A previously undisclosed contract uncovered during Blake Lively’s ongoing legal battle with co-star Justin Baldoni shows she was slated to earn $1.75 million for her role in the 2024 film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s It Ends With Us. The document, revealed in recently unsealed court filings initiated by Baldoni and his legal team, highlights additional financial incentives tied to box office results and award nominations.
This revelation arrives as Lively and Baldoni remain embroiled in heated litigation, with the actress alleging sexual harassment and a smear campaign against her, while Baldoni denies all accusations.
Details of Blake Lively’s Contract for It Ends With Us
The contract draft obtained by media outlets outlines a fixed compensation of $1.75 million for Lively’s performance as Lily Bloom. Beyond this base pay, the agreement included a 10 percent share of the film’s gross revenue and several tiered bonuses based on major award nominations and wins.
If Lively had earned a Golden Globe nomination, an extra $75,000 would have been awarded, with an additional $200,000 for an actual win. For the Screen Actors Guild Awards, the contract specified $50,000 for a nomination and $75,000 upon victory. The Oscars offered the highest bonuses: $100,000 for a nomination and $200,000 for a win. However, Lively did not receive these nominations following the movie’s release.
The contract also detailed numerous personal accommodations. These included a personal driver, exclusive access to a customized pop-out trailer equipped with standard amenities, and a stipend of $1,000 per week for training and meals during filming, which took place in New Jersey and New York. Additionally, an offer was on the table to transport Lively, her four children with husband Ryan Reynolds, two nannies, an assistant, and her security team via private jet for required shoots in Las Vegas.
Blake Lively Initiates Formal Complaint Against Justin Baldoni and Associates
On December 20, 2024, four months after It Ends With Us premiered, Blake Lively filed a California Civil Rights Department (CRD) complaint against Justin Baldoni and his business affiliates. The complaint, reported by The New York Times and obtained by multiple sources, named Baldoni, his production company Wayfarer Studios, its CEO Jamey Heath, co-founder Steve Sarowitz, publicist Jennifer Abel, her firm RWA Communications, crisis communications specialist Melissa Nathan along with her company The Agency Group PR LLC, contractor Jed Wallace, and Wallace’s company Street Relations Inc. as defendants.
Lively alleged that Baldoni and his associates orchestrated
embarked on a sophisticated press and digital plan in retaliation
for her raising concerns about inappropriate conduct on set. She and others reportedly endured
invasive, unwelcome, unprofessional and sexually inappropriate behavior
by Baldoni and Wayfarer’s CEO, Heath. Her complaint cites claims of sexual harassment, retaliation, failure to investigate and remedy the misconduct, aiding and abetting harassment, breach of contract, intentional infliction of emotional distress, false light invasion of privacy, negligence, and interference with prospective economic advantage.
The New York Times Exposes Alleged Retaliatory Smear Campaign
On December 21, 2024, The New York Times published a report based on Lively’s CRD complaint that detailed an alleged smear campaign waged by Baldoni and affiliates against her. The article included excerpts from text messages involving Baldoni’s team, publicist Jennifer Abel, and crisis manager Melissa Nathan. Court documents were made available for public viewing on the paper’s website.
In response, Lively remarked,
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 added,
and helps protect others who may be targeted.
– Blake Lively, Actress
Legal Team for Baldoni and Wayfarer Denies Allegations Against Lively
Bryan Freedman, attorney representing Justin Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios, and their associates, swiftly dismissed Lively’s accusations. In a statement published by The New York Times, Freedman called the charges
shameful
and
categorically false accusations
, describing them as
another desperate attempt to ‘fix’ her negative reputation
formed during the film’s promotional tour.
Freedman clarified that Wayfarer’s hiring of a crisis manager occurred before the film’s marketing campaign and was a standard procedure, emphasizing,
representatives of Wayfarer Studios still did nothing proactive nor retaliated, and only responded to incoming media inquiries to ensure balanced and factual reporting and monitored social activity,
and said that internal correspondence was routine for public relations professionals. He criticized media coverage based on selectively chosen communications, stating,
What is pointedly missing from the cherry-picked correspondence is the evidence that there were no proactive measures taken with media or otherwise;
Talent Agency Cuts Ties with Baldoni Following Controversy
Following the New York Times’ exposé, William Morris Endeavor (WME), a major talent agency, dropped Baldoni as a client on December 21, 2024. Ari Emanuel, CEO of Endeavor, confirmed the decision but denied it was influenced by Ryan Reynolds, Lively’s husband, despite Baldoni alleging otherwise in his own lawsuit.
