Left: Justin Baldoni attends a special screening of “The Boys in the Boat” at the Museum of Modern Art on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023, in New York (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP). Right: File Photo by: zz/John Nacion/STAR MAX/IPx 2022 2/28/22 Blake Lively at the Netflix premiere of “The Adam Project” held on February 28, 2022 at Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center in New York City (NYC).
Red carpet speculation is nothing new. Yet when Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni began their media rounds to promote their movie “It Ends With Us,” everyone suspected tension was brewing.
Despite the two actors playing love interests in the film, they were not shown promoting the movie together or having the same type of camaraderie that many actors have in their same position.
This time, it seems, the drama continued once the cameras were off — and public speculation turned out to be for good reason.
Both Lively and Baldoni had made vague comments regarding tensions on set but did not divulge many details. But on Dec. 31, 2024, Lively made her contentious feelings clear with a lawsuit filed against Baldoni, as well as Wayfarer Studios, which Baldoni co-founded. This legal action followed an initial sexual harassment complaint against the actor.
The litigation has been drawn out for months, overshadowing the film itself, in a back-and-forth, he said/she said over the situation.
In Lively”s lawsuit against Baldoni, she claimed sexual harassment on set, following an agreement about putting a stop to inappropriate behavior, that she claimed she and her employees and other cast members and crew experienced, as well as an attempt to create a “smear campaign” against Lively’s character.
In response, Baldoni has denied all allegations and has accused Lively of launching a “smear campaign” against him. He then filed a lawsuit of his own — a $400 million countersuit lawsuit citing defamation. That lawsuit was dismissed on June 9, and it appears Baldoni will not amend his claims against the actress.
Lively’s original lawsuit is still in progress with an anticipated trial date set for March 2026.
Challenges on both sides
For Baldoni to be found guilty of sexual harassment, there must be clear evidence supporting the claim, including but not limited to documentation, eyewitness testimony, and legally-obtained recordings. It’s important to note that sexual harassment can be physical or verbal.
Lively has already filed a request to take the deposition of a man she says was a central part of the negative online sentiment about her during the release and promotion of her film with Baldoni.
After the judge in the case set the March 2026 trial date, he also moved a conference that was initially scheduled for mid-February to this month, telling lawyers to be prepared to address publicity surrounding the trial and attorney conduct.
This action follows a claim filed by Lively’s lawyers accusing an attorney for Baldoni of trying to taint potential jurors through a website releasing selected documents and communications regarding the lawsuits between the two actors.
There’s always the challenge of the public litigating a case outside of court. In today’s digital age, with information — true or not — readily available, it’s hard for anyone to avoid such a high-profile case. While the website could sway potential jury members from impartiality, it’s a factor attorneys for both sides must consider in their trial strategies.
Involvement of other prolific parties
Interwoven in this legal battle are the New York Times and Taylor Swift, among others.
On the same day Lively filed her lawsuits against Baldoni, Baldoni’s lawyers filed a $250 million libel lawsuit against the New York Times, in response to the article titled, “We Can Bury Anyone: Inside a Hollywood Smear Machine,” which was published by the outlet 10 days prior.
The article detailed events from Lively’s lawsuit surrounding an “all-hands meeting” held while filming “It Ends With Us,” noting Lively’s concerns with on-set behavior.
Also, superstar Taylor Swift has been pulled into the mix. As Lively’s close friend, Swift has been targeted by Baldoni’s attorneys, who have attempted to subpoena communications between Swift and Lively, though the efforts were later withdrawn.
There’s no telling who or what else will be added to the mix, but the discontent between Lively and Baldoni is clear. However, the ultimate impact on the story at the heart of the actors’ movie didn’t ever seem relevant to either party.
