Blake Lively’s ongoing legal battle has intensified with a series of new developments involving her costar Justin Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios. The dispute, which began in late 2024 and continues into 2025, centers around allegations of sexual harassment, retaliation, and a highly publicized legal feud that has drawn multiple lawsuits, media attention, and public statements.
The Blake Lively legal battle, rooted in claims made during the production of the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s It Ends With Us, has unfolded across courts in New York and California, revealing deep tensions and counterclaims between the involved parties.
Isabela Ferrer’s Public Appearance Amid Legal Issues
Amid the escalating legal tensions, Isabela Ferrer, a 24-year-old actress from the same film, stepped into the public eye at New York Fashion Week’s Alice + Olivia Spring 2026 runway on September 24. This marked her first event following her legal filing against director Justin Baldoni. Ferrer accused Baldoni of bullying her after she was served a subpoena by Lively’s legal team during the dispute with Baldoni.
Ferrer appeared dressed in a black corduroy jumpsuit, matching boots, and handbag, signaling her refusal to let the legal drama overshadow her career and public appearances.
According to court documents, Ferrer’s attorneys detailed her attempts to have her legal costs covered by Wayfarer Studios under her contract, but the company allegedly demanded she surrender control over her subpoena response to them before payment. Her lawyers further accused Baldoni of attempts to manipulate, threaten, and bully Ferrer when she refused these conditions. In her filing, Ferrer asserted that she would comply with legal obligations without intimidation or extortion from any party involved.
Baldoni’s representatives responded by describing Ferrer’s claims as an inappropriate attack and requested an agreement to exclude any communications or testimony involving Ferrer from the proceedings.
Despite her legal entanglements, Ferrer has expressed admiration for Lively, revealing the close personal bond they formed during filming. She credited Lively with styling her for the film’s premiere and called her a mentor and “absolute angel,” acknowledging the support she received during this turbulent time.
Initial Legal Actions: Lively’s CRD Complaint Against Baldoni and Wayfarer
On December 20, 2024, several months after the release of It Ends With Us, Blake Lively filed a California Civil Rights Department complaint against Justin Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios, and various associates. The complaint outlined multiple allegations including sexual harassment, retaliation for speaking out about misconduct, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and breach of contract.
The defendants named included Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios’ executives Jamey Heath and Steve Sarowitz, publicist Jennifer Abel along with her firm RWA Communications, crisis specialist Melissa Nathan and The Agency Group PR LLC, and other contractors such as Jed Wallace’s Street Relations Inc.
Lively claimed that Baldoni and his associates engaged in a calculated press and digital retaliation campaign after she and others raised concerns about unprofessional and sexually inappropriate behavior during filming. She stated that this campaign caused severe personal and professional damage to her reputation.
Media Exposure and Smear Campaign Allegations
The following day, December 21, The New York Times released an article detailing the alleged smear campaign against Lively, referencing the CRD complaint and including excerpts from communications between Baldoni’s team members. The report made public the extent of the digital and media efforts the complaint accused Baldoni and his team of orchestrating.
Lively commented on the publication, stating her hope that the legal action would expose harmful tactics used against those who speak out about misconduct and protect others from similar treatment.
Defendants’ Strong Denials and Legal Responses
In response to the CRD complaint and media reports, attorney Bryan Freedman, representing Baldoni, Wayfarer, and their associated individuals, condemned Lively’s allegations as false and driven by an attempt to salvage her public image. Freedman asserted that the communications cited were selectively edited and that Wayfarer’s engagement with crisis management was proactive and standard practice, not retaliatory.
Career Repercussions for Justin Baldoni
On December 21, shortly after the Times report, leading talent agency William Morris Endeavor (WME) severed ties with Baldoni. WME’s parent company CEO Ari Emanuel clarified that the move was unrelated to any external pressure from Ryan Reynolds or Lively, contradicting Baldoni’s allegations made in his own lawsuit against The New York Times.
Support from It Ends With Us Cast and Industry Figures
Following Lively’s complaint and the extensive media coverage, several cast members and industry figures publicly expressed support for her. Colleen Hoover, author of the original novel, praised Lively for her honesty and kindness on Instagram. Jenny Slate, who portrayed Ryle’s sister in the film, lauded Lively as a leader and ally, condemning the attacks on her friend.
Other cast members including Brandon Sklenar, who played Lively’s love interest, urged people to read the complaint, while former Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants co-stars America Ferrera, Alexis Bledel, and Amber Tamblyn affirmed their solidarity with Lively.
Podcast Departure Signals Fallout Amid Legal Turmoil
On December 23, Liz Plank announced her departure from The Man Enough Podcast, which she cohosted with Baldoni and Jamey Heath. In her public statement, Plank expressed gratitude for the community built through the show and indicated her continued commitment to justice and accountability.
Though she did not explicitly cite the ongoing legal disputes as her reason for leaving, her exit followed closely on the heels of the escalating allegations and lawsuits involving Baldoni and Lively.
