Justin Baldoni has claimed that Blake Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, pressured him to take the blame in a controversial lawsuit.
Baldoni alleges that Lively and Reynolds pushed him to accept responsibility as negative attention surrounding the film’s production intensified in August 2024.
On February 1, Baldoni provided more details on this issue through a website he created. The site reportedly includes conversations, emails, and other communications involving Baldoni, Lively, intimacy coordinators, and producers, which allegedly challenge Lively’s claims of experiencing sexual harassment during the filming of It Ends With Us.
Baldoni mentioned that Reynolds and Lively drafted a statement on behalf of Wayfarer Studios, warning that there would be consequences if the statement was not released.
“IT ENDS WITH US was a troubled production for which we accept full responsibility. We sincerely apologize to everyone we have upset, both privately and publicly. Blake Lively, Colleen Hoover, and the entire cast and crew conducted themselves with professionalism throughout, and any negativity directed at them is ours to bear,” the draft reportedly stated.
The alleged draft also clarified why the cast chose to promote the film separately.
“We collectively decided that the cast would promote the film independently and understood the reasons for this. We have always acknowledged our imperfections, and even if we make mistakes unintentionally, we will take responsibility. We hold ourselves accountable… We are learning and evolving from this experience,” it read.
According to Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, the ongoing legal dispute with Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds is reportedly placing a financial strain on him.
On December 20, 2024, Lively filed a formal complaint with the California City Rights Department against Justin Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios, accusing Baldoni of sexual harassment and alleging that he started a social media campaign aimed at damaging her reputation.
According to a report by the Economic Times, on January 16, 2025, Baldoni’s legal team filed a lawsuit for $400 million against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and her publicist Leslie Sloan, claiming “civil extortion, defamation, and invasion of privacy.”
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