.)
37-years-old, she was accompanied by Ryan and her mother Elaine Lively to the event. Moreover, she acknowledged that receiving the title of an “influential” individual brings about a “substantial duty.
Blake added, “It’s important not just how we utilize something, but also who and what we choose to support, what we choose to remain silent about, and what we prioritize financially versus in our daily lives.
If Ryan finds the actress from The Age of Adaline to possess “deep” grace and power, it’s not surprising that Blake attributes this strength to her mom, who survived an attempt by a work colleague to end her life when she was raising three young children many years prior to Blake’s birth, as the origin of that resilience.
As a committed advocate, I’ve had the privilege to witness and even interact with the extraordinary power of female victory. It’s not just something I read about or hear stories of; it’s a reality that fills this very room today. The triumphant conclusions we must strive to achieve, as women and young girls, are within our grasp, and I am inspired by the sight of it.
She stated, “Despite all challenges, we can persevere, be it physically or emotionally, and not just survive but flourish. It might seem improbable at times, even when we’re facing intense suffering. Always remember the strength a woman possesses in withstanding hardship.
For a deep dive into the It Ends With Us legal battle between Blake and Justin, keep reading…
Four months following the release of the movie adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s book “It Ends With Us” in cinemas, Blake Lively submitted a complaint to the California Civil Rights Department (CRD) against her costar Justin Baldoni and his associates on December 20th, as reported by The New York Times.
The complaint, obtained by TopMob News, named Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios (Wayfarer), its CEO Jamey Heath, its co-founder 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 “launched a sophisticated press and digital campaign in retaliation” after she voiced concerns about reported misconduct on set. According to her, herself and other cast and crew members “endured invasive, unwelcome, unprofessional, and sexually inappropriate behavior” by Baldoni and Heath.
Lively further stated that this alleged campaign against her resulted in “significant damage” to both her personal and professional life.
The accusations detailed in the complaint include sexual harassment; retaliation; failing to investigate, prevent, or remedy 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 exposé detailing a suspected counterattack smear operation carried out by Baldoni and his allies, allegedly targeting Lively – referencing her CRD complaint. In their report, the newspaper shared messages exchanged between Baldoni, Abel (his publicist), Nathan (crisis communications specialist) and others, as part of the complaint. The articles also provided access to the court documents on the The New York Times‘ official website. Lively expressed her hope that her lawsuit would unveil these underhanded tactics aimed at discrediting those who speak out against misconduct and safeguard others who might be similarly targeted.
—Reporting by Sara Ouerfelli
Following the disclosure of Lively’s grievances, attorney Bryan Freedman – who represents Baldoni, Wayfarer, and their associates – strongly disputed Lively’s allegations. He stated on The New York Times website that it was regrettable for Lively and her representatives to make such severe and absolutely false claims against Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios, and their representatives. This was another desperate attempt to improve her unfavorable reputation, which stemmed from her own remarks and actions during the film campaign; interviews and press activities that were visible publicly, in real-time, and uncensored, enabling the internet to form its opinions and views. These assertions are entirely false, excessively sensational, and deliberately salacious, with the intention of causing harm in public and perpetuating a narrative in the media.
Freedman also justified Wayfarer’s choice to engage a crisis manager, stating this was done prior to the movie’s marketing campaign.
“The representatives of Wayfarer Studios took no proactive measures nor retaliated; they only responded to incoming media inquiries to ensure balanced and accurate reporting and monitored social activity,” he later added. “What is significantly absent from the selectively presented correspondence is the evidence that there were no active measures taken with media or otherwise; just internal planning and private communication to strategize, which is standard practice among public relations professionals.
As an ardent fan, I can’t help but share this intriguing piece of news. After the publication of the article in The New York Times on December 21, the renowned talent agency William Morris Endeavor (WME) parted ways with the talented actor Baldoni. Ari Emanuel, CEO of the agency’s parent company Endeavor, confirmed this to the outlet.
However, it’s essential to clarify that Ryan Reynolds, Lively’s husband, was not the cause of WME’s decision to sever ties with Baldoni, as later alleged by Baldoni in his lawsuit against The New York Times (more on that later).
In a statement made to The Hollywood Reporter on January 1, WME denied Baldoni’s claim that Reynolds had pressured Baldoni’s agent during the Deadpool & Wolverine premiere. They emphasized that Baldoni’s former representative was not at the Deadpool & Wolverine premiere, and there was no pressure from Reynolds or Lively at any time to drop Baldoni as a client.