WME stated,
In Baldoni’s filing there is a claim that Reynolds pressured Baldoni’s agent at the Deadpool & Wolverine premiere. This is not true,
and further clarified,
Baldoni’s former representative was not at the Deadpool & Wolverine premiere nor was there any pressure from Reynolds or Lively at any time to drop Baldoni as a client.
– William Morris Endeavor, Agency Statement
Cast and Industry Figures Voice Support for Blake Lively
The fallout from the allegations sparked public reactions from fellow actors and prominent figures in the film industry. Colleen Hoover, author of the original novel, praised Lively on Instagram, saying,
@blakelively, you have been nothing but honest, kind, supportive and patient since the day we met,
and added,
Thank you for being exactly the human that you are. Never change. Never wilt.
Jenny Slate, who portrayed the sister of Baldoni’s character in the film, expressed solidarity, stating,
As Blake Lively’s castmate and friend, I voice my support as she takes action against those reported to have planned and carried out an attack on her reputation,
further noting,
Blake is a leader, loyal friend and a trusted source of emotional support for me and so many who know and love her.
Slate described the situation as
terribly dark, disturbing, and wholly threatening,
and commended Lively for her courage. Brandon Sklenar, Lively’s onscreen love interest, urged the public to review the complaint, writing,
For the love of God read this.
Additionally, co-stars America Ferrera, Alexis Bledel, and Amber Tamblyn publicly stood with Lively in solidarity.
Departure of Podcast Cohost in Wake of Allegations
On December 23, 2024, Liz Plank, cohost of The Man Enough Podcast alongside Baldoni and Heath, announced her departure from the show. She shared via Instagram,
I’m writing to you today to let you know that I have had my representatives inform Wayfarer that I will no longer be co-hosting The Man Enough podcast,
and expressed gratitude to the show’s community. Although she didn’t specify her reasons, the timing was notable soon after Lively’s legal complaint.
Plank continued,
As this chapter closed for me, I remain committed to the values we’ve built together,
and added,
I will have more to share soon as I continue to process everything that has happened. In the meantime, I will continue to support everyone who calls out injustice and holds the people standing in their way accountable.
– Liz Plank, Former Podcast Cohost
Former Publicist Files Suit Alleges Coordinated Smear Against Her
On December 24, 2024, Stephanie Jones, Baldoni’s ex-publicist, together with her agency Jonesworks LLC, filed a lawsuit against Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios, Abel, Nathan, and others in New York. The suit accuses Abel and Nathan of conspiring to damage Jones’s reputation and breach contracts, alleging they used aggressive smear tactics against Jones and Baldoni’s co-star Blake Lively while falsely blaming Jones for the campaign.
The lawsuit states,
Defendants Abel and Nathan secretly conspired for months to publicly and privately attack Jones and Jonesworks, to breach multiple contracts and induce contractual breaches, and to steal clients and business prospects,
and further adds,
Behind Jones’s back, they secretly coordinated with Baldoni and Wayfarer to implement an aggressive media smear campaign against Baldoni’s film co-star, and then used the crisis as an opportunity to drive a wedge between Jones and Baldoni, and to publicly pin blame for this smear campaign on Jones—when Jones had no knowledge or involvement in it.
Attorney Bryan Freedman, representing Nathan and Abel, denied subpoenas had been issued to his clients and expressed plans to sue Jones for sharing private communications with Lively’s legal team.
Baldoni and Associates Sue The New York Times and File Additional Legal Actions
On December 31, 2024, Baldoni, Wayfarer, and associated parties filed a $250 million defamation lawsuit against The New York Times. The suit contests the newspaper’s reporting on the alleged smear campaign against Lively, accusing the outlet of selectively using Lively’s complaint and distorting evidence to portray Baldoni and his team unfairly. The plaintiffs claimed,
Despite its claim to have ‘reviewed these along with other documents[,]’ the Times relied almost entirely on Lively’s unverified and self-serving narrative,
and further stated,
it was Lively, not Plaintiffs, who engaged in a calculated smear campaign.
In response, The New York Times defended its reporting as thorough and grounded in extensive document reviews, stating,
The role of an independent news organization is to follow the facts where they lead,
and,
Our story was meticulously and responsibly reported.
That same day, Lively escalated the legal conflict by filing her own lawsuit against Baldoni, Wayfarer, and affiliated defendants in New York. Charges mirror her CRD complaint and include sexual harassment, retaliation, breach of contract, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Lively’s legal team emphasized,
nothing in this lawsuit changes anything about the claims
made in previous complaints, discrediting allegations that her administrative complaint was a disingenuous tactic.
Baldoni’s Legal Team Announces Plans to Pursue Further Action Against Lively
On January 2, 2025, in remarks to NBC News, Freedman confirmed plans to file additional lawsuits against Lively, claiming that other parties are involved in the dispute and that
this will not be the last lawsuit.
