Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni
Gotham/GC Images; Gotham/WireImageJustin Baldoni is accusing Blake Lively of a concerted effort to remove him from the filming process for their 2024 drama It ends with Us.
In addition to claiming Lively tried to take creative direction away from him, Baldoni, who also directed the film, claims Lively, 37, tried to stop him from premiering the film.
Baldoni’s accusation came in a lawsuit he filed Tuesday, Dec. 31, against New York Times. He is seeking $250 million in damages for four complaints, including defamation and false invasion of privacy.
The lawsuit, received from Us Weeklyclaims that Lively “systematically excluded (him) from the marketing of his Film”.
UPDATE 12/31/21 11:30 PM ET: Justin Baldoni was one of 10 plaintiffs to file a $250 million lawsuit against The New York Times following its reporting on actor Blake Lively after she sued him for sexual harassment. The plaintiffs of the lawsuit, which include publicists Melissa Nathan and Jennifer Abel as well as It Ends With Us (…)
“Further undermining Baldoni’s role, Lively initially refused to allow him to attend the Film’s premiere,” the lawsuit states. “Only after considerable pressure did she reluctantly agree to allow Baldoni and the Wayfarer team to participate, but on humiliating terms. The Wayfarer team and their families, including Baldon and (producer Jamey) Heath, were separated from the main cast, banned from the exclusive after-party and forced to host their own event at extra cost.”
Blake Lively
Gareth Cattermole/Getty ImagesThe lawsuit further describes Lively’s alleged attempt to evict Baldoni and his family at the film’s premiere.
“Baldon’s red carpet appearance was interrupted and his family and friends were confined to a makeshift area in the basement before being escorted to a separate theater after Lively’s departure,” the lawsuit continues. “Not only did Lively steal the movie, but she also robbed Baldoni and his team of any real opportunity to celebrate their hard work.”
Baldoni, 40, further accuses Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, of using bullying tactics to “deliver” him from his film. In addition to her alleged attempt to stop Baldoni from the premiere, the suit says Reynolds, 48, tried to use his influence to convince Baldoni’s agent to drop him as a client.
Justin Baldoni initially appeared to have nothing but positive things to say about his It Ends with Us co-star Blake Lively as reports of an on-set brawl continue to circulate online. The drama officially hits theaters in August 2024 and Baldoni, who directed and starred alongside Lively, has praised his on-screen partner. (…)
“Baldoni and (Wayfarer Studios) became increasingly fearful of what Lively and Reynolds were capable of, as their actions seemed intent on destroying Baldoni’s career and personal life,” the lawsuit states.
Lively’s attorney has responded to Baldon’s lawsuit, saying in a statement to Us Weekly that it does not change the accusations she made.
“Nothing in this lawsuit changes anything about the allegations made in Ms. Lively’s California Department of Civil Rights Complaint, nor her federal complaint filed earlier today,” the statement said. “This lawsuit is based on the obviously false premise that the administrative complaint of Mrs. Lively v. Wayfarer et al was a ruse based on a choice ‘not to file a lawsuit against Baldon, Wayfarer’ and that ‘litigation was never her ultimate goal.’ As shown by the federal complaint filed by Ms. Lively earlier today, that frame of reference for the Wayfarer lawsuit is bogus. While we will not discuss this matter in print, we encourage people to read Ms. Lively as a whole. We look forward to addressing each of Wayfarer’s claims in court.”