Following Lively’s CRD filing and the New York Times article, various prominent figures expressed their support for her accusations against Baldoni. Notable among them was the author of “It Ends With Us,” Hoover, who voiced her backing on Instagram Stories.
On December 21st, Jenny Slate, who played the sister of Baldoni’s character Ryle, publicly declared her allegiance with Lively. In a statement to Today on the 23rd of December, she said, “As Blake Lively’s castmate and friend, I express my solidarity as she confronts those rumored to have orchestrated an assault on her reputation.” She further added, “Blake is a leader, a reliable friend, and a source of emotional support for many who know and care about her. What has been disclosed about the attack on Blake is horrifying, unsettling, and deeply threatening. I commend my friend, I admire her courage, and I stand by her side.”
Similarly, Brandon Sklenar, a romantic interest for Lively’s character Lily Bloom, shared a link to the complaint published on The New York Times’ website and encouraged others to read it, stating “For the love of God, read this.”
Furthermore, Lively’s Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants co-stars America Ferrera, Alexis Bledel, and Amber Tamblyn also declared their solidarity with her.
Liz Plank recently shared that she is no longer co-hosting “The Man Enough Podcast” with Baldoni and Heath, a move she announced on Instagram on Dec 23. In her message to her followers, she expressed gratitude for the trust placed in her, the heartfelt stories shared, and the strong community created over the past four years. Although she didn’t specify her reason for leaving, her decision came shortly after Lively’s complaint against Baldoni and his associates at Wayfarer. Plank concluded by stating that she remains committed to the values they built together, trusting that together, they can create a better future. She also mentioned that she will share more about her departure soon as she continues to process the situation, and will continue to support those who speak out against injustice.
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 others of conspiring against them for months. The lawsuit claims that Abel and Nathan orchestrated a campaign to publicly and privately attack Jones and Jonesworks, breach contracts, and steal clients. Behind Jones’s back, they allegedly coordinated with Baldoni and Wayfarer to launch a smear campaign against one of Baldoni’s film co-stars, and then used the ensuing crisis to drive a wedge between Jones and Baldoni. The lawsuit also accuses Abel and Nathan of falsely blaming Jones for the smear campaign, as she had no involvement in it. The defendants have been accused of defaming and attacking Jones in the industry. Abel worked at Jonesworks until last summer, according to her LinkedIn profile. The suit alleges that Baldoni and Wayfarer, who are no longer Jonesworks clients, breached their contractual obligations with Jonesworks and refused to settle the dispute privately through arbitration. When reached for comment, the defendants did not respond.
In a statement given to Variety on December 23rd, Lively’s legal team revealed they acquired the texts mentioned in The New York Times article through a subpoena sent to Jonesworks. Freedman, who represents both Nathan, Abel, and Baldoni along with his Wayfarer associates, further clarified that none of his clients were served subpoenas related to this matter, and he plans to initiate legal action against 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 the same 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. According to court documents obtained by TopMob News, she is accusing the defendants of various offenses including sexual harassment, retaliation, breach of contract, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligent infliction of emotional distress, false light invasion of privacy, and aiding and abetting these actions.
The allegations in this lawsuit mirror those made in the CRD complaint Lively filed earlier that month. In response to the lawsuit Baldoni and his associates have countered by filing against _The New York Times_, it’s important to note that Lively is not listed as a defendant in this case. Her lawyers, in a statement to TopMob, noted that “the claims in this lawsuit do not alter anything about the allegations made in her CRD and federal complaints.”
They further stated that “the premise that Lively’s administrative complaint against Wayfarer and others was a strategy to avoid filing a lawsuit against Baldoni and Wayfarer is false, as demonstrated by the federal complaint filed by Lively today.
In their lawsuit against The New York Times, Baldoni and his team have made it clear that they are not finished with this legal battle. As the court documents reveal, there are more parties involved who have allegedly acted wrongly, and they intend to file additional lawsuits. In a recent interview with NBC News, Baldoni’s attorney Freedman confirmed that they definitely plan to take legal action against Lively as well.
The headlines about Baldoni and Lively haven’t ceased, with some social media users suggesting that Reynolds may have teased Baldoni in his movie “Deadpool & Wolverine” through the character Nicepool. However, Reynolds has yet to comment on these rumors. In response, Baldoni’s lawyer, Freedman, shared his thoughts during an interview on The Megyn Kelly Show, stating that if one’s wife is sexually harassed, they should take it seriously rather than making light of the situation or turning it into a joke. Instead, they should file complaints and follow legal procedures to address the issue.
