Ryan Reynolds Accuses Justin Baldoni of Faking Advocacy Amid Legal Drama!

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The It Ends With Us drama continues to blossom.

As a lifestyle connoisseur, I’m keeping an eye on the intriguing back-and-forth in the courtroom between Blake Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and Justin Baldoni. In this unfolding drama, Baldoni and his legal team at Wayfarer Studios have requested the judge to reject Ryan Reynolds’ motion for dismissal of the $400 million lawsuit they’ve filed against him.

In the filing made in April, which TopMob News obtained, the legal team argues that Reynolds is misrepresenting the case. They claim that contrary to what Reynolds suggests, there are sufficient facts within the Wayfarer Parties’ First Amended Complaint (the ‘FAC’) to substantiate their allegations against him. This support comes from both his own actions and his role as a co-conspirator.

In reply, according to a statement made to People, a representative from Reynolds refuted Baldoni’s assertions.

The spokesperson also stated that the Wayfarer Studio parties persistently assert defamation, yet they fail to specify who exactly was defamed, what exact statements caused harm, and prove that any real damage was done.

The spokesperson also seemingly referred to Baldoni’s public persona as an advocate for women.

Instead of Mr. Baldoni, who constructed his image as a confident listener to women in his life, it’s important to note that Ryan Reynolds genuinely embodies this character and will remain a steadfast supporter of his wife as she bravely confronts those who not only harassed her but also retaliated against her.

TopMob News has reached out to Baldoni’s team for comment and has not yet heard back.

Following Lively’s request, the court is now considering dismissing Baldoni’s counterclaim against her – a claim he made as a response to her lawsuit alleging sexual harassment and retaliation.

According to documents obtained by TopMob News on March 20, Lively’s legal team criticizes Baldoni’s countersuit as “petty and disorganized,” asserting it as an “egregious misuse of the judicial system, unsuitable for federal court.” The filing also refers to a California law that provides safeguards for individuals reporting claims of sexual harassment.

The motion stated that it’s not allowed to use defamation lawsuits as a means of retaliation against those who have filed legal claims or spoken publicly about sexual harassment and retaliation. This is because the ability to seek justice through legal channels and the press’s right to report on such matters are fundamental principles that are safeguarded by various protections, including absolute litigation and fair report privileges.

In response, Baldoni’s legal team characterized Lively’s action as an effort to extricate herself from a predicament she herself created, which they deemed as one of the most appalling instances of misusing the legal system.

In simpler terms, the lawyer declared that they would keep Ms. Lively responsible for her allegations against their clients, which were clearly malicious falsehoods of harassment and retaliation. As the investigation progresses, her unrealistic assertions will be exposed as false, easily disproven with tangible, factual evidence.

For more on the case between the two It Ends With Us stars, keep reading.

Four months following the theater release of the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s book “It Ends With Us,” Blake Lively filed a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department (CRD) against her costar Justin Baldoni and his associates on December 20, as reported by The New York Times. In the complaint obtained by TopMob News, Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios, its CEO Jamey Heath, its cofounder Steve Sarowitz, Baldoni’s publicist Jennifer Abel, RWA Communications, crisis communications specialist Melissa Nathan, The Agency Group PR LLC (TAG), contractor Jed Wallace and Street Relations Inc. were named as defendants.

In her complaint, Lively claimed that Baldoni and his Wayfarer associates engaged in a coordinated press and digital campaign in retaliation for expressing concerns about alleged misconduct on set. She stated that she, along with other cast and crew members, “encountered intrusive, unwanted, unprofessional, and sexually inappropriate behavior” by Baldoni and Heath.

Lively further argued that this alleged campaign against her caused significant harm to both her personal and professional life. The charges listed in the complaint include sexual harassment; retaliation; failure to address, prevent, or rectify 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 suspected counterattack smear operation conducted by Baldoni and his colleagues against Lively – referencing her CRD complaint. In their article, they shared messages exchanged between Baldoni, Abel (publicist), Nathan (crisis communications specialist) and others, which were part of the complaint. The court documents related to this case could also be accessed on the The New York Times‘ website. Lively told the outlet, “I hope my legal action serves to expose these underhanded retaliatory tactics aimed at silencing those who speak against misconduct, and protect others who may find themselves in similar situations.

