Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, co-stars in the 2024 film “It Ends With Us,” are set to face off in court. Lively has accused Baldoni of sexual harassment and orchestrating a smear campaign against her. In response, Baldoni has filed a countersuit against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, alleging civil extortion, defamation, and invasion of privacy.
He is also suing The New York Times for libel. Both parties have strongly denied the allegations made against them. Lively’s complaint alleges that Baldoni and his team created a sexually inappropriate atmosphere on set and attempted to damage her reputation in retaliation for her speaking out.
Baldoni’s team has denied any harassment and accused Lively of trying to take creative control of the film away from him.
Actors’ trial embroiled in accusations
The public discourse has been divided, with opinions split on the evidence released by both sides.
Footage from a scene cited in Lively’s complaint has been interpreted differently by viewers, with some seeing it as exculpatory for Baldoni and others finding it incriminating. Text messages between the two actors have also been released, revealing a relationship that began with warmth and even flirtation. However, their partnership eventually unraveled, leading to the current legal battle.
Judge Lewis J. Liman has set a trial date for 2026 and expedited an initial conference to next week due to the rising tensions between the actors. As the legal drama continues to unfold, the public and fans are closely following the case.