Controversy Extends to Social Media and Pop Culture
Following accusations against Baldoni, social media users speculated that Ryan Reynolds mocked Baldoni in his film Deadpool & Wolverine through a character named Nicepool. Freedman condemned such public mockery, stating in an interview,
What I make of that is that if your wife is sexually harassed, you don’t make fun of Justin Baldoni,
adding,
You don’t make fun of the situation. You take it very seriously. You file HR complaints. You raise the issue and you follow a legal process. What you don’t do is mock the person and turn it into a joke.
– Bryan Freedman, Attorney
Lively’s attorneys responded that increasingly hostile attacks against her since filing suit reflect unlawful retaliatory behavior. They warned against typical victim-blaming tactics and highlighted that
media statements are not a defense
to the serious allegations, pledging to prove their case in court.
Freedman retorted that Lively’s team manipulated media coverage to orchestrate a campaign against Baldoni, asserting,
We are releasing all of the evidence which will show a pattern of bullying and threats to take over the movie,
continuing,
None of this will come as a surprise because consistent with her past behavior Blake Lively used other people to communicate those threats and bully her way to get whatever she wanted. We have all the receipts and more.
Baldoni, Wayfarer, and Associates Sue Lively, Ryan Reynolds, and Others
On January 16, 2025, Baldoni, Wayfarer, and various associates filed a lawsuit against Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, Lively’s publicist Leslie Sloane, and Sloane’s company Vision PR in New York. The suit accuses the defendants of defamation, civil extortion, and interference with contractual and economic relations. The complaint denies claims of sexual harassment and states that Lively seized control of the film project with Reynolds and others, alleging they attempted to
tar and feather Plaintiffs in the press
after receiving criticism for the film’s marketing approach.
Freedman commented,
Blake Lively was either severely misled by her team or intentionally and knowingly misrepresented the truth.
Lively’s Legal Team Condemns Baldoni’s Counterclaims as a Tactic to Silence
Lively’s lawyers characterized Baldoni’s lawsuit as
another chapter in the abuser playbook,
explaining,
This is an age-old story: A woman speaks up with concrete evidence of sexual harassment and retaliation and the abuser attempts to turn the tables on the victim. This is what experts call DARVO. Deny. Attack. Reverse Victim Offender.
The legal team rejected claims that Lively took over the film’s creative control against Baldoni’s wishes, noting that Sony had requested she oversee the studio’s cut, which achieved commercial success. They added that Baldoni’s team responded to her harassment allegations with victim-blaming rhetoric, including comments about her attire. In closing, her lawyers stated,
The strategy of attacking the woman is desperate, it does not refute the evidence in Ms. Lively’s complaint, and it will fail.
Release of Behind-the-Scenes Footage Spurs Dispute Over On-Set Behavior
On January 21, 2025, Baldoni’s legal counsel published behind-the-scenes footage from the filming of It Ends With Us. They argued the clip disproved Lively’s accusations, saying,
The scene in question was designed to show the two characters falling in love and longing to be close to one another,
adding,
Both actors are clearly behaving well within the scope of the scene and with mutual respect and professionalism.
Lively’s lawyers countered the footage corroborates her lawsuit, describing how Baldoni improvised the scene without prior discussion or consent and she visibly leaned away, repeatedly requesting dialogue. They said,
Any woman who has been inappropriately touched in the workplace will recognize Ms. Lively’s discomfort.
Lively and Reynolds Request Gag Order on Baldoni’s Counsel
On January 22, 2025, Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds formally petitioned the court to issue a gag order limiting statements by Freedman, Baldoni’s lead attorney, in an effort to curtail potentially improper conduct during ongoing litigation.
Leaked 2 AM Voice Memo Shows Baldoni Apologizing to Lively
A 7-minute voice memo allegedly sent by Baldoni to Lively during production surfaced online on January 27, 2025. In the recording, he acknowledged her creative input on the film’s rooftop scene, which had been rewritten, and appeared to apologize for his initial negative response.
Baldoni said,
We should all have friends like that aside from the fact that they’re two of the most creative people on the planet,
and,
The three of you guys together, it’s unbelievable.
He continued,
I f–ked up. One thing you should know about me is that I will admit and apologize when I fail.
– Justin Baldoni, Actor and Director
Trial Date Set for Blake Lively vs. Justin Baldoni Case
The ongoing dispute has been scheduled for trial on March 9, 2026, nearly a year after Lively initiated the formal lawsuit against Baldoni and his associates.
Baldoni Expands Lawsuit to Include The New York Times in $400 Million Claim
On January 31, 2025, Baldoni’s legal team amended their counterclaims to add The New York Times to their expansive $400 million defamation lawsuit, accusing Lively and her team of colluding to feed
falsehoods to the New York Times
. The amended complaint alleges the newspaper deliberately spliced communications removed from their context to mislead the public.
