The Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni Lawsuits, Explained: A Complete Breakdown of the Allegations, Key Players and Who's Said What

Mar. 15, 2025

Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni attend the “It Ends With Us” New York Premiere.Photo:Gotham/WireImage (2)

Gotham/WireImage (2)

Blake LivelyandJustin Baldonihave engaged in a war of words — and lawsuits —surrounding Baldoni’s alleged misconduct on the set of their 2024 hit filmIt Ends With Us.

On Dec. 20, Lively, who stars in the movie as Lily,filed a complaint against Baldoni and others in California claiming sexual harassmentand an alleged retaliatory public smear campaign to “destroy” her reputation. She claimed that Baldoni — who directed, produced and starred in the film —exhibited “disturbing" and “unprofessional” behavior on setthat led to a “hostile work environment.” The complaint was also filed against producerJamey Heath, Heath and Baldoni’s production company, Wayfarer Studios, as well as its co-founder Steve Sarowitz.

Jed Wallace, an independent contractor, was also named in the filing, as well as Melissa Nathan and Jennifer Abel, who are both publicists named in the alleged effort to harm Lively’s reputation.

“I hope that my legal action helps pull back the curtain on these sinister retaliatory tactics to harm people who speak up about misconduct and helps protect others who may be targeted,” Lively said in a statement toThe New York Times.

Bryan Freedman, Baldoni’s lawyer, told PEOPLE in a statement that Lively’s complaint was to “fix her negative reputation,” adding that her allegations are “false, outrageous and intentionally salacious with an intent to publicly hurt.”

The day after the filing, the investigation was reported in aThe New York Timesstory titled “‘We Can Bury Anyone’: Inside a Hollywood Smear Machine.”

Shortly after, Baldoni filed his own lawsuit on Dec. 31,suing the outlet for $250 million, alleging libel, false light invasion of privacy, promissory fraud and breach of implied-in-fact contract.The New York Timesdefended its story, writing in a statement that the article was “meticulously and responsibly reported.”

On Jan. 16, Baldonifiled another lawsuitsuing Lively, her husband,Ryan Reynolds, their publicist Leslie Sloane and Sloane’s PR firm Vision PR, Inc for $400 million, on claims of civil extortion, defamation, false light invasion of privacy, breach of implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, intentional interference with contractual relations, intentional interference with prospective economic advantage, and negligent interference with prospective economic advantage.

Reps for Lively, Reynolds and Sloane did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment. On Feb. 3, a pretrial conference was held,kicking off the legal battle’s hearings. Judge Lewis Liman said he would expedite the trial if both sides didn’t stop sharing materials of the case publicly and warned both parties that they should refrain from any activity that could bias a jury. Both cases will be heardstarting in March 2026.

Two weeks later, on Feb. 19, Livelyfiled an amended complaintwhich her lawyers allege “provides significant additional evidence and corroboration of her original claims.”

“Her underwhelming amended complaint is filled with unsubstantial hearsay of unnamed persons who are clearly no longer willing to come forward or publicly support her claims,” Freedman responded in a statement shared with PEOPLE.

A number of Lively’s peers and costars have spoken out in support of the actress, while Baldoni’s team continues to deny the accusations. Here’s a complete breakdown of the case — and a guide to all the players involved.

What did Blake Lively accuse Justin Baldoni of?

Blake Lively attends the “It Ends With Us” photocall at IET Building: Savoy Place on August 08, 2024 in London.Jeff Spicer/Getty

Jeff Spicer/Getty

The actress alleged in the complaint that before the adaptation of theColleen Hoovernovel of the same name even began shooting, Baldoni “inserted improvised gratuitous sexual content and/or scenes involving nudity into the film (including for an underage character) in highly unsettling ways.”

The “disturbing” conduct allegedly continued while filming, with Lively accusing Baldoni and Heath of entering her trailer “uninvited” while she was undressed or “vulnerable” — “including when she was breastfeeding her infant child,” the complaint alleges. The complaint further states that Baldoni “improvised physical intimacy that had not been rehearsed, choreographed or discussed with Ms. Lively, with no intimacy coordinator involved."