Additional Lawsuits and Allegations Surface
On December 24, 2024, Stephanie Jones, Baldoni’s former publicist, and her agency Jonesworks LLC filed a lawsuit against Baldoni, Wayfarer, and staff including Jennifer Abel and Melissa Nathan. Jones accused the defendants of breaching contracts, coordinating media attacks against her, and wrongfully blaming her for efforts to undermine Lively. The suit disclosed that Abel and Nathan had conspired along with Baldoni’s team in a smear campaign that Jones was unaware of.
Meanwhile, Lively’s attorneys revealed that texts featured in The New York Times article were obtained via subpoena to Jonesworks. Freedman disputed the legitimacy of these subpoenas and threatened legal action against Jones for releasing private communications.
Escalation: Baldoni and Associates Sue The New York Times
On December 31, 2024, Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios, and their associates filed a $250 million defamation lawsuit against The New York Times, challenging the veracity of the newspaper’s report on the alleged smear campaign. The suit alleged libel, invasion of privacy, and breach of implied contract, asserting that the Times relied heavily on Lively’s unverified narrative while ignoring contradictory evidence.
The plaintiffs claimed that Lively herself orchestrated a smear campaign, a charge she denies. The New York Times pledged to vigorously defend its reporting, emphasizing the thoroughness and accuracy backed by thousands of original documents and communications cited in their investigation.
Lively’s Parallel Lawsuit Advances
Simultaneously on December 31, Lively filed a civil lawsuit against Baldoni, Wayfarer, key personnel, and publicists in New York. She reiterated her claims of sexual harassment, retaliation, breach of contract, and emotional distress as initially presented in her CRD complaint. Her legal team emphasized that this federal lawsuit reaffirmed the seriousness of her accusations, countering claims by Baldoni’s side that earlier complaints were merely strategic posturing rather than genuine legal pursuit.
Baldoni’s Attorneys Signal More Legal Action Ahead
In early January 2025, Baldoni’s legal representatives expressed their intent to continue litigation beyond current suits. They indicated additional parties may face lawsuits and that Baldoni planned to legally pursue Lively as well. Freedman publicly confirmed plans to target Lively in forthcoming cases.
Public and Legal Responses to Social Media Rumors
On January 7, 2025, social media speculation suggested Ryan Reynolds may have mocked Baldoni through his movie Deadpool & Wolverine by including a character named Nicepool. Freedman denounced the rumors, urging a serious approach to the allegations rather than making jokes, emphasizing that such matters should be handled through proper legal channels.
Lively’s lawyers highlighted ongoing efforts by Baldoni’s team to damage her reputation even after lawsuits were filed, describing the situation as not a simple creative conflict but a serious case of sexual harassment and unlawful retaliation. They called out common tactics used to discredit victims and pledged to pursue their claims fully through the judicial process.
Sharp Exchanges Between Legal Teams Continue
Baldoni’s counsel accused Lively of using the media as a weapon, alleging her team orchestrated the attack on Baldoni by submitting manipulated documents to the press before filing complaints. They claimed to possess extensive evidence demonstrating a pattern of bullying and threats initiated by Lively.
Cross-Lawsuits Arise with Lively, Reynolds, and Associates Targeted
On January 16, Baldoni, Wayfarer, and related defendants filed a counterclaim targeting Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, her publicist Leslie Sloane, and Sloane’s firm Vision PR. The suit accused the defendants of civil extortion, defamation, and interference with contractual relationships, rejecting all allegations of harassment.
The plaintiffs argued that Lively had taken control of the film’s production in concert with Reynolds and others to damage Baldoni’s reputation, a charge Lively’s team contested, asserting she merely followed Sony’s approved marketing strategy. They also claimed the media story linking them to a manufactured smear campaign was false and part of a broader misrepresentation of the facts, which The New York Times upheld.
Lively’s Team Condemns the Counterlawsuit as an Abuser’s Tactic
In response to the counterclaims, Lively’s legal representatives characterized Baldoni’s lawsuit as a manipulative tactic frequently used by abusers to silence victims, known as DARVO—Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim and Offender. They highlighted that evidence would reveal widespread negative experiences with Baldoni and affirm Lively’s authorized leadership role in the film’s post-production, contrary to Baldoni’s assertions.
Her team strongly criticized the defendants’ response to the harassment allegations, ridiculing the excuses that blame victims based on their appearance or actions, emphasizing that such defenses do not disprove the core accusations and would fail in court.
Behind-the-Scenes Footage Released Amid Ongoing Dispute
On January 21, Baldoni’s legal team published behind-the-scenes footage from the film’s production to challenge Lively’s depiction of events. They claimed the video showcased mutual respect and professionalism during scenes cited in the lawsuit.
Conversely, Lively’s lawyers argued the footage corroborated her claims, describing her visible discomfort and repeated requests to cease certain actions, interpretations they said would resonate with anyone familiar with workplace harassment.
