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the And it ends with us The cast and crew have been embroiled in a dispute since last year. It all started when TikTok users noticed this movie star Blake Lively And her co-star and director, Justin Baldonidid pose for photos together at the premiere on August 6, 2024, in New York City. Rumors surfaced claiming that the actors had distanced themselves from Justin, and fuel was added to the fire when Justin hired a crisis PR manager. At the end of 2024, Blake filed a lawsuit against Justin for sexual harassment during the filming of his movie. In early 2025, Justin responded by suing both Blake and her husband, Ryan ReynoldsBut his countersuit was dismissed by a judge in November 2025.
The following year, a judge dismissed Blake’s sexual harassment claims against Justin. As the case approaches its trial in May 2026, the drama escalates. Hollywood life He breaks down the timeline of the legal battle between Blake and Justin below.
Rumors of tension are spreading
On August 14, 2024, TMZ It was reported that there was discomfort between Blake and Justin while filming the kissing scene. An insider told the outlet that Simple service The actress felt that the director “lingered” too long while kissing her on camera.
Sources also told the outlet that Blake felt “very ashamed” of Justin while working on a scene in which his character, Ryle, lifts her character, Lily, into the air. Justin reportedly has a history of back problems, and after a trainer asked how much Blake weighed, she felt he was shaming her, according to the outlet.
Page six He reported that an eyewitness noted the “tension” that appeared in Blake during filming And it ends with us.
“The tension was very palpable,” the source told the outlet. “One time [Blake] After the scene was over, she was really impatient, and said: “Are you finished?” can i go? As soon as they said, “Yes,” there was a Blake-sized hole in the wall [sic]. She was pretty out of there.
Fans have been wondering whether or not Blake and Justin will be working on the sequel, It starts with us. However, a source said diverse on August 27, 2024, that “there is no world where these two will work together again.”
“This is uncharted territory, and no one has any idea what Part 2 could look like,” the insider added.
How did the dispute between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni escalate?
according to Hollywood ReporterThe working relationship between filmmakers was affected during post-production. The publication reported that two different cuts of the film were created, causing an alleged split in creative differences.
As Internet sleuths have noted, Blake W And it ends with us Author of the book Colin Hoover Don’t follow Justin on Instagram even though he follows them. And social media activity isn’t the only area where the relationship between the actors has allegedly deteriorated.
the people reported on August 13, 2024, that rumored tension with Justin includes the “main cast” and Coleen.
“All is not as it seems,” a group insider told the publication. “There is a lot to this story. The main actors and… [author] “Colin Hoover will have nothing to do with it.”
Blake Lively is suing Justin Baldoni
On December 21, 2024, TMZ It was reported that Blake filed a lawsuit against Justin for alleged sexual harassment. A business meeting was held on deck, the suit stated And it ends with us To address an alleged toxic work environment. According to the outlet, the meeting addressed the following demands: that no nude videos or photos of other women be shown of Blake; No more comments about Justin’s alleged past “addiction to pornography,” no more conversations about sexual experiences in front of Blake and other people, no more references to the cast and crew’s genitals, and no more inquiries about Blake’s weight.
Another request that was mentioned was that “no more sex scenes, oral sex, or climaxes on camera be added by BL outside of the scope of the script approved by BL when they signed on to the project,” according to TMZ.
TMZ She also stated that And it ends with us It failed at the box office because Blake and Justin disagreed on how to market the film. According to the outlet, Blake allegedly wanted her character’s resilience to be the focus, while Justin allegedly wanted to make the focus more serious since the film deals with domestic violence.
In response to her lawsuit, Justin’s attorney, Brian Friedman, issued a statement to Hollywood ReporterShe called Blake’s lawsuit “shameful” that she and her representatives “would make such dangerous and categorically false accusations against Mr. Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios and her representatives, as yet another desperate attempt to ‘repair’ the negative reputation she gained from her statements and actions during the film campaign; interviews and journalistic activities that were publicly observed, in real time and unedited, allowing the Internet to generate their own views and opinions.”
Justin Baldoni is suing The New York Times
On December 31, diverse It was reported that Justin filed a $250 million lawsuit against New York Times In her published story titled “We Can Bury Anyone: Inside the Hollywood Smear Machine.” On behalf of Justin and several other plaintiffs, Brian filed a complaint alleging that the publication committed promissory fraud and breach of implied contract in fact.
In response, A New York Times The spokesperson said: “It is the role of an independent news organization to follow the facts wherever they lead. Our story was reported accurately and responsibly. It was based on a review of thousands of pages of original documents, including text messages and emails that we accurately and extensively quote in the article. To date, Wayfarer Studios, Mr. Baldoni, the other subjects of the article and their representatives have not pointed out a single error. We have published their full statement in response to the allegations in the article as well. We plan to vigorously defend against the lawsuit.”
Justin Baldoni is suing Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds
On January 16, 2025, Baldoni filed a lawsuit against Lively and Reynolds, accusing them of hijacking It Ends With Us and ruining his reputation with false allegations of sexual harassment. according to diverse“This is a case about two of the most powerful stars in the world exploiting their immense power to steal an entire movie from the hands of its director and production studio… When Plaintiffs have their day in court, the jury will know that even the most powerful celebrities cannot bend the truth to their will,” the complaint reads.