Lively alleged that a meeting was held with Baldoni, Heath and other producers — with Reynolds, present as well — where they hashed out a plan to improve working conditions on the set. Some of the key points Baldoni agreed to, according to the filing: an intimacy coordinator on-set when Lively was present, no improvised kissing and no more talk of his own sex life or genitalia.

Baldoni’s lawyer, Freedman, said in a statement that representatives of Wayfarer Studios “did nothing proactive nor retaliated, and only responded to incoming media inquiries to ensure balanced and factual reporting and monitored social activity.”

How did Justin Baldoni respond?

Justin Baldoni on Thursday, August 08, 2024 on TODAY.Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty

Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty

Baldoni firstresponded with a $250 million lawsuitfiled againstThe New York Timesfor libel, among other claims. The plaintiffs — which include Baldoni, Heath, Sarowitz, Wallace, Nathan and Abel — claim that the outlet used “‘cherry-picked’ and altered communications stripped of necessary context and deliberately spliced to mislead."

In her complaint, Lively also detailed a situation in which Heath allegedly showed her a video of his wife giving birth to their child, sharing that she “thought he was showing her pornography and stopped him.” Baldoni’s complaint, meanwhile, called the video a “deeply personal one with no sexual overtone,” and the framing of it as such “is outrageous and emblematic of the lengths to which Lively and her collaborators are willing to go to defame Plaintiffs,” his lawyers wrote.

Further, Baldoni claimed that while Lively alleged his PR team planted negative stories about her in the press, he believes she is the one who did so about him, claiming that Lively’s publicist “[planted] a false story alleging that there were ‘multiple’ HR complaints during production.”

Baldoni also added that Lively allegedly “initially refused to permit” him to attend the premiere ofIt Ends With Us.“Only after significant pressure did she reluctantly agree to allow Baldoni and the Wayfarer team to attend, but under humiliating conditions,” his lawyers claimed, including being “segregated” from the main cast and “barred” from the official after-party.

On Jan. 16, Baldoni filed a lawsuit against Lively, Reynolds, Sloane and her PR company directly. In the filing, he included a number of allegations, including thatLively never read the bookupon which the movie is based and therefore made “wrongheaded creative decisions” that “reflected her fundamental lack of understanding of the book” and that she joked that Baldoni “should get plastic surgery” on his nose while filming a scene for the movie.

Baldoni’s team further alleged in a statement to PEOPLE that they’re “private individuals” who have nowreceived death threats due to Lively’s complaint.

Nathan and Abel claimed in the statement that they’ve also been on the receiving end of “abhorrent abuse and vile anti-semitic slurs hurled at us due to her decision to use us as scapegoats for her own choices promoting her film in which she made millions of dollars.”

“With this filing, we lift our own curtain of what happens when the entitled weaponize power, fear and money to destroy, intimidate and bully those who get in their way,” the statement concluded.

Who are the key players?

Who’s who in the ‘It Ends with Us’ drama.Getty; Shutterstock

Getty; Shutterstock

Blake Lively

Blake Lively attends the “It Ends With Us” UK Gala Screening at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square on August 08, 2024 in London, England.Jeff Spicer/Getty

Lively signed on for the project in January 2023 and wasfirst spotted filming in May 2023.

She sued Baldoni on Dec. 31, 2024, alleging he caused her “extreme anxiety” in the wake of her experience filmingIt Ends With Us,and the subsequent alleged smear campaign. Now, she hopes her legal action “helps protect others who may be targeted,” she toldThe New York Timesin a statement.

Justin Baldoni

Justin Baldoni at the “It Ends With Us” New York Premiere at AMC Lincoln Square Theater on August 06, 2024 in New York City.John Nacion/Variety via Getty

John Nacion/Variety via Getty

Baldoni — who rose to fame onJane the Virgin— had been attached to the book adaption since 2019.

Baldoni has been accused in a complaint of sexual harassment and initiating a smear campaign against Lively, though his lawyer has denied the allegations — which he called “false, outrageous and intentionally salacious with an intent to publicly hurt” — in a statement.

