It Ends In Court: The Ongoing Lawsuits Between Lively And Baldoni

Lively vs Baldoni

Defamation, extortion, sexual harassment — the heated legal battle between director/actor Justin Baldoni and his “It Ends With Us” co-star, actress Blake Lively, has escalated rapidly over the last month. Although their court case will begin in March 2026, this multi-million dollar lawsuit has dominated the news cycle recently, with both parties releasing their version of the truth. 

So who’s right and who’s wrong? Well, that’s up to the New York judge, Lewis J. Liman, to decide. In the meantime, let’s analyze the legal complaints and discuss the events that led to each lawsuit. 

How It Began

Where there’s smoke, there’s fire, and eagle-eyed fans immediately noticed that Baldoni and Lively were not promoting the movie together. In fact, Baldoni’s name wasn’t featured in the main promotional poster for the movie, despite his actor and director status. To make matters more complicated, the production studio Wayfarer Studios, who undertook the movie adaptation of “It Ends With Us,” is co-founded by Baldoni. 

This was just the tip of the iceberg — behind the scenes, there was massive tension between the two stars. According to Lively, she was subjected to sexual harassment, emotional distress, and slander from Baldoni and his public relations committee. On the other hand, Baldoni indicates he was extorted and defamed by Lively and her public relation team. 

Lively’s Initial Complaint And Subsequent Lawsuit Against Baldoni

A few months after the movie’s release, Lively filed a complaint against Baldoni with the California Civil Rights Department, detailing her sexual harassment and a hostile work environment on set. This complaint was paired with a New York Times article, which featured email and text exchanges between Baldoni and his PR team, claiming that Baldoni orchestrated a social media campaign to tarnish her reputation. 

Upon the release of the New York Times piece, notable businesses and public figures (including the book author, Colleen Hover) rallied for Lively. Consequently, Baldoni suffered in the court of public opinion, with his talent agency dropping him as a client and an award for his work advocating for females being rescinded. 

After this, Lively filed an official lawsuit against Baldoni and his PR representatives for emotional distress on set and the attempt to slander her name in the press. 

Baldoni’s Lawsuit Against Lively And The New York Times

Baldoni has maintained that Lively’s claims are untrue, and in turn, he has filed two separate lawsuits: one against the New York Times, the other against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds. He is suggesting that Lively misconstrued various incidents on set, and when her concerns were heard during production, protocol was altered to make the actress feel supported and comfortable.

In the New York Times lawsuit, Baldoni claims the writer only included evidence in favor of Lively’s argument and purposely excluded exchanges that proved his innocence. As a result, he has posted a 168 page timeline detailing his exchanges with Lively, Reynolds, their lawyer, and other movie production staff. 

In his personal lawsuit against Lively and her husband, Baldoni suggests that the actress used her fame and personal connections to overtake his role as movie director. He alleges that Lively would refuse to promote the film if her demands were not met — which ultimately led to her movie cut being released in theaters according to his legal filings. 

Dealing With A Hostile Work Environment? Call Hickey & Hull’s Business Law Attorneys

While most cases aren’t as complex as Lively vs. Baldoni, one thing is for certain: no one deserves to feel harassed or intimidated in their workplace. If you feel like you’ve been wrongfully terminated, retaliated against, or subjected to harsh treatment on the job, it’s time to consult with an attorney. 

Hickey & Hull makes scheduling an initial consultation easy; our online agents can help connect you with a legal professional. Don’t wait — your professional reputation is on the line!