Following the release of Lively’s complaint, attorney Bryan Freedman, who represents Baldoni, Wayfarer, and their representatives, strongly refuted her allegations. In a statement published on The New York Times website, he stated:

“It’s unfortunate that Ms. Lively and her team would make such grave and factually incorrect claims against Mr. Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios, and their representatives. This seems to be another desperate attempt to repair her damaged reputation, stemming from her own statements and actions during the film campaign; interviews and media activities that were publicly observed in real-time and uncensored, allowing for public opinion to form. These allegations are entirely false, excessive, scandalous, and intended to cause harm and perpetuate a narrative in the media.”

Freedman also supported Wayfarer’s decision to engage a crisis manager, explaining that this was done before the movie’s promotional campaign. Later, he noted:

“Wayfarer Studios’ representatives did not take any proactive measures nor retaliate; instead, they responded only to incoming media inquiries to ensure accurate and balanced reporting and monitored social activity. What is conspicuously absent from the selectively shared correspondence is the proof that no proactive steps were taken with the media or otherwise; just internal planning and private discussions to strategize, which is routine practice among public relations professionals.

As a lifestyle expert, I’d rephrase it like this: After the publication of an article by The New York Times on December 21st, William Morris Endeavor (WME) and I, Ari Emanuel, CEO of Endeavor, its parent company, parted ways with talent representative Baldoni. However, contrary to Baldoni’s subsequent claims in a lawsuit against The New York Times, it was not Ryan Reynolds, my client and Lively’s husband, who was responsible for this decision.

In his filing, Baldoni alleged that Reynolds exerted pressure on him during the premiere of Deadpool & Wolverine. I must clarify that this is untrue. At the time, Baldoni’s representative was not present at the Deadpool & Wolverine premiere, and there was no pressure from either Reynolds or Lively to drop Baldoni as a client.

After Blake Lively’s CRD filing and an article in The New York Times, several notable personalities expressed their support for her allegations against Baldoni. Among them was Colleen Hoover, the author of It Ends With Us.

On Instagram Stories, December 21, Hoover wrote: “Blake Lively, you have always been honest, kind, supportive and patient since we first met. Thank you for being exactly the person you are. Never change. Never wilt.”

Jenny Slate, who played Baldoni’s character Ryle’s sister, also voiced her support for Lively. In a statement to Today on December 23, she said: “As Blake Lively’s castmate and friend, I express my backing as she confronts those reportedly responsible for damaging her reputation.” She added that Lively is a strong leader, loyal friend, and emotional pillar for many people.

Furthermore, Brandon Sklenar, who portrayed Lively’s character Lily Bloom’s love interest, shared a link to the complaint published on The New York Times’ website with the caption: “For the love of God, read this.”

Lastly, Lively’s Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants co-stars America Ferrera, Alexis Bledel, and Amber Tamblyn expressed their solidarity with her.

Liz Plank recently shared news of her departure from “The Man Enough Podcast” which she co-hosted with Baldoni and Heath. In an Instagram post, she expressed gratitude for the trust and stories shared by listeners over the past four years. She mentioned that this decision was made, and she will no longer be part of the podcast. Although she didn’t specify the reason behind her exit, it followed closely after Lively’s complaint against Baldoni and his associates at Wayfarer. Plank emphasized her commitment to the values they built together and expressed hope for creating a better future with their continued support. She also mentioned that she will share more details soon as she processes recent events, and in the meantime, will continue supporting those who speak out against injustice and hold accountable those standing in their way.

Stephanie Jones, Baldoni’s former publicist, and her agency Jonesworks LLC have taken legal action against Baldoni, Wayfarer (his company), Abel (his current publicist), and Nathan (a crisis communications specialist) in New York on December 24th. The lawsuit claims that Abel and Nathan orchestrated a secret plan for months to publicly and privately defame Jones and her agency, breach contracts, and steal clients. They allegedly coordinated with Baldoni and Wayfarer to launch an aggressive smear campaign against one of Baldoni’s co-stars, using it as an opportunity to drive a wedge between Jones and Baldoni, and falsely blame Jones for the smear campaign when she was not involved. Abel, who worked at Jonesworks until last summer according to her LinkedIn profile, is accused of continuing to falsely implicate Jones now that their own misconduct is being exposed, and defaming and attacking her in the industry. The lawsuit also alleges that Baldoni and Wayfarer breached their contractual obligations with Jonesworks and refused to settle the dispute privately in arbitration. TopMob News reached out to the defendants for comment.