On January 27, 2025, TMZ She released an audio message that Justin shared with Blake, which appears to refer to an alleged meeting where a new script was written for a scene with her husband and her boyfriend. Taylor Swift In attendance. In the voice note, Justin is heard saying: “I’m truly sorry. I screwed up. I’ll admit and apologize when I screw up. I’m a deeply flawed man, as my wife can attest.” He also notes their presence, saying, “We should all have friends like these apart from the fact that they are two of the most creative people on the planet.” “You three together, it’s incredible,” Justin added.
“I just wanted you to know that I don’t need that,” he continued. “Because it’s really good.” “I’m excited to watch the entire movie with you,” the actor concluded.
Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds file to dismiss lawsuits
according to diverseBlake and Ryan filed a motion to dismiss Justin’s defamation lawsuit on January 30, 2025.
Blake Lively winds judge’s grant to protect sensitive information
On March 13, 2025, a federal judge granted Blake’s request to protect certain information in the case. According to multiple outlets, the proposal would only allow sensitive information in the case to be seen by “the attorneys’ eyes only.”
Justin Baldoni is suing W.K For his former publicity
On March 21, 2025, Justin Baldoni filed a lawsuit against his former publicist, Stephanie Jonesafter reports surfaced of her involvement in the feud and drama surrounding And it ends with us He slandersincluding Blake Lively and Baldoni himself.
Baldoni’s lawyer Brian FriedmanMale, L diverse“It is undeniable that Stephanie Jones initiated this disastrous sequence of events by violating the most basic privacy rights, as well as any remaining trust of her clients.” He added: “It is not unusual to raise crisis scenarios for departing clients, with Ms Jones maliciously handing over communications from the phone she had wrongly taken from her partner to her group. [Lively’s personal publicist] Leslie Sloan, immediately after Jones was terminated by Wayfarer for her illegal conduct.
Blake Lively’s claims of emotional distress have been dismissed
In June 2025, the judge overseeing Lively and Baldoni’s case withdrew her claims of emotional distress. according to diverseJudge Lewis Lehman ruled that Baldoni’s motion to compel was denied “based on Plaintiff’s representation that the relevant claims would be withdrawn. Lively’s motion was denied that “because the parties have agreed to dismiss Ms. Lively’s tenth and eleventh causes of action…the court shall exercise its inherent power and authority under Rule 15 to dismiss them without prejudice” without prejudice to the renewal. The parties must stipulate whether dismissal is with or without prejudice, or Lively must renew her motion through a formal motion For the avoidance of doubt, if the claims are not dismissed, the court will prohibit Lively from presenting any evidence of emotional distress.
Judge dismisses defamation lawsuit filed by Justin Baldoni
On June 9, 2025, Judge Louis J. Lehman of New York filed Baldoni’s $400 million countersuit against Lively, her husband, Reynolds, and the couple’s publicist, Leslie Sloan, and the defamation claims Baldoni made against Lively. New York Times. In November 2025, the countersuit was officially dropped when Baldoni failed to file an amended complaint.
Jenny Slate calls Justin Baldoni a “clown” in unsealed text message
On January 20, 2026, text messages were submitted prior to the summary judgment hearing And it ends with us star Jenny Slate Revealed as of June 20223, she called Justin a “clown” and a “narcissist” in
“Justin is truly a false ally, and I am unwilling to do anything that promotes the image he projects as a ‘male feminist’… I honestly have no words to describe how fraudulent he is,” Jenny wrote in one text message, according to legal documents she obtained. the people.
Jenny added in another text message to her team: “I honestly have never experienced anything like this guy. … He is the biggest clown and the sexiest sh*t and an extreme narcissist. We have learned so many lessons!”
Taylor Swift’s alleged text messages about Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively
In a January 2026 filing, alleged text messages between Taylor and Blake were revealed. In one, allegedly sent by the “Bad Blood” artist, Taylor called Justin a “bitch.”
“I think this bitch knows something is coming because he got his little violin out,” Taylor allegedly texted Blake in December 2024.
In a separate letter from Blake to Taylor, the actress called Justin a “stupid director” who “thinks he’s a writer now.”
Ryan Reynolds breaks his silence
In a January 27, 2026 statement to Puck News, per the peopleA representative for Ryan said the actor did not hesitate to “get involved” in Blake’s legal situation against Justin.
“Yes, Ryan stepped in. What husband wouldn’t support his wife and the mother of his children?” The speaker said. “He saw his wife struggle daily to stand up against sexual harassment in a private and respectful way, only to face retaliation for doing so.”
The rep continued: “If anything, Ryan feels like he wasn’t angry enough. He strongly believes and will stand up for the fundamental right to a safe workplace free of harassment and retaliation for his wife and others. Then, now and always.”
Judge rejects Blake’s claims of sexual harassment
In April 2026, a judge dismissed 10 of Blake’s 13 claims, including allegations of sexual harassment. The case is still scheduled to go to trial in May.