The actor filed a lawsuit againstThe New York Timesin which he claimed it was Lively who spearheaded a smear campaign against him, rather than the other way around. He filed another lawsuit on Jan. 16 against Lively, Reynolds, Sloane and her PR firm, suing them for extortion and defamation.

Ryan Reynolds

Ryan Reynolds at the “It Ends With Us” New York Premiere at AMC Lincoln Square Theater on August 06, 2024 in New York City.John Nacion/Variety via Getty

Lively’s husbandof over 10 yearswas immediately embroiled in the speculation surrounding the film’s press tour after the actress revealed in August he hadwritten a scene for the movie.

He added that Reynolds allegedly “demanded” an apology for Lively and initiated the “humiliating berating” while “other celebrity friends were coming in and out of their penthouse.”

Jamey Heath

Justin Baldoni and Jamey Heath arrive to the “It Ends With Us” premiere at AMC Lincoln Square Theater on August 06, 2024 in New York City.James Devaney/GC Images

James Devaney/GC Images

Heath was a producer onIt Ends With Usand is the CEO of Wayfarer Studios, which he founded alongside Baldoni and Sarowitz. He was also named in Lively’s complaint and accused of “invasive, unwelcome, unprofessional and sexually inappropriate behavior."

Heath started co-hosting theMan Enoughpodcast alongside Baldoni and their former co-host, Liz Plank, in June 2021. However,Plank announced her exitshortly after Lively’s complaint.

PEOPLE reached out to Heath for comment.

Steve Sarowitz

Jamey Heath, Justin Baldoni and Steve Sarowitz attend the “It Ends With Us” New York Premiere at AMC Lincoln Square Theater on August 06, 2024 in New York City.Cindy Ord/Getty

Cindy Ord/Getty

Sarowitz is the billionaire investor who helped start Wayfarer Studios and is also named in the filing.

Jennifer Abel

Jennifer Abel attends Alex And Ella Host Bella J. Launch At Nordstrom At The Grove on December 12, 2014 in Los Angeles, California.Vivien Killilea/Getty

Vivien Killilea/Getty

Baldoni’s current publicist, Abelworked with TAG PR, a crisis firm, after Baldoni hired the group. Abel previously worked for Stephanie Jones' PR firm, Jonesworks, before leaving in August 2024.

In one alleged text exchange with Nathan exhibited in Lively’s complaint, she said, “I think you guys need to be tough and show the strength of what you guys can do in these scenarios. He wants to feel like she can be buried.”

Abel defended herself in a since-deleted Facebook post, writing that “there was no ‘smear’ implemented.”

“No negative press was ever facilitated, no social combat plan, although we were prepared for it as it’s our job to be ready for any scenario," she wrote. “But we didn’t have to implement anything because the internet was doing the work for us.”

Freedman, Baldoni’s lawyer, added in a statement to PEOPLE, “What is pointedly missing from the cherry-picked correspondence is the evidence that there were no proactive measures taken with media or otherwise; just internal scenario planning and private correspondence to strategize which is standard operating procedure with public relations professionals.”

Melissa Nathan

Nathan founded TAG PR and is a crisis management expert, with past clients includingJohnny DeppandDrake.

“We can bury anyone,” Nathan wrote to Abel in an alleged Aug. 2 text message included in Lively’s complaint. In other texts, Nathan allegedly wrote, “We can’t write we will destroy her," and, “Imagine if a document saying all the things that he wants ends up in the wrong hands.”

In Baldoni’s lawsuit againstThe New York Times, he alleged that Nathan’s text messages were “spliced” and left out important context.

Stephanie Jones

Donny Deutsch and Stephanie Jones attend the 54th Spirit of Achievement Annual Luncheon at the Pierre Hotel on May 5, 2008 in New York City.Kevin Mazur/WireImage

Kevin Mazur/WireImage

Jones is Baldoni’s former rep and the owner of Jonesworks. She is currently suing Nathan and Abel for allegedly creating a coordinated effort to undermine her and work together to start a smear campaign against Lively.