According to a report published by Variety on December 23rd, Lively’s legal team stated that they obtained the texts mentioned in the New York Times article through a subpoena sent to Jonesworks. Freedman, who represents Nathan, Abel, Baldoni, and their respective associates, told Variety that none of his clients were served with a subpoena regarding this matter. He also indicated his intention to sue Jones for disclosing messages from Abel’s phone to Lively’s lawyers without their consent.

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 chose to initiate a legal action against Baldoni, Wayfarer, Heath, Sarowitz, It Ends With Us Movie LLC, Nathan, his company TAG, and Abel in New York. As per court documents obtained by TopMob News, she accuses the defendants of sexual harassment, retaliation, neglecting to investigate or prevent such harassment, aiding and abetting these actions, breach of contract, intentionally causing emotional distress, negligence related to emotional distress, and invasion of privacy through false light.

The initial details of these allegations were disclosed in the CRD complaint she submitted earlier that month. In response to this lawsuit, Baldoni and his associates filed a counterclaim against The New York Times – which does not name Lively as a defendant. Her legal team, however, made it clear to TopMob News that “the filing of this lawsuit in no way alters the assertions” she made in her CRD and federal complaints.

They further stated that “the premise that Ms. Lively’s administrative complaint against Wayfarer and others was a deceitful strategy, intended as a ‘ruse’ to avoid suing Baldoni, Wayfarer,’ and that ‘litigation was never her ultimate goal,’ is false.” As evidence, they pointed out the federal complaint filed by Lively earlier on the same day.

In their legal action against The New York Times, Baldoni and his team have made it clear that they have not finished their business. According to court documents, there are more wrongdoers involved in this matter, and let it be known – this will not be the only lawsuit they file. In a January 2 interview with NBC News, Baldoni’s attorney, Freedman, confirmed that they intend to take legal action against Lively as well.

The discussion about Baldoni and Lively hasn’t ended, in fact:

Some social media users have suggested that Reynolds may have poked fun at Baldoni in his film “Deadpool & Wolverine” through the character Nicepool.

Reynolds has yet to comment on these rumors, but Baldoni’s lawyer Freedman shared his thoughts on the matter.

During an interview on The Megyn Kelly Show, posted to YouTube on Jan 7, Freedman stated: “In my opinion, if your wife is sexually harassed, you don’t make light of Justin Baldoni‘s situation. You treat it seriously. You file complaints and follow legal procedures. What you don’t do is joke about the person and make it a laughing matter.

In their statement to TopMob News on January 7, Lively’s attorneys clarified that the ongoing federal lawsuit against the Southern District of New York is about severe allegations of sexual harassment and retaliation, supported by substantial evidence. They emphasized that this isn’t a simple disagreement or he-said-she-said case. Instead, Wayfarer and its associates are accused of unlawful, retaliatory astroturfing against Lively for standing up for herself and others on a film set. Since the lawsuit was filed, there have been further attempts to attack Lively.

They urged everyone to remember that sexual harassment and retaliation are illegal in all workplaces and industries. A common strategy to divert attention from such misconduct is to blame the victim by implying they invited or brought it upon themselves, misunderstood intentions, or lied. Another tactic is to reverse the roles of the victim and offender, suggesting that the offender is actually the victim.

Lively’s lawyers pointed out that media statements are not a defense for her claims and emphasized their intention to present their case in court. They also stated that normalizing and trivializing allegations of serious misconduct is harmful and unacceptable.


 

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 Vision PR in New York. The plaintiffs have accused all defendants of civil extortion, defamation, false light invasion of privacy, breach of implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, intentional and negligent interference with contractual relations, and economic advantage.

