Blake Lively’s attorney has responded to Justin Baldoni’s $400 million lawsuit. It accuses the actress and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, of defamation, extortion, and other claims related to their involvement in the production of It Ends With Us. The lawsuit, filed on January 16, 2025, follows Lively’s allegations of sexual harassment and retaliation against Baldoni during the filming of the movie.
Here’s what we know about the legal battle and the statements from both sides.
Blake Lively hits back at Justin Baldoni’s lawsuit
Blake Lively responded to Justin Baldoni’s $400 million lawsuit against her and her husband, Ryan Reynolds.
The suit accuses them of defamation, extortion, and other claims related to It Ends With Us. Baldoni filed the lawsuit on January 16, 2025, nearly a month after Lively accused him of sexual harassment and retaliation on set. Lively’s legal team called Baldoni’s lawsuit “another chapter in the abuser playbook,” alleging it aims to obscure misconduct claims.
“This is an age-old story: A woman speaks up with concrete evidence of sexual harassment and retaliation, and the abuser attempts to turn the tables on the victim,” Lively’s attorneys stated, referring to the tactic known as DARVO (Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim and Offender). They described Baldoni’s filing as an attempt to “overwhelm the public’s ability to understand that what they are doing is retaliation against sexual harassment allegations.” (via The Hollywood Reporter)
In his 179-page lawsuit, Baldoni alleged that Lively took over creative control of the film, falsely accused him of harassment, and used her influence to sideline him. His claims include Lively rewriting scenes and refusing to perform certain parts of the script. The lawsuit also accuses Reynolds and Lively of leveraging their celebrity status to manipulate the production. Baldoni denied allegations of misconduct and labeled Lively’s accusations as part of a smear campaign.
Lively’s lawyers responded by stating, “The evidence will show that the cast and others had their own negative experiences with Mr. Baldoni and Wayfarer.” They noted that Sony Pictures selected and distributed the film based on Lively’s cut, calling it a success. They further accused Baldoni of victim-blaming and reiterated their stance that his actions were retaliatory.
The ongoing legal battle has gained public attention due to its high-profile nature. Both sides allege misconduct and present evidence to support their claims.
