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The Legal Battle Between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni: A Deep Dive into the Controversy
Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni’s collaboration on the film It Ends With Us initially appeared to be a harmonious partnership. However, what started as a friendly working relationship has spiraled into one of Hollywood’s most controversial legal battles. Allegations of sexual harassment, defamation lawsuits, and leaked text messages have made this case a focal point for discussions on workplace behavior and power dynamics in the film industry. Let’s unpack the events that led to this dramatic fallout.
Early exchanges between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni indicate they had a good working relationship at the beginning of their collaboration on “It Ends With Us.”GC Images
The Initial Friendly Relationship
In the early stages of their collaboration on It Ends With Us, Lively and Baldoni shared a rapport that was both professional and friendly. Court documents reveal that the two exchanged a series of texts that conveyed camaraderie, mutual respect, and humor.
- In May 2023, during the start of filming, Blake Lively expressed her excitement for the project, stating, “It just clicks when we find it… This is all storytelling. This is why we do it.”
- Baldoni replied with equal enthusiasm, albeit with a playful tone: “I’m not going to tell you that you were amazing because you tease me for being so sentimental—but you were amazing today.”
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Both Baldoni and Lively praised each other at the beginning of filming in May 2023, as seen in texts included in the court filings. U.S. District Court, Southern District of New YorkThey repeatedly expressed their gratitude for one another in the early stages of filming.U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
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However, the pair’s relationship had soured by the time filming wrapped.GC Images 
Lively sued Baldoni for sexual harassment in December 2024.Christopher Peterson / SplashNews.com
Their conversations often included lighthearted banter, signaling a strong working relationship. However, this dynamic would later come under scrutiny.
The Flirty (and Now Controversial) Text Messages
One particular exchange between the two has garnered significant attention. Baldoni jokingly remarked, “I also like a**hole Blake… don’t worry,” to which Lively humorously responded, “I’ve met her. So have my suppositories.” While the text seemed harmless at the time, it has since been dissected by legal teams and media outlets to determine its tone and implications.What was once considered friendly teasing has now become a point of contention in the ongoing legal battle.
The Lawsuits That Followed
The situation took a dramatic turn when Blake Lively filed a lawsuit against Justin Baldoni in December 2024, alleging sexual harassment during the filming process. Baldoni, in turn, filed a $400 million defamation lawsuit, accusing Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and their PR team of orchestrating a campaign to tarnish his reputation.
Blake Lively’s Allegations
Lively’s lawsuit paints a disturbing picture of the on-set environment. Key points of her claims include:
- Inappropriate Behavior: Lively alleges that Baldoni made unwelcome comments and showed her explicit videos that left her feeling uncomfortable.
- Pressure for Intimate Scenes: She claims Baldoni pressured her into performing intimate scenes beyond what was initially agreed upon in the script.
- Weight-Shaming Allegations: Lively accuses Baldoni of making remarks about her appearance that she found degrading.
- Reputation Damage: She alleges that when she pushed back against this behavior, Baldoni retaliated by attempting to harm her professional reputation.
The actor sued Lively, her husband, Ryan Reynolds, and their PR team for defamation.AFP via Getty Images 
Baldoni has also sued the New York Times for libel.Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty ImagesBaldwin breakdown Alec Baldwin dissolves into tears with wife Hilaria in first trailer for TLC reality show
Justin Baldoni’s Counter-Lawsuit
Baldoni has denied Lively’s allegations, calling them baseless and manipulative. His counter-lawsuit argues the following:
- Defamation Claims: Baldoni asserts that Lively “cherry-picked” messages to fit her narrative, taking their friendly exchanges out of context.
- Smear Campaign Allegations: He has accused Lively, Ryan Reynolds, and their PR team of fabricating claims to discredit him publicly.
- Libel Suit Against The New York Times: Baldoni has also filed a lawsuit against The New York Times, alleging that their reporting on the case contributed to damaging his reputation.
Baldoni’s team argues that the allegations hinder his career and personal life, leading to significant financial and emotional distress.
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