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The It Ends With Us actors and staff have been in a dispute since the prior year. It all commenced when TikTok watchers observed that movie headliner Blake Lively, along with her co-star and helmer, Justin Baldoni, didn’t strike poses alongside one another for snapshots at the August 6, 2024, debut in New York City. Whispers began to spread, asserting the performers estranged themselves from Justin, and these notions were boosted when Justin retained a crisis PR expert. By 2024’s close, Blake launched a legal action versus Justin, citing claimed inappropriate sexual actions on their film’s location. At the start of 2025, Justin shot back by taking legal recourse against both Blake and her spouse, Ryan Reynolds; nonetheless, his reciprocal claim was discarded by a legal official in the November of 2025.
As the judicial process draws closer to its May 2026 hearing, the intensity has heightened. Hollywood Life presents a breakdown of the progression of the lawsuit between Blake and Justin, outlined below.
Speculations of Strain Arise
On August 14, 2024, TMZ broadcasted there was awkwardness between Blake and Justin while capturing a kissing scene. Sources disclosed to the media platform that the A Simple Favor actress perceived that the director “tarried” extensively while locking lips with her before the cameras.
Informants equally conveyed to the outlet that Blake experienced sensations of being “body-shamed” by Justin when engaged in a sequence wherein his persona, Ryle, raises her character, Lilly, airborne. Justin allegedly carries a history of spinal concerns, and upon reportedly inquiring with an on-location fitness advisor regarding Blake’s mass, it caused her to feel belittled for her size, as stated by the news source.
Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively on the set of ‘It Ends with Us’ (Photo: GC Images)
Page Six printed that a witness recollected noticing “discomfort” emanating from Blake during the It Ends With Us production.
“The awkwardness felt so palpable,” the origin recounted to the media source. “Once [Blake] wrapped up her part in the scene, she grew notably restless, verbalizing, ‘Is that the end for me? May I leave?’ and immediately after receiving confirmation, it was akin to a Blake-shaped vanishing point [sic]. She was instantly absent.”
Followers inquired whether Blake and Justin would collaborate on the follow-up, It Starts With Us. Nevertheless, an informant revealed to Variety on August 27, 2024, that “there’s no possibility these two will team up anymore.”
“This is unexplored ground, and there is no clarity on what a next episode could entail,” the source contributed.
How Did Blake Lively & Justin Baldoni’s Disagreement Intensify?
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the rapport between the filmmakers was affected during the phase of post-production. The media outlet communicated that a pair of varied renderings of the picture were fashioned, leading to an apparent schism regarding imaginative inclinations.
As sharp-eyed individuals on the internet have pointed out, Blake and It Ends With Us novelist Colleen Hoover abstain from following Justin on the Instagram platform, even with him having followed them. Furthermore, social platform engagement isn’t the sole area where the collaboration amongst the cast ostensibly deteriorated.
PEOPLE documented on August 13, 2024, that the gossiped unease with Justin encompasses the “core performers” and Colleen.
“The truth is not what it appears,” one close source from the set confided with the print media outlet. “More underlies this event. The lead performers and [scribe] Colleen Hoover plan to have nothing to do with him.”
Blake Lively Files Suit Against Justin Baldoni
On December 21, 2024, TMZ published that Blake pursued a claim in court versus Justin for alleged indecent sexual conduct. The judiciary documentation conveyed that a full-group gathering transpired on the set of It Ends With Us, aimed at addressing the purported harmful environment. According to the resource, the agenda items of the get-together included these demands: refrain from airing uncensored footage or images of other women to Blake in any form; put an end to commentaries concerning Justin’s prior alleged “sexual fixation with explicit visuals; ban future discussions about sensual encounters around Blake and others; do away with citing the private regions of both cast and crew members; and quit inquiring about Blake’s physical size.
Additional stipulations comprised “discontinuing the integration of intimate segments, oral acts, or on-camera orgasmic expression by BL without adhering to the project BL authorized upon project acceptance,” as reported by TMZ.
