HOLLYWOOD, USA – Actor-director Justin Baldoni has filed a $400 million lawsuit against Blake Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, alleging humiliation and mistreatment during the premiere of It Ends With Us, a film Baldoni directed and co-starred in with Lively.
The lawsuit, filed on Thursday, January 16, 2025, follows months of escalating legal disputes between the parties.
Allegations of Humiliation at Premiere
Baldoni’s legal complaint, obtained by Entertainment Weekly, claims that he attended the August 6 premiere under “demeaning and humiliating conditions” after being informed that Lively allegedly demanded he not attend.
The complaint accuses Lively and her team of orchestrating efforts to separate Baldoni from the event and the film’s spotlight.
The lawsuit describes how Baldoni and his guests were “relegated to a basement” filled with concession stand supplies and equipped only with foldout tables and chairs.
Photos included in the filing show Baldoni smiling with his guests in the makeshift holding area, surrounded by stacks of popcorn, water bottles, and soft drink containers.
The complaint also alleges that Baldoni’s time on the red carpet was abruptly cut short upon Lively’s arrival.
He claims he was instructed to leave the red carpet immediately and was later assigned to a separate theater for the screening.
Counterclaims and Escalating Legal Battle
The lawsuit follows Blake Lively’s December 2024 filing with the California Civil Rights Department, accusing Justin Baldoni of sexual harassment on the set of It Ends With Us.
She also alleges that Baldoni engaged in a smear campaign against her.
These allegations prompted Baldoni to file a defamation lawsuit against The New York Times, which first reported on Lively’s claims, and a separate lawsuit against Lively and her production team.
Bryan Freedman, Baldoni’s attorney, issued a statement accusing Lively of attempting to “destroy” Baldoni with “duplicitous claims.”
Freedman also sent a litigation hold letter to Disney CEO Bob Iger and Marvel president Kevin Feige to preserve correspondence related to the development of the character “Nicepool” in Deadpool & Wolverine.
Baldoni alleges the character mocks him, further fueling tensions between the parties.
Success Amidst Controversy
Despite the legal drama, It Ends With Us, based on Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel, became a box office hit, grossing over $351 million globally.
The film received positive reviews from critics, who praised its performances and direction.
Representatives for Lively, Reynolds, and Sony have not commented on the lawsuit.