Launch of Website to Present Legal Documents and Timeline
On February 2, 2025, Baldoni’s team launched a website presenting details about their lawsuit against Lively. It included the amended complaint and a comprehensive timeline featuring alleged screenshots of texts exchanged between Lively, Ryan Reynolds, and Baldoni. Freedman confirmed their intent to disclose
every single text message between the two,
emphasizing the desire for transparency so the public could judge the evidence firsthand.
Lively Submits Amended Complaint Citing Additional Witnesses
On February 18, 2025, Lively’s attorneys filed an amended complaint alleging that two other women involved in the making of It Ends With Us voiced discomfort with Baldoni’s conduct on set. The complaint stresses,
Ms. Lively was not alone in complaining about Mr. Baldoni,
and notes that the director acknowledged the complaints in writing from May 2023 onwards.
Names of the witnesses were withheld due to the
dangerous climate of threats, harassment, and intimidation fueled by the Defendants’ retaliation campaign.
Freedman called the allegations hearsay and claimed the unnamed witnesses were unwilling to support Lively publicly.
Publicist Leslie Sloane Seeks Removal from Lawsuit
After Baldoni accused Leslie Sloane, publicist for Lively and Reynolds, of orchestrating a smear campaign under Lively’s direction, Sloane filed motions seeking dismissal from the lawsuit. Her attorney claimed no factual basis exists for the accusations and described her involvement as
dragged into the lawsuit as a smoke and mirrors exercise to distract from
the core issues.
Blake Lively Hires Former CIA Deputy Chief of Staff for Legal Strategy
On February 28, 2025, Lively added Nick Shapiro, previously Deputy Chief of Staff at the CIA and crisis management expert, to her legal communications team. Shapiro has held senior security and communications roles at Visa and Airbnb before founding his consultancy, 10th Avenue Consulting LLC.
The New York Times Requests Removal from Defamation Lawsuit
Also on February 28, The New York Times filed motions to dismiss itself from the $400 million lawsuit, arguing it was drawn into an exaggerated and one-sided narrative fueled by Baldoni’s team. The newspaper emphasized it should not be party to this dispute and highlighted that an earlier $250 million suit against The Times had been dismissed before this motion.
Judge Pauses Discovery in $400 Million Lawsuit Against The New York Times
On March 4, 2025, U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman granted The New York Times’ request to stay discovery pending resolution of its motion to dismiss. The judge found the motion likely to succeed on its merits and ruled that the plaintiffs would not be unfairly prejudiced during the stay.
A spokesperson for The Times remarked,
We appreciate the court’s decision today, which recognizes the important First Amendment values at stake here. The court has stopped Mr. Baldoni from burdening The Times with discovery requests in a case that should never have been brought against.
Attempted Subpoena of Taylor Swift Denied as Lively’s Legal Team Refutes Claims
In May 2025, Baldoni’s legal team sought to subpoena singer Taylor Swift after alleging Lively leveraged their friendship for increased creative control over It Ends With Us. Swift’s representatives responded,
Taylor Swift never set foot on the set of this movie,
adding she had no involvement in casting, scoring, or editing. They explained her sole contribution was licensing one song, “My Tears Ricochet,” among many other artists who did the same. Swift’s team called the subpoena an attempt to generate tabloid interest rather than focus on facts.
Shortly thereafter, Baldoni’s attorneys withdrew the subpoena request, according to Lively’s legal team.
Judge Dismisses Baldoni’s Countersuit Against Lively, Reynolds, and Others
On June 9, 2025, a judge dismissed Baldoni’s countersuit alleging defamation and civil extortion against Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, Leslie Sloane, her PR firm Vision PR, and The New York Times, ruling that Baldoni’s team failed to provide sufficient evidence.
Lively responded on Instagram,
Like so many others, I’ve felt the pain of a retaliatory lawsuit, including the manufactured shame that tries to break us,
and expressed gratitude to supporters, stating,
With love and gratitude for the many who stood by me. Many of you I know. Many of you I don’t. But I will never stop appreciating or advocating for you.
Baldoni’s attorney called her declaration of victory
predictable
and labeled the claims false, asserting the case centers on unfounded accusations of harassment and retaliation that can’t be proven.
Blake Lively’s Deposition Sparks Media Speculation
On July 31, 2025, Lively underwent deposition at her attorneys’ office in New York. Contrary to media speculation of a tense face-to-face confrontation with Baldoni, her legal team clarified that the defendants and their attorneys were present, and rejected claims that she needed a large support team to testify.
The attorneys emphasized a professional environment and contested sensationalist narratives circulating in the press.