In their statement, Lively’s attorneys clarified that the ongoing lawsuit against Wayfarer and its associates is about substantial accusations of sexual harassment and retaliation, with solid evidence to support these claims. They emphasized that this is not a disagreement or personal conflict, but rather unlawful retaliatory actions taken against Lively for standing up for herself and others on set. Furthermore, they stated that since the lawsuit was filed, there have been additional attempts to attack Lively.
They urged everyone to keep in mind that sexual harassment and retaliation are unacceptable in any workplace or industry. They warned against tactics like blaming the victim or suggesting that they invited or brought on the harassment, misunderstood the intentions, or lied. They also pointed out that media statements are not a defense for Lively’s claims, and they will continue to pursue her case through the legal process.
On January 16th, Baldoni, Heath, Wayfarer, Abel (publicist), Nathan (crisis communication specialist), and It Ends With Us Movie LLC filed a lawsuit against Lively, Reynolds, Leslie Sloane (publicist) and Vision PR firm in New York. The complaint alleges that all defendants have committed acts of civil extortion, defamation, and false light invasion of privacy. Specifically, Lively and Reynolds are accused of breaching the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, intentional interference with contractual relations, economic advantage, and negligent interference with prospective economic advantage.
The plaintiffs refute Lively’s claims of sexual harassment and a smear campaign against her, instead accusing her of taking control of It Ends With Us and teaming up with Reynolds, Sloane, Jones, and others to tarnish the reputation of the plaintiffs in the media after receiving criticism for promoting the film. (Lively maintains that she promoted the movie according to Sony’s marketing plan.)
In the lawsuit, plaintiffs claim that defendants collaborated with The New York Times to publish a sensational yet untrue news report. The outlet maintains its report’s accuracy. In response to TopMob, Freedman stated, “Either Blake Lively was deceived by her team or she deliberately lied about the truth.
Lively’s legal team labeled his lawsuit as “a continuation in the pattern of an abuser,” explaining to TopMob News, “This scenario has been repeated often: A woman presents solid proof of sexual misconduct and retaliation, and the perpetrator tries to shift blame onto the victim. This tactic is commonly known as DARVO – Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim and Offender.
In addition, she claimed he responded with counter-accusations after she brought charges against him, asserting that Baldoni was attempting to divert attention from Lively’s actions of taking creative control and pushing the cast away from Mr. Baldoni.
It’s clear from the evidence,” it went on, “that the cast and others had unfavorable encounters with Mr. Baldoni and Wayfarer. Moreover, the evidence will reveal that Sony requested Ms. Lively to supervise their portion of the film, which they subsequently chose for distribution and turned out to be a huge hit.
Her team went on to slam Baldoni’s reaction to her allegations of harassment.
In a nutshell, the defendants’ argument regarding sexual harassment accusations is that she welcomed it and it was her fault. They also imply that her attire led to the incident. However, her legal team stated that this approach shifts blame from the abuser to the victim, which is both desperate and ineffective because it does not dispute the evidence presented in Ms. Lively’s complaint, and will ultimately fall short.
In a public statement, Baldoni’s lawyer disclosed previously unseen footage from the set of “It Ends With Us“, asserting that the depicted actions by the actor contradict Ms. Lively’s portrayal of him.
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 is evident that both actors were acting appropriately within the context of the scene, and their actions showed a deep level of respect and professionalism towards one another.
As a committed follower, I affirm that according to Lively’s legal team, the video serves as an unquestionable confirmation of her account in the lawsuit. They assert that each instant depicted in the video was spontaneously created by Mr. Baldoni without any prior discussion or consent.
The video depicts Ms. Lively recoiling and frequently urging the characters to simply converse, as reported to TopMob News in a statement. Any female employee who has experienced unwanted physical contact at work may relate to Ms. Lively’s unease.
In simpler terms, they wrote a letter to the judge managing their case, asking for Freedman (the leader of Baldoni’s legal team) to be subjected to a restraining order on speech during their court process, to prevent any inappropriate behavior.
A seven-minute audio message supposedly sent by Baldoni to Lively during the filming of It Ends With Us was made public. In this recording, it seems that the director discussed the movie’s rooftop scene, which Lively had rewritten, and mentioned a meeting he claimed took place with Reynolds and their mutual friend Taylor Swift regarding these changes.
He mentioned to Lively that it’s fantastic to have friends as inventive as those two, not just because they’re among the world’s most creative individuals, but also because their combined creativity is simply astonishing. It’s almost hard to believe!
In the recording, it appears Baldoni also seemed to express an apology to the actress regarding his cool response to her script, stating, “I made a mistake. An important aspect about me is that I’ll own up to my mistakes and offer my sincere apologies when needed.