She alleges that Abel collaborated with Nathan on a “no-holds-barred strategy” to protect Baldoni from Lively’s forthcoming allegations while simultaneously undermining Jones, perThe Los Angeles Times.

Jones worked with Baldoni from 2017 to August 2024, when the actor and Wayfarer stopped working with Jonesworks.

Leslie Sloane

Leslie Sloane at the the Avra Madison grand opening party on September 8, 2016 in New York City.Craig Barritt/Getty Images for Avra Madison

Craig Barritt/Getty Images for Avra Madison

Lively’s publicist, Sloane was accused in Baldoni’s complaint of launching “a negative press push against” Baldoni, which she has denied.

“It’s clear that Mr. Baldoni and his Wayfarer Associates are suggesting that I originated press stories about HR complaints on set,which is false,” she told PEOPLE in a statement.

Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift at the “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” concert movie premiere at AMC The Grove 14 on October 11, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.John Shearer/Getty Images

John Shearer/Getty Images

Taylor Swiftis Lively’s close friend who was named in Baldoni’s lawsuit. Baldoni claimed in the suit that the “Cruel Summer” singer wasinvolved in backing Lively’s rewritesof the script, alleging that when Baldoni didn’t react positively to the changes, Lively “went silent for multiple days” and later allegedly sent a text message that his reaction to her rewrite “didn’t feel great for me” or to, what Baldoni referred to as, “another megacelebrity friend.”

Lively allegedly went on to compare herself toGame of Thronescharacter Khaleesi,calling Reynolds and Swift her “dragons.”

“I happen to have a few dragons. For better or worse, but usually for better,” Lively’s alleged text read. “Because my dragons also protect those I fight for. So really we all benefit from those gorgeous monsters of mine. [Smiley-face emoji] you will too, I can promise you.”

Colleen Hoover

Colleen Hoover at the “It Ends With Us” New York Premiere at AMC Lincoln Square Theater on August 06, 2024 in New York City.John Nacion/Variety via Getty

The author ofIt Ends With Us, Hoover sold Baldoni the rights to her bestselling novel in 2019. However, she appears to have developed a close relationship with Lively as the two spent time together on the press tour for the film and the actresscelebrated Hoover’s birthdayin December 2024.

The authorspoke out in supportof the actress following the news of the complaint, penning a message on her Instagram Stories.

“@blakelively, you have been nothing but honest, kind, supportive and patient since the day we met,” Hoover wrote alongside a photo of herself and Lively hugging at a screening of the film. “Thank you for being exactly the human that you are. Never change. Never wilt.”

Lively and Baldoni’sIt Ends With Uscostars

Jenny Slate, Brandon Sklenar and Hasan Minhaj attend the “It Ends With Us” New York Premiere at AMC Lincoln Square Theater on August 06, 2024 in New York City.Cindy Ord/Getty (3)

Cindy Ord/Getty (3)

Many of Lively’s costars have spoken out in support of the actress, includingBrandon Sklenar, who plays Lily’s love interest andJenny Slate, who stars as Baldoni’s character’s sister.

Meanwhile, Sklenar urged his followers to readThe New York Times' archive of the legal documents. “FOR THE LOVE OF GOD READ THIS,” he wrote on his Instagram Stories, tagging Lively’s Instagram account.

What happens next?

Justin Baldoni at the ‘The Boys In The Boat’ Special Screening on Dec. 13, 2023 ; Blake Lively attends the Michael Kors A/W 2024 fashion show during New York Fashion Week in Chelsea on February 13, 2024 in New York City.Gregory Pace/Shutterstock;Taylor Hill/WireImage

Gregory Pace/Shutterstock;Taylor Hill/WireImage

On Dec. 31, Lively’s attorneys filed a federal complaint against Wayfarer Studios, Baldoni and other parties in the Southern District of New York.

That same day, Baldoni suedThe New York Times. Two weeks later, he sued Lively.

“We plan to release every single text messages between the two of them,” Freedman previously said of Baldoni’s plans to sue. “We want the truth to be out there. We want the documents to be out there. We want people to make their determination based on receipts.”

source: people.com