The legal feud between It Ends With Us stars Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni has spiraled into one of Hollywood’s most explosive public battles. What began as on-set tensions has erupted into sexual harassment claims, multimillion-dollar lawsuits, countersuits, and accusations of orchestrated smear campaigns.
From shocking court filings to career-altering consequences, the fight has revealed disturbing allegations, bitter denials, and a relentless PR war that shows no signs of slowing.
December 20–31, 2024: From CRD Complaint to Federal Lawsuit
On Dec. 20, 2024, Blake Lively filed a California Civil Rights Department complaint accusing Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios executives, and their PR allies of sexual harassment, retaliation, and a coordinated smear campaign after she voiced misconduct concerns. Allegations included unwanted physical contact, boundary violations, and unprofessional improvisation during intimate scenes.
The New York Times published excerpts from alleged internal messages the next day. Baldoni’s attorney denied all claims, calling them “false” and “salacious.” WME dropped Baldoni, and Lively gained support from stars like Colleen Hoover, Jenny Slate, and her Sisterhood co-stars.
On Dec. 31, Lively escalated matters with a federal lawsuit mirroring her CRD allegations, while Baldoni countered by suing The New York Times for $250 million, claiming its article relied on her “self-serving” narrative.
January 16, 2025: $400 Million Countersuit & Public Backlash
Baldoni, Heath, Wayfarer, and their PR teams filed a $400 million lawsuit against Lively, Ryan Reynolds, publicist Leslie Sloane, and others—accusing them of defamation, civil extortion, and sabotaging his reputation to seize control of the film. Lively’s lawyers called it “the abuser playbook,” framing his strategy as DARVO (Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim and Offender).
Baldoni’s camp released behind-the-scenes footage they claimed disproved her harassment claims; Lively’s team argued it showed her discomfort. Tensions escalated with leaked voice memos, requests for gag orders, and further amended complaints—Lively adding that two other women on set had also felt uncomfortable with Baldoni’s behavior.
June–August 2025: Courtroom Victories for Lively
On June 9, 2025, Judge Lewis J. Liman dismissed Baldoni’s $400 million countersuit and his separate case against The New York Times, ruling Lively’s statements were legally protected.
In early August, Lively moved to strike a nearly 300-page draft of her deposition from public record, accusing Baldoni’s team of filing it to spark a media frenzy. On Aug. 8, the judge granted her request, calling the filing irrelevant and prejudicial—a major pretrial win ahead of the March 9, 2026 trial date.