Exactly one month following the filing of Lively’s official lawsuit against Baldoni, a court hearing was scheduled for March 9, 2026.
Baldoni’s legal team has made changes to their January 16th rebuttal filed at the U.S. District Court against Lively, Reynolds, and Sloane. These adjustments now also involve The New York Times, as reported from documents acquired by TopMob News.
In the revised paperwork, Baldoni alleged that Lively and her associates conspired for several months, spreading untruths to The New York Times.
The submitted document, distinct from the $250 million lawsuit against the NYT, claimed that the newspaper manipulated information by selectively choosing certain communications, removing essential context, and purposefully editing them to deceive.
Baldoni established a website detailing his legal dispute with Lively. This includes the initial amended complaint submitted by Baldoni’s legal team on January 31st, along with a chronology of significant events. The timeline document reportedly contains screenshots of text conversations said to involve Lively, Reynolds, and Baldoni.
One month following Freedman’s announcement about releasing all text messages exchanged between the two parties, the website went live.
In a January 2nd interview with NBC News, Baldoni’s lawyer expressed that they desire transparency and want all relevant documents to become public knowledge. They believe that people should be able to form their own opinions using the available evidence or receipts.
Legal representatives for Lively submitted a revised lawsuit statement, alleging that two additional female crew members from the production of “It End” felt uneasy due to Baldoni’s conduct during filming.
TopMob News obtained a complaint stating that Ms. Lively wasn’t the only one voicing concerns about Mr. Baldoni. The complaint, which dates back to May 2023, details similar experiences from Ms. Lively and other individuals. Crucially, unlike the storyline Defendants have concocted, Mr. Baldoni admitted the complaints in writing at the time, acknowledging that women besides Ms. Lively felt uneasy about his conduct due to their discomfort and complaints.
In my account, for safety reasons, I intentionally omitted the identities of the two individuals who are prepared to testify in this case. This decision was made due to the hazardous environment of threats, harassment, and intimidation that has been stirred up by the Defendants’ reprisal campaign.
In an interview with TopMob, Freedman asserted that the accusations were largely based on unproven statements and implied that those involved in the allegations are either unwilling or hesitant to corroborate or publicly endorse her claims.
Following Baldoni’s allegations against Sloane of spreading “harmful tales” and depicting him as a “sexual offender”, while also claiming that Sloane was running a “defamation campaign” at Lively’s behest, Sloane chose to ask for dismissal from the ongoing lawsuit.
According to documents acquired by TopMob News, Sloane’s lawyer argued that there was no substantial evidence supporting the claims against her, and she was merely drawn into the lawsuit as a way to divert attention away from Lively’s allegations, using her as a smokescreen or illusion.
Nick Shapiro, a former Deputy Chief of Staff at the CIA, was recruited by Lively to provide legal communication advice for handling the ongoing sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit in the Southern District of New York. This was disclosed by a team member from Willkie Farr & Gallagher on February 28th to Variety.
Shapiro, who served for the CIA from 2013 to 2015 during the Obama administration, later held positions as Visa’s vice president of worldwide security and communications, and Airbnb’s global head of crisis management. After spending three years at the rental company, he established his own consulting firm, 10th Avenue Consulting LLC.
As a devoted follower, I’d rephrase it as: In a turn of events, I find myself involved, along with Baldoni and Lively, in a $400 million lawsuit, which was initially filed against us. However, The New York Times, currently engaged in a separate $250 million lawsuit with Baldoni, has requested to be released from this larger lawsuit, according to reports obtained by TopMob News.
In their filing, the newspaper contended that Baldoni’s team presented a biased account that has attracted much attention in the media. However, they asserted that The Times should not be involved in this disagreement.
In response to The New York Times’ motion to dismiss, I, as a dedicated follower, can confirm that U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman has indeed granted their request for a delay in the discovery process, as reported by TopMob News based on obtained documents.
The court granted the request for a temporary hold on the exchange of information or documents between parties, as the judge examines the newspaper’s motion filed on February 28.
In a document dated March 4, Liman pointed out that the New York Times provides “solid reasons” and a “convincing argument” suggesting their motion to dismiss is probably successful based on the case’s fundamental aspects.
Additionally, the judge expressed his viewpoint that Baldoni’s legal team won’t suffer an unfair disadvantage during the court’s decision-making process on the upcoming motion, while it remains under consideration.
In response to TopMob News, a representative from the NYT commented on the recent ruling, stating, “We are grateful for today’s court decision, which acknowledges the significant First Amendment issues involved. The court has prevented Mr. Baldoni from overwhelming The Times with discovery requests in a case that should not have been initiated against us.
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