The lawsuit claims that Lively and Reynolds are using their influence to smear the plaintiffs in the media after receiving backlash for promoting the film, It Ends With Us. The plaintiffs deny Lively’s allegations of sexual harassment and a retaliatory smear campaign against her. They also accuse Lively of taking control of the film and working with Reynolds, Sloane, Jones, and others to damage the reputation of the plaintiffs in the press. (Lively stated in her filings that she promoted the movie according to Sony’s marketing plan.)

In their lawsuit, plaintiffs claim defendants collaborated with The New York Times to publish a sensational report that turned out to be untrue. The news outlet defends its report.

In response to TopMob’s inquiry, Freedman stated, “Either Blake Lively was deceived by her team or she deliberately misled the truth.

In a statement provided to TopMob News, Lively’s legal team labeled the lawsuit as “just another instance in the script of the abuser,” explaining that it’s a common pattern: A woman presents solid evidence of sexual harassment and retaliation, and the alleged offender tries to shift blame onto the victim. This tactic is often referred to as DARVO – Deny the allegations, Attack the accuser, Reverse the roles of Victim and Offender.

Additionally, she claimed he reacted by counter-accusing her after she brought charges against him, stating that Baldoni is attempting to divert attention away from the fact that Lively took creative control and reportedly estranged the cast from Mr. Baldoni.

It was further explained that the proof will indicate that both the cast members and others had unfavorable encounters with Mr. Baldoni and Wayfarer. Additionally, the evidence will demonstrate that Sony requested Ms. Lively to manage Sony’s portion of the film, which they subsequently chose for distribution and ultimately proved to be highly successful.

Her team went on to slam Baldoni’s reaction to her allegations of harassment.

Regarding sexual harassment allegations against them, their defense was that she invited it and it was her fault. To explain why this happened to her, they pointed out her clothing. According to her legal team, while the victim concentrates on the mistreatment, the perpetrator focuses on the victim. This tactic of blaming the woman is pathetic, it does not disprove the evidence presented in Ms. Lively’s complaint, and it will be unsuccessful.

In simpler terms, Baldoni’s lawyer shared unseen footage from the making of ‘It Ends With Us‘, stating that the actor’s behavior in the video contradicts the portrayal made by Ms. Lively about him.

As an ardent admirer, I’d like to share some insights about a particular scene. This scene was meticulously crafted to portray the blossoming romance between our beloved characters, their intense yearning for proximity palpable on screen. My legal team confirmed that both actors delivered their parts with utmost dedication, staying true to the script within the boundaries of respect and unyielding professionalism.

Nevertheless, Lively’s legal representatives argue that the video aligns precisely with Lively’s account in her lawsuit, suggesting it supports her claims. Furthermore, they assert that each instance depicted in the video was spontaneously directed by Mr. Baldoni without prior consultation or approval from Lively.

In a recent interview with TopMob News, I expressed my observation of a particular scene in the video where Ms. Lively appears to lean away and repeatedly request for dialogue instead of action from the characters. As someone who understands the intricacies of workplace dynamics, especially when it comes to uncomfortable situations, I believe many women will resonate with her discomfort depicted in this scene.

 

In their ongoing case, the couple wrote a letter to the judge, asking for Freedman, leading Baldoni’s legal team, to be subjected to a restraining order on speaking publicly. This is to prevent any inappropriate behavior during the legal process.

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 mentioned the movie’s rooftop scene, which Lively had rewritten, and how these alterations were discussed with Reynolds and their friend Taylor Swift, during an alleged meeting.

He mentioned to Lively, “It’s wonderful to have friends as inventive as them, not just because they’re among the most creative individuals worldwide. When the three of you collaborate, it’s simply incredible and hard to believe.

In the recording, it appears that Baldoni also offered an apology to the actress for his less-than-warm response to her script. He stated, “I made a mistake. An important aspect of my character is that I’ll acknowledge and apologize when I fall short.

After I formally filed the lawsuit against Baldoni, a court date was scheduled for March 9, 2026 – a date I’ve been eagerly anticipating as we move forward in this journey.

In this capacity as a lifestyle expert, it’s always important to remember that justice takes time, but with patience and perseverance, we can navigate through even the most complex of challenges.

According to reports from TopMob News, Baldoni’s legal team revised their counterclaim filed against Lively, Reynolds, and Sloane in the U.S. District Court on January 16, to incorporate The New York Times as well.