Legal Maneuvers Intensify with Gag Order Requests and Voice Recording Revelations
On January 22, Lively and Reynolds petitioned the court for a gag order against Freedman, Baldoni’s lead attorney, aiming to restrict public statements during ongoing proceedings to prevent improper conduct.
Six days later, a seven-minute voice memo allegedly sent by Baldoni to Lively was leaked, in which Baldoni appeared to apologize for his initial reception of Lively’s script changes and praised her creative circle, including Reynolds and Taylor Swift.
Trial Date and Expanded Litigation Developments
By January 27, 2025, the court scheduled the trial for Lively’s lawsuit against Baldoni for March 9, 2026. Baldoni also amended his counterclaims to increase the lawsuit’s value to $400 million, including The New York Times as a defendant and accusing Lively’s team of colluding with the newspaper to disseminate misleading information.
Baldoni’s Team Sets Up Website to Publicize Their Case
In early February, Baldoni’s camp launched a website featuring their amended legal complaint and a detailed timeline of events. This site included text message screenshots between Lively, Reynolds, and Baldoni, aiming to provide public access to the material as a means to “let the truth” be evaluated based on documents rather than media narratives.
Further Legal Filings and Claims of Additional Witnesses
On February 18, Lively’s attorneys filed an amended complaint disclosing that two more women involved in the film had also reported discomfort with Baldoni’s conduct. The complaint said Baldoni was aware of these complaints from May 2023 onwards and documented them in writing. Due to fears of retaliation and intimidation from Baldoni’s team, the identities of these witnesses were withheld.
Freedman dismissed these new allegations as hearsay and claimed the unnamed witnesses had withdrawn support for Lively’s claims.
Publicist Leslie Sloane Seeks to Exit the Litigation
After being implicated by Baldoni’s team as part of a smear campaign, Leslie Sloane moved to withdraw from the litigation. Her legal team asserted that the accusations against her were baseless and part of a strategy to divert attention from the primary allegations against Lively.
Lively Enlists Former CIA Official for Legal Strategy
In late February, Lively engaged Nick Shapiro, a former Deputy Chief of Staff for the CIA and expert in crisis management, to advise on legal communications regarding the ongoing sexual harassment and retaliation case. Shapiro’s background includes senior roles at Visa and Airbnb, bringing high-level expertise to Lively’s legal team’s strategic efforts.
The New York Times Moves to Exit Litigation
Also in late February, The New York Times filed a motion to dismiss itself from Baldoni’s expansive $400 million lawsuit, arguing that the paper was not an appropriate party to this dispute despite extensive media coverage. The paper’s attorneys noted the prior dismissal of the original defamation suit after their inclusion in the larger suit, emphasizing the First Amendment importance of their coverage.
Discovery in Lawsuit Temporarily Suspended by Federal Judge
In early March, a U.S. District Judge granted The New York Times’ request to pause discovery obligations, including the exchange of documents and information. The judge acknowledged strong grounds favoring the paper’s motion to dismiss and indicated that the suspension would not unfairly prejudice Baldoni’s legal team during the court’s review.
Subpoena Attempt for Taylor Swift Promptly Refuted
In May 2025, Baldoni’s legal team sought to subpoena singer Taylor Swift based on claims that Lively leveraged her friendship with Swift to gain creative control of the film. Swift’s representatives quickly denied any involvement beyond licensing one song for the film’s soundtrack, labeling the subpoena attempt as a tabloid-driven distraction. Baldoni’s attorneys withdrew the subpoena request shortly after.
Counterclaim Against Lively and Reynolds Dismissed
On June 9, 2025, a judge dismissed Baldoni’s countersuit against Lively, Ryan Reynolds, their publicist Leslie Sloane, Sloane’s company, and The New York Times, citing insufficient evidence for defamation or civil extortion claims. Following the ruling, Lively shared a message acknowledging the difficulty of facing retaliatory lawsuits and expressing gratitude for the support she had received.
Baldoni’s lawyer maintained that the dismissal did not reflect the truth of the case, asserting the accusations were baseless and unprovable.
Blake Lively’s Deposition and Ongoing Legal Proceedings
In late July, Lively underwent deposition at her attorneys’ office in New York. Contrary to media reports portraying the session as a confrontational showdown requiring a large escort, her legal team clarified that Baldoni and other defendants with their lawyers were present as part of standard legal procedure.
Summary of the Blake Lively Legal Battle’s Significance
This prolonged Blake Lively legal battle has brought to light serious allegations regarding workplace behavior and power dynamics within the entertainment industry. The case underscores complexities around addressing sexual harassment, retaliation, and the challenges faced by those speaking out. With multiple lawsuits, public disputes, media coverage, and the involvement of notable figures like Ryan Reynolds and Taylor Swift, the conflict illustrates how legal battles in Hollywood now unfold not only in courts but also in public forums.
As the scheduled trial approaches in March 2026, the parties continue to exchange filings, reveal new evidence, and attempt to shape public perception. The outcome of this litigation will likely influence industry practices related to on-set conduct, legal recourse for harassment claims, and the role of media in high-profile disputes.
