Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds Are 'Good People,' Says Agency Head Who 'Fired' Justin Baldoni: 'I Am a Ride-or-Die'

Mar. 15, 2025

Ari Emanuel, and Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively.Photo:Amy Sussman/Getty; Theo Wargo/Getty

Amy Sussman/Getty; Theo Wargo/Getty

The talent agency executive allegedly responsible for “firing"Justin Baldonifrom its roster is speaking out — and praising clientsBlake Livelyand Ryan Reynolds.In a live taping for theFreakonomicspodcastwith host Stephen Dubner, Ari Emanuel, the chief executive of WME’s parent company, Endeavor, spoke of his personal relationship with Lively, 37, and Reynolds, 48, amid the actress’s ongoingIt Ends With Uslegal battle with Baldoni, 41.Baldoni’s former talent agency WME dropped theJane the Virginstar on Dec. 21, the same day it came to light that Livelysued him for sexual harassmentand accused him of running a smear campaign against her.Emanuel shared that he has known Lively and Reynolds for over a decade, and called them “really incredible people.““They’ve never had any bad mojo out there or treated people badly,” Emanuel said.Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni.Image Press Agency/NurPhoto/Shutterstock ; Araya Doheny/Variety via GettyHe added, if all that Lively’s lawsuitalleges— including Baldoni sexually harassing her on set and fueling a retaliatory public smear campaign to “destroy” her reputation — is true, then those involved are “really bad people.“Speaking of Lively and Reynolds, he said, “These are good people who have been in the business for decades and have never had any bad press about them. And all the people they’ve worked with like them.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively in ‘It Ends With Us.'.Jojo Whilden/SonyLater, when speaking of Baldoni, Emanuel confirmed, “I fired him,” adding, “I am a ride-or-die.“In a statement to PEOPLE, Baldoni’s lawyer Bryan Freedman, said, “Perhaps Ari’s perspective would be different if they had ever met in the half decade they were clients of his agency.“Emanuel’s remarks come one day after Lively and Baldonirejected mediation, with both parties agreeing that settlement talks at this stage would be “inappropriate” and “premature.“The legal dispute between theIt Ends With Uscostars began in December 2024, when Lively filed a sexual harassment complaint against Baldoni, accusing him of misconduct during the film’s production. She also alleged that Baldoni and his associates engaged in a retaliatory smear campaign designed to “destroy” her reputation — claims Baldoni has denied.In January,Baldoni countersued Lively for $400 million, naming Reynolds and their publicist Leslie Sloane in a lawsuit that includes claims of extortion and defamation, among other allegations.

The talent agency executive allegedly responsible for “firing"Justin Baldonifrom its roster is speaking out — and praising clientsBlake Livelyand Ryan Reynolds.

In a live taping for theFreakonomicspodcastwith host Stephen Dubner, Ari Emanuel, the chief executive of WME’s parent company, Endeavor, spoke of his personal relationship with Lively, 37, and Reynolds, 48, amid the actress’s ongoingIt Ends With Uslegal battle with Baldoni, 41.

Baldoni’s former talent agency WME dropped theJane the Virginstar on Dec. 21, the same day it came to light that Livelysued him for sexual harassmentand accused him of running a smear campaign against her.

Emanuel shared that he has known Lively and Reynolds for over a decade, and called them “really incredible people.”

“They’ve never had any bad mojo out there or treated people badly,” Emanuel said.

Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni.Image Press Agency/NurPhoto/Shutterstock ; Araya Doheny/Variety via Getty

Image Press Agency/NurPhoto/Shutterstock ; Araya Doheny/Variety via Getty

He added, if all that Lively’s lawsuitalleges— including Baldoni sexually harassing her on set and fueling a retaliatory public smear campaign to “destroy” her reputation — is true, then those involved are “really bad people.”

Speaking of Lively and Reynolds, he said, “These are good people who have been in the business for decades and have never had any bad press about them. And all the people they’ve worked with like them.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively in ‘It Ends With Us.'.Jojo Whilden/Sony

Jojo Whilden/Sony

Later, when speaking of Baldoni, Emanuel confirmed, “I fired him,” adding, “I am a ride-or-die.”

In a statement to PEOPLE, Baldoni’s lawyer Bryan Freedman, said, “Perhaps Ari’s perspective would be different if they had ever met in the half decade they were clients of his agency.”

Emanuel’s remarks come one day after Lively and Baldonirejected mediation, with both parties agreeing that settlement talks at this stage would be “inappropriate” and “premature.”

The legal dispute between theIt Ends With Uscostars began in December 2024, when Lively filed a sexual harassment complaint against Baldoni, accusing him of misconduct during the film’s production. She also alleged that Baldoni and his associates engaged in a retaliatory smear campaign designed to “destroy” her reputation — claims Baldoni has denied.

In January,Baldoni countersued Lively for $400 million, naming Reynolds and their publicist Leslie Sloane in a lawsuit that includes claims of extortion and defamation, among other allegations.

source: people.com