Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni’s Legal Battle Over “It Ends With Us” Heads to Court

The complex legal battle between actress Blake Lively and her former “It Ends With Us” director and co-star, Justin Baldoni, is set to have its first day in court on Monday, CNN reports.

The hearing comes after weeks of intense scrutiny and public debate surrounding Lively’s accusations of sexual harassment and retaliation against Baldoni, alongside Baldoni’s counterclaims of defamation, extortion, and privacy invasion.

Neither Lively nor Baldoni are expected to be present at the hearing, according to a source familiar with the proceedings. The case has sparked significant interest due to the high-profile figures involved and the sensitive nature of the allegations.

From Allegations to Lawsuits

The legal saga began in December when Lively filed a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department, alleging sexual harassment and retaliation during the production of “It Ends With Us.” This was quickly followed by a civil lawsuit. Baldoni, who built a public image around promoting male allyship towards women, has vehemently denied Lively’s accusations and responded with his own lawsuit last month. In his suit, Baldoni accuses Lively and her husband, actor Ryan Reynolds, of civil extortion, defamation, and invasion of privacy.

Lively’s legal team responded by calling Baldoni’s suit “another chapter in the abuser playbook,” alleging that it was an attempt to deflect from her claims of sexual harassment.

Both parties have presented text message exchanges as evidence to support their cases. Baldoni’s team has also released video footage from the film set and launched a website detailing his perspective on the events, including an apology he sent to Lively during production.

Creative Control, Script Disputes

Baldoni’s lawsuit claims that Lively attempted to take control of the film’s creative direction, even having Reynolds secretly rewrite a scene without Baldoni’s consent. According to the suit, Lively allegedly “summoned” Baldoni to her penthouse in New York City, where Reynolds and a “megacelebrity friend” praised Lively’s proposed changes to the script.

A text message included in Baldoni’s suit reveals him praising Lively’s changes, stating, “I really love what you did. It really does help a lot. Makes it so much more fun and interesting. (And I would have felt that way without Ryan and Taylor).” The reference to “Taylor” has fueled speculation it is about Lively’s friend, singer Taylor Swift.

Lively’s text messages included in Baldoni’s suit show the actress making references to being “Khaleesi” and having “a few dragons.”

The New York Times Lawsuit

Adding to the complexity of the case, Baldoni has also sued the New York Times for $250 million, alleging that the publication colluded with Lively’s team to publish a biased article based on doctored evidence. The New York Times has denied these claims and stands by its reporting.

Public Feud, Accusations of Manipulation

The legal battle has become a public feud, with representatives for both sides actively engaging with the media. Lively’s lawyers have accused Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, of making “misleading and selective” statements about Lively, while also issuing cease-and-desist letters demanding he stop making defamatory statements.

Both Lively and Baldoni accuse each other of using retaliatory publicity campaigns in their lawsuits. Lively accuses Baldoni’s team of orchestrating a “social manipulation campaign” to hurt her reputation. Baldoni counters, alleging that Lively and Reynolds used their power to “steal an entire film” from him and his production studio.

“It Ends With Us” Box Office Success

The film “It Ends With Us,” which is based on the novel by Colleen Hoover and released by Sony Pictures in August 2024, has grossed over $148 million domestically despite the behind-the-scenes conflicts. The movie portrays a couple dealing with domestic violence, portrayed on-screen by Lively and Baldoni.