TMZ further stated that It Ends With Us performed weakly at the box office because Blake and Justin differed on how to promote the title. According to this source, Blake reportedly advocated for underlining the fortitude of her character, while Justin sought to pivot toward a more grave direction, given the picture’s subject matter on domestic aggression.
In feedback to her grievance, Justin’s legal advisor, Bryan Freedman, put forth a declaration to The Hollywood Reporter, branding Blake’s lawsuit as “disgraceful,” noting her and her team’s “willingness to formulate such significant and objectively baseless allegations against Mr. Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios, and its associates, as yet another ill-fated venture to ‘repair’ her unfavorable image derived from her individual statements and deeds during the film’s marketing campaign; interactions and promotional activities witnessed publicly, unedited, and in real time, which permitted web communities to draw their own judgments.”
Justin Baldoni Takes Legal Action Against ‘The New York Times’
On December 31, Variety reported that Justin had initiated a $250 million lawsuit against The New York Times in connection with their published story, “We Can Bury Anyone’: Inside a Hollywood Smear Machine.” On behalf of Justin and several other plaintiffs, Bryan presented a complaint alleging that the publication engaged in deceptive assurance and breaching an understood contract.
In response, a NYT representative said, “The duty of a separate information organization centers around seeking facts no matter where they direct. Our narrative stood on meticulous and responsible reporting. It was rooted in inspecting thousands of pages’ worth of primary documentation, inclusive of the textual messages and emails that are directly and considerably referenced within our piece. To now, Wayfarer Studios, Mr. Baldoni, the residual parties targeted throughout the feature and their counsel have neglected to identify a single factual inaccuracy. Additionally, we shared their full declaration in response to the insinuations set forth inside our article. We intend to zealously argue against the complaint.”
Justin Baldoni Sues Blake Lively & Ryan Reynolds
On January 16, 2025, Baldoni took to the courts against Lively and Reynolds, charging them with seizing It Ends With Us and crushing his reputation with made-up allegations of improper sexual conduct. According to Variety, the litigation asserted, “This ordeal involves a pair of the most influential names globally leveraging their incredible sway to wrest complete ownership of a film from its guiding figure and production house … Once Claimants gain their trial date, the panel shall acknowledge that not even the most dominant of celebrities may twist reality to fit their personal agenda.”
On January 27, 2025, TMZ distributed a voice transmission Justin had forwarded to Blake, seemingly touching upon an alleged gathering where a fresh script was created for a segment featuring her husband and pal Taylor Swift as attendees. Inside the audio note, Justin states, “I deeply regret this. I greatly erred. It’s only appropriate to concede and express remorse on my failings. I exist as a quite fallible being, to attest by my spouse.” He references their being there with, “It’s fortunate to secure friends like that, never mind the reality of them being creative minds beyond compare.” Justin further said, “These three of you paired together is a force to reckon with.”
“I only wanted to acknowledge that such a meeting was redundant,” he went on. “As its quality is outstanding.” The personality finished with, “I can hardly wait to revisit the whole work with you.”
Blake Lively & Ryan Reynolds Make Filings to Dismiss Cases
As per Variety, Blake and Ryan processed documents to discontinue Justin’s slander litigation on January 30, 2025.
Blake Lively Secures Judge’s Permission to Safeguard Sensitive Details
On March 13, 2025, a federal legal official approved Blake’s motion to secure select details from the legal affair. As confirmed by diverse sources, the resolution restricts exposure of touchy information to “the eyes of authorized lawyers exclusively.”
Justin Baldoni Presses Charges Against Past Publicist
On March 21, 2025, Justin Baldoni brought charges against his previous publicist, Stephanie Jones, amidst reports suggesting her involvement in the controversy and friction encircling the It Ends With Us cast, notably Blake Lively and Baldoni himself.
Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, affirmed to Variety, “It is not in dispute that Stephanie Jones triggered this awful series of instances by disregarding the most inherent privacy protocols, along with any remaining faith held by her clients.” He amplified, “No newbie to producing crisis circumstances for separating clientele, Ms. Jones maliciously released communications from the phone she wrongfully obtained from her own associate to her ally, [Lively’s personal publicist] Leslie Sloane, promptly after Jones was terminated due to her wrongful behavior by Wayfarer for cause.”
Blake Lively’s Claims of Emotional Harm Discarded
In June 2025, a magistrate presiding over the Lively and Baldoni case eliminated her allegations of psychological injury. Based on Variety, Judge Lewis Liman determined that Baldoni’s application to compel was turned down “grounded in Plaintiff’s declaration that the referenced arguments will be dropped. Lively’s appeal suggesting that, “due to the consenting of parties to withdraw Ms. Lively’s tenth and eleventh motives of action . . . the Court activate its underlying authority and authorization beneath Rule 15 to dismiss them without prejudice” is rebuffed without prejudice to renewal. The involved bodies shall stipulate whether the withdrawal includes prejudice or its omission, or else Lively must recharge her request by official appeal. To eliminate ambiguity, should the arguments not be dismissed, the Tribunal will preclude Lively from producing any testimonials of emotional damage.”
Judge Dismisses Justin Baldoni’s Slander Lawsuit
On June 9, 2025, Judge Lewis J. Liman of New York dismissed Baldoni’s $400 million counterclaim made against Lively, her husband, Reynolds, the pair’s publicist, Leslie Sloane, including Baldoni’s defamation claims versus The New York Times. In November 2025, the said claim was officially dismissed when Baldoni did not provide an adjusted plea.
Jenny Slate Labels Justin Baldoni a ‘Fool’ in Unsealed Digital Text
In a January 20, 2026, submitting, during the lead-up to a summary judgment hearing, text messages from It Ends With Us actress Jenny Slate that date to June 2023 surfaced, in which she branded Justin as both a “fool” and as being “narcissistic” within.
“Justin truly comes across as an insincere advocate, and I can’t align myself with efforts to perpetuate a projected image that he embodies as a ‘male feminist’ … seriously … I am at a loss of words to convey what a fraud he is,” Jenny expressed via text, according to legal paperwork obtained by People.
Jenny further inserted in a separate communication to her representation, “Frankly, I’ve never bumped into someone of this ilk before. … He registers as the ultimate buffoon and an excessively intense narcissist. Many things became evident!”
Alleged Text Messages from Taylor Swift Pertaining to Justin Baldoni & Blake Lively
Enclosed within that January 2026 document, speculated exchanges between Taylor and Blake appeared. As one of the entries, said to originate from the “Bad Blood” performer, displayed Taylor labeling Justin as a “b**ch.”
“I presume this b**ch apprehends what might be coming, as he already took out his minuscule string instrument to elicit sorrow,” was the text sent by Taylor to Blake, reportedly in December 2024.
Within one separate communication originating from Blake directed to Taylor, the celebrity described Justin as an “incompetent director” harboring the self-image of “an author now.”
Ryan Reynolds Finally Speaks Out
Inside an announcement released on January 27, 2026, to Puck News, according to People, an agent for Ryan relayed that the actor wasted no time in becoming “involved” inside Blake’s legal confrontation against Justin.
“Indeed, Ryan engaged himself — what husband would abstain from championing his partner and the maternal figure to their brood?” the source detailed. “He found his wife working day in and day out to strongly object to inappropriate sexual harassment conducted secretly and politely, exclusively to bear retaliation resulting from this conduct.”
The spokesperson sustained, “If something were to exist, Ryan feels his temperance may have been too lax. He passionately holds to, and pledges to support, the fundamental entitlement to possess a sanctuary at the workplace free of harassing activities and retribution, for his partner and others. Both now and perpetually.”