Justin Baldoni has leveled accusations against Blake Lively, asserting that she orchestrated a campaign to sideline him from the production of their 2024 dramatic film, "It Ends With Us." Beyond merely suggesting that Lively sought to wrestle creative control from his grasp, Baldoni, who also donned the director's hat for the movie, contends that the 37-year-old actress attempted to bar him from the film's much-anticipated premiere.
Baldoni's allegations were articulated in a lawsuit he filed on Tuesday, December 31st, against The New York Times. He is seeking a staggering $250 million in damages for four grievances, encompassing libel and the infringement of privacy through false portrayal. According to the lawsuit, obtained by Us Weekly, Lively is accused of "systematically excluding [him] from the marketing of his own film."
The lawsuit delves deeper, charging that Lively further undermined Baldoni's role by initially refusing to allow his presence at the film's premiere. "Only after immense pressure did she reluctantly consent to Baldoni and the Wayfarer team's attendance, albeit under degrading circumstances," it asserts. The suit paints a picture of segregation, where Baldoni and his team, including producer Jamey Heath, were isolated from the main cast, denied access to the exclusive after-party, and compelled to organize their own event at additional expense.
Moreover, the suit elaborates on Lively's alleged attempts to ostracize Baldoni and his family during the premiere. "Baldoni's red carpet appearance was abruptly truncated, while his family and friends were confined to a makeshift holding area in the basement, only to be escorted into a separate theater after Lively's departure," it continues. "Not only did Lively usurp the film, but she also denied Baldoni and his team the genuine chance to celebrate their tireless efforts."
The 40-year-old Baldoni further alleges that Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, employed bullying tactics to "banish" him from his own creation. In addition to the alleged premiere ban, the suit claims that Reynolds, aged 48, tried to wield his influence to persuade Baldoni's agent to sever ties with him.
"Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios grew increasingly apprehensive about the destructive potential of Lively and Reynolds, as their actions seemed geared towards ruining Baldoni's career and personal life," the suit states.
In response to Baldoni's lawsuit, Lively's attorney issued a statement to Us Weekly, stating that the suit does not alter the accusations she had previously leveled against him. "None of the allegations in this lawsuit alter the claims outlined in Ms. Lively's California Civil Rights Department Complaint or her federal complaint filed today," the statement reads. "This lawsuit rests on the manifestly false premise that Ms. Lively's administrative complaint against Wayfarer and others was a mere pretext, based on a decision 'not to file a lawsuit against Baldoni, Wayfarer,' and that 'litigation was never her ultimate goal.' As evidenced by Ms. Lively's federal complaint filed today, the framework for the Wayfarer lawsuit is incorrect. While we will not litigate this matter in the press, we encourage individuals to peruse Ms. Lively's complaint in its entirety. We eagerly anticipate addressing each and every one of Wayfarer's allegations in court."
