Actor and director Justin Baldoni has filed a $400 million lawsuit against actress Blake Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, their publicist Leslie Sloane, and Sloane’s PR firm, Vision PR, Inc., accusing them of attempting to control the production and promotion of It Ends With Us. The lawsuit, filed in the Southern District of New York on Thursday, Jan. 16, alleges a range of charges, including civil extortion, defamation, and breach of contract, among other claims.
The legal action comes after a heated behind-the-scenes dispute surrounding the highly anticipated movie. Baldoni, 40, is suing not only for himself but also on behalf of producer Jamey Heath, publicist Jennifer Abel, and crisis publicist Melissa Nathan. The lawsuit claims that Lively, 37, took steps to manipulate the project for her own benefit and to damage Baldoni and his team’s reputations.
The allegations in Baldoni’s lawsuit include defamation, false light invasion of privacy, intentional interference with contractual relations, and negligent interference with prospective economic advantage. Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, issued a statement expressing confidence in the strength of their case.
“This lawsuit is based on a significant amount of untampered evidence, including text messages, emails, and video footage, all of which demonstrate Blake Lively’s team’s deliberate attempt to damage Justin Baldoni, his team, and their respective companies,” Freedman said. “It’s clear, based on the evidence, that this battle is one Lively will lose, and one she will come to regret.”
Freedman further claimed that Lively or her team had either been misled or intentionally misrepresented the situation. “Let’s not forget, Ms. Lively and her team attempted to bulldoze reputations and livelihoods for selfish reasons through dangerous manipulation of the media, even before any legal action was taken,” Freedman continued. “We know the truth, and now the public does too. Justin and his team have nothing to hide.”
Lively, Reynolds, and Sloane have yet to respond publicly to the lawsuit. Representatives for the trio did not immediately respond to requests for comment from People.
The Background: Lively’s Lawsuit and the Allegations
The conflict between Baldoni and Lively escalated after Lively filed her own lawsuit against Baldoni and his associates in December 2024. Lively’s legal action accused Baldoni of sexual harassment and claimed that Baldoni orchestrated a retaliatory smear campaign against her. Lively’s Dec. 20 complaint also cited emotional distress, alleging that Baldoni’s behavior during the making and promotion of It Ends With Us caused her “grief, fear, trauma, and extreme anxiety.”
ADVERTISEMENT
In a previous interview with NBC News on Jan. 2, Bryan Freedman indicated that Baldoni’s team intended to take legal action in response. “We want the truth to be out there. We want the documents to be out there. We want people to make their determination based on receipts,” Freedman said at the time.
Lively’s legal team has not publicly responded to Baldoni’s new lawsuit yet. However, in the wake of the New York Times article titled “We Can Bury Anyone: Inside a Hollywood Smear Machine,” in which Lively made public her claims, Lively expressed hope that her legal efforts would shed light on the practices she believes are used to silence those who speak out against misconduct.
The New York Times Controversy
Baldoni’s lawsuit against Lively and her team comes shortly after he filed a libel lawsuit against The New York Times in late December 2024. Baldoni accused the newspaper of using “cherry-picked” communications that were stripped of necessary context and manipulated to mislead the public in its coverage of Lively’s claims.
The New York Times defended its article, asserting that it was “meticulously and responsibly reported.” Lively had also spoken to the newspaper, stating, “I hope that my legal action helps pull back the curtain on these sinister retaliatory tactics to harm people who speak up about misconduct and helps protect others who may be targeted.”
While the legal battle continues to unfold, the controversy surrounding It Ends With Us has turned into a high-profile public dispute. The case involves not only the main players of the film but also their associated publicists and PR teams, raising questions about the power dynamics in Hollywood and the ways in which reputations can be manipulated in the digital age.
Moving Forward
As the legal cases progress, both Baldoni and Lively’s teams are preparing to go to court, each asserting their position regarding the allegations. With both sides making strong claims backed by what they describe as substantial evidence, the case is set to continue drawing attention in the coming months.
ADVERTISEMENT
For now, the entertainment industry watches closely as the drama behind the scenes of It Ends With Us plays out in courtrooms and the media, potentially changing the way future public relations crises are handled in Hollywood.
Reps for Lively, Reynolds, and Sloane have yet to provide a statement in response to Baldoni’s lawsuit, but the public battle over the film’s production and the personal claims surrounding it shows no signs of slowing down.