Justin Baldoni, the actor and director of “It Ends With Us,” has initiated a defamation and extortion lawsuit against co-star Blake Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds. Filed in New York federal court, the suit demands over $400 million in damages for lost future earnings, claiming that Lively and Reynolds disrupted the film’s production and tarnished Baldoni’s reputation with false allegations of sexual misconduct.
Baldoni’s legal action accuses Lively and Reynolds of using their celebrity status to seize control of the film, alleging that they resorted to blaming Baldoni when their attempts at garnering acclaim failed. The lawsuit denies Lively’s claims of harassment, countering that she was comfortable enough to breastfeed in front of Baldoni during meetings. Baldoni asserts that all her requests for an intimacy coordinator were met and that she was appropriately attired during filming.
The lawsuit highlights that Lively’s public statements created a damaging narrative, leading to Baldoni’s agency dropping him. It also mentions an alleged incident where Reynolds expressed his disdain for Baldoni, labelling him a “sexual predator.” The complex interplay of personal and professional relationships has sparked significant controversy within Hollywood, particularly regarding the treatment of women in the industry.