In the revised paper, Baldoni alleged that Lively and her associates conspired for several months, spreading untruths to the New York Times.

In a distinct case, not related to the $250 million lawsuit filed against the New York Times, accusations were made that the paper manipulated information by selectively choosing parts of conversations, removing crucial context, and then intentionally joining them together to deceive.

As a lifestyle expert, I’d like to share an update: Recently, I’ve taken the initiative to establish a platform where you can find detailed information about my ongoing legal battle with Lively. This includes the first amended complaint submitted by my team on January 31st, as well as a chronology of significant events related to our case. The timeline document also reportedly contains screenshots of text messages exchanged between Lively, Reynolds, and myself.

The website was unveiled a month following when Freedman announced that all text messages exchanged between the two individuals would be made public.

In a January 2 interview with NBC News, Baldoni’s lawyer expressed that they desire transparency and want all pertinent documents to be accessible. They believe individuals should base their judgments on actual receipts or evidence.

In the updated lawsuit, Lively’s legal team asserted that two additional female crew members from the film “It Ends” felt uneasy due to Baldoni’s conduct during production.

TopMob News obtained a complaint stating that Ms. Lively wasn’t the only one expressing concerns about Mr. Baldoni. The issues faced by Ms. Lively, along with others, were recorded from May 2023 onwards. Crucially, contrary to the story the Defendants have fabricated, Mr. Baldoni acknowledged these complaints in writing at the time. He was aware that there were other women who felt uneasy and had voiced their concerns about his conduct.

In the revised lawsuit, the two potential witnesses mentioned by Lively were not identified, as there exists a hazardous environment marked by threats, harassment, and intimidation, allegedly instigated by the defendants’ reprisal efforts.

In a conversation with TopMob, Freedman asserted that the accusation was largely based on unproven rumors and implied that unknown individuals are no longer willing or ready to corroborate or publicly validate her allegations.

Following Baldoni’s claims that Sloane spread “harmful tales” depicting him as a “predator of a sexual nature” and organized a “defamatory strategy” allegedly directed by Lively, Sloane requested to be removed from the ongoing legal case.

According to the documents acquired by TopMob News, Sloane’s lawyer argued that there was no substantial evidence supporting the claims leveled against their client and instead, she had been unwillingly involved in the lawsuit as a tactic to divert attention away from Lively’s allegations, using her as a smokescreen.

Nick Shapiro, previously Deputy Chief of Staff at the CIA, was hired by Lively to offer guidance on the legal communications strategy regarding 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.

Previously employed by the CIA from 2013 to 2015 during the Obama administration, Shapiro later moved on to assume the roles of Visa’s vice president for global security and communications, followed by heading Airbnb’s global crisis management team. After a stint of three years at the rental company, he established his own consulting firm, 10th Avenue Consulting LLC.

TopMob News has acquired court documents revealing that The New York Times, currently entangled in a $250 million lawsuit with Baldoni, has submitted a request to be released from a separate $400 million lawsuit involving Lively, Baldoni, and Sloane.

As a lifestyle connoisseur, I find it crucial to express my perspective on a recent matter. In legal documents, Baldoni’s team is presenting a narrative that has undeniably caught attention and headlines, yet I firmly believe that The Times should not be entangled in this disagreement.

After The New York Times filed a motion to dismiss, U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman agreed and put off the process of discovery as requested by the newspaper, based on documents acquired by TopMob News.

The court granted the request made in the filing for a temporary pause on the exchange of information and documents between the parties, as the judge is currently reviewing the newspaper’s motion filed on February 28th.

In the March 4 document, Liman stated that the New York Times provides “solid reasons” and “a convincing argument” suggesting that their motion to dismiss could be granted based on its merit.

In addition, the judge stated that he doesn’t think Baldoni’s legal team would be “unduly disadvantaged during the court’s deliberation on the upcoming motion” by the decision to postpone.

In response to TopMob News, a representative of The New York Times stated their appreciation for today’s court decision, which acknowledges the significant First Amendment principles involved. The court has prevented Mr. Baldoni from imposing discovery requests on The Times in a lawsuit that was unwarranted.

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2025-04-04 17:20