‘Doubling Down On The Revolting False Sexual Allegations.’ Lawyer Goes On The Offense After Filing Lawsuit Against Blake Lively And Ryan Reynolds
The legal dispute between former It Ends with Us collaborators Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively has escalated significantly. Weeks after Lively filed a legal complaint against Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios, and others, alleging sexual harassment, retaliation, and more, she formally sued them. In response, Baldoni and his team filed a countersuit this past week, targeting Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and others, accusing them of defamation, extortion, and additional claims. Following Lively’s team’s rebuttal, Baldoni’s lawyer has now gone on the offensive.
The ongoing legal battle between It Ends with Us collaborators Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively has reached new heights of intensity. Baldoni’s camp recently filed a $400 million lawsuit against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and others, accusing them of defamation, extortion, and more. This followed Lively’s earlier legal complaints alleging sexual harassment, retaliation, and an orchestrated smear campaign by Baldoni and his crisis management team. Both sides have exchanged sharp rhetoric, with Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, taking a strong stance in defense of his client.
Lively’s team dismissed Baldoni’s countersuit as “another chapter in the abuser playbook,” labeling his legal strategy as “desperate.” In response, Freedman claimed the lawsuit exposes nearly 200 pages of evidence refuting Lively’s allegations and accused her of doubling down on “revoltingly false sexual allegations.” Freedman further criticized Lively for leveraging her influence and privilege to damage Baldoni’s reputation while denying him the opportunity to defend himself publicly.
The roots of this legal conflict trace back to December 2020, when Lively first filed her complaint, citing harassment on the It Ends with Us set and leaked communications presented in a New York Times article. Baldoni denied these allegations and countersued the Times for $250 million, accusing the publication of libel.
The situation has since expanded, with Baldoni’s lawsuit also mentioning publicist Leslie Sloan, Vision PR, and, surprisingly, Taylor Swift, who is reportedly confused by her inclusion. Baldoni even directed legal action at Marvel Studios, alleging Reynolds’ Deadpool & Wolverine character Nicepool was a parody aimed at him.
Lively’s team has rejected the framing of this conflict as a mere “feud,” while Baldoni’s camp asserts they are fighting for justice and the “voiceless” in the domestic violence community. As both sides dig in, this contentious case appears poised to escalate further, with the potential for additional lawsuits looming. Neither party shows signs of retreat in what has become a sprawling and deeply personal legal battle.