The 2024 film It Ends With Us, an adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel, was a box office hit, grossing $351 million worldwide. But behind the scenes, a bitter feud between co-stars Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni has erupted into a high-profile legal battle, captivating fans and media alike. The drama, which began with rumors of on-set tension, has escalated into dueling lawsuits, allegations of harassment, and claims of smear campaigns. Here’s a clear breakdown of what’s behind the It Ends With Us lawsuit, based on verified information.
The Roots of the Conflict
The tension between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, who starred together in It Ends With Us (with Baldoni also directing), became public during the film’s August 2024 press tour. Fans noticed Lively and Baldoni didn’t promote the movie together, fueling speculation of a rift. Social media buzz suggested Lively had behaved unprofessionally on set, while others pointed to Baldoni’s conduct as problematic. The film’s focus on domestic violence added a layer of sensitivity, amplifying scrutiny of the cast’s dynamics.
By December 2024, the feud went legal when Lively filed a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department, accusing Baldoni of sexual harassment and retaliation during the film’s production. She claimed Baldoni’s behavior created an unsafe work environment, citing specific demands she made to continue working, including no more inappropriate discussions or actions on set.
Blake Lively’s Allegations
Lively’s lawsuit, filed on December 31, 2024, in New York, detailed serious accusations against Baldoni, his production company Wayfarer Studios, and associated parties. She alleged:
- Sexual Harassment: Lively claimed Baldoni engaged in inappropriate behavior, including showing nude videos or images, discussing his alleged past pornography addiction, and making comments about her weight and her late father.
- Smear Campaign: Lively accused Baldoni and his team of orchestrating a “calculated and vitriolic” effort to damage her reputation, including planting negative stories about her in the media. A December 2024 New York Times article titled “‘We Can Bury Anyone’: Inside a Hollywood Smear Machine” supported her claims, detailing alleged PR tactics to discredit her.
- Creative Control Disputes: Lively alleged she took control of the film’s final cut to protect its integrity, a move Baldoni’s team later claimed was an overreach of her authority.
Lively’s legal team described Baldoni’s actions as “retaliatory” and said she faced “severe emotional distress” as a result. However, in early June 2025, Lively withdrew her specific claims of intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress after Baldoni’s lawyers sought access to her medical records, though she continues to pursue emotional distress damages through other claims like harassment and retaliation.
Justin Baldoni’s Countersuit
In January 2025, Baldoni fired back with a $400 million defamation and extortion lawsuit against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, her publicist Leslie Sloane, and The New York Times. His claims included:
- Defamation: Baldoni argued that Lively’s allegations and the New York Times article, which he said relied heavily on her account without proper fact-checking, falsely portrayed him as a harasser and damaged his career.
- Extortion: Baldoni’s team alleged Lively and Reynolds used their industry influence to seize control of It Ends With Us, including pushing for her own cut of the film, and threatened to tarnish his reputation if their demands weren’t met.
- Smear Campaign Denial: Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, claimed Lively’s team spread “grossly edited, unsubstantiated, new and doctored information” to the media to destroy Baldoni’s reputation.
Baldoni’s lawsuit also pulled in tangential figures, like his former publicist Stephanie Jones, whom he accused of leaking text messages that fueled the drama.
Recent Developments
On June 9, 2025, a federal judge in New York dismissed Baldoni’s $400 million lawsuit against Lively, Reynolds, and The New York Times. Judge Lewis Liman ruled that Lively’s accusations were part of protected legal filings, meaning they couldn’t form the basis of a defamation suit. However, the judge gave Baldoni until June 23, 2025, to amend and refile claims related to interference with contracts.
Lively celebrated the dismissal as a “total victory and a complete vindication,” with her legal team vowing to pursue attorneys’ fees and punitive damages against Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios. Lively also made a public appearance at the Tribeca Artists Dinner in New York shortly after, signaling her return to the spotlight.
Meanwhile, Baldoni faced professional fallout. His talent agency, WME, dropped him, and his podcast, The Man Enough, was suspended after co-host Liz Plank quit.
Other Notable Details
- Taylor Swift’s Involvement: Baldoni’s team briefly subpoenaed Taylor Swift, alleging Lively pressured her to publicly support her amid the feud. Swift’s team called it a “tabloid clickbait” move, and the subpoena was withdrawn after objections.
- Public Support for Lively: Celebrities like Lively’s Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants co-stars (America Ferrera, Alexis Bledel, Amber Tamblyn), Gwyneth Paltrow, Amy Schumer, and author Colleen Hoover publicly backed Lively.
- Film’s Success: Despite the drama, It Ends With Us was a commercial success, proving the controversy didn’t hurt its box office performance.
What’s Next?
While Baldoni’s major lawsuit has been dismissed, the legal saga isn’t over. He has until June 23, 2025, to refile certain claims, and Lively’s ongoing lawsuit against him for harassment and retaliation is set for trial in March 2026. The case continues to draw attention, with both sides accusing the other of manipulating the narrative for public sympathy.
The It Ends With Us lawsuit highlights deeper issues in Hollywood, including power dynamics, workplace safety, and the role of PR in shaping public perception. For now, fans and observers await the next chapter in this messy, high-stakes drama.
