Blake Lively is involved in a high-profile legal battle that has brought several prominent celebrities into the spotlight. In documents unsealed on November 5, 2024, her legal team named various well-known figures as individuals possessing potentially valuable information related to her allegations against her film co-star Justin Baldoni, making the Blake Lively legal battle a matter of broad celebrity implication.
The case centers on Lively’s claims of sexual harassment and a retaliatory smear campaign during and after the production of the 2024 film It Ends With Us. Alongside her husband Ryan Reynolds, the court filings list celebrities such as Emily Blunt, Gigi Hadid, Scooter Braun, Hugh Jackman, and Michele Morrone, plus Lively’s co-stars from The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants—including Alexis Bledel, America Ferrera, and Amber Tamblyn—as individuals with relevant knowledge.
Prominent Figures Identified as Potential Witnesses
Lively’s attorneys submitted a comprehensive list of witnesses likely to have discoverable information regarding her allegations. Taylor Swift was also named despite allegations by Baldoni’s team that she was involved in a production meeting, a claim her representatives have firmly denied.
Her team contended that Swift could provide knowledge about the parties’ conduct, complaints, and discussions about the film’s work environment, as well as the production and publicity processes, and the alleged retaliation that Lively has accused Baldoni of orchestrating. Also included were Swift’s close friends Ashley Avignone, Alana Haim, Este Haim, and Danielle Haim, as well as Blunt, Braun, and Morrone, who may all speak to the conduct and retaliation claims.
Gigi Hadid, a mutual friend of Lively and Swift, is said to potentially have insights into complaints or conversations about the work environment during the film’s production. Additionally, cast members Jenny Slate and Isabela Ferrer, along with author Colleen Hoover—on whose novel the film is based—were included among those named in the court documents as having relevant information.
Legal Complaint Filed by Blake Lively Against Justin Baldoni and Associates
On December 20, 2024, Blake Lively filed a California Civil Rights Department (CRD) complaint accusing Justin Baldoni and his associates of sexual harassment and retaliation related to the production of It Ends With Us. The complaint, obtainable by court records, named Baldoni’s production company Wayfarer Studios, CEO Jamey Heath, co-founder Steve Sarowitz, and others as defendants.
Lively alleged that Baldoni and his associates engaged in a retaliatory media and digital campaign after she raised concerns about inappropriate behavior on set, which included invasive and sexually inappropriate conduct by Baldoni and Heath. The complaint details a range of accusations such as failure to prevent harassment, breach of contract, emotional distress, negligence, and interference with economic advantage.
“embarked on a sophisticated press and digital plan in retaliation” – Blake Lively’s legal complaint
Media Coverage On Smear Campaign Allegations
The following day, on December 21, 2024, The New York Times published an exposé covering the retaliatory smear campaign Lively accused Baldoni and his associates of executing. This report included excerpts from texts and court documents highlighting the communications between Baldoni’s team members, which were part of the CRD complaint.
“I hope that my legal action helps pull back the curtain on these sinister retaliatory tactics to harm people who speak up about misconduct,”
Blake Lively said to The New York Times.
“and helps protect others who may be targeted.”
Response from Justin Baldoni and Wayfarer’s Legal Team
Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, strongly refuted Lively’s accusations following the complaint’s public release. He described the claims as entirely false and a desperate attempt by Lively to repair her personal reputation, which he suggests was damaged due to her own statements and public behavior during the film’s promotional activities.
“It is shameful that Ms. Lively and her representatives would make such serious and categorically false accusations against Mr. Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios and its representatives, as yet another desperate attempt to ‘fix’ her negative reputation… These claims are completely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious with an intent to publicly hurt and rehash a narrative in the media.”
– Bryan Freedman, Attorney for Justin Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios
Freedman also explained Wayfarer’s decision to hire crisis management experts, asserting this was a standard industry practice that preceded the film’s marketing efforts and was not an act of retaliation. He emphasized that all efforts were reactive to media inquiries and aimed at ensuring accurate reporting.
Talent Agency William Morris Endeavor Cuts Ties with Baldoni
Shortly after the publication of The New York Times article on December 21, 2024, the talent agency William Morris Endeavor (WME) severed its relationship with Justin Baldoni. Ari Emanuel, CEO of Endeavor, confirmed this to the press but denied any influence from Ryan Reynolds, contrary to Baldoni’s claims in other legal filings.
“In Baldoni’s filing there is a claim that Reynolds pressured Baldoni’s agent at the Deadpool & Wolverine premiere. This is not true,”
said WME’s statement.
“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.”
Support from Co-Stars and Influential Figures
In the wake of the lawsuit and media revelations, many actors and celebrities connected to the project expressed support for Lively. Author Colleen Hoover, who wrote the source novel, commended Lively’s integrity and kindness on social media.
“@blakelively, you have been nothing but honest, kind, supportive and patient since the day we met,”
Hoover stated.
“Thank you for being exactly the human that you are. Never change. Never wilt.”
Jenny Slate, who portrayed Baldoni’s character’s sister in the film, publicly voiced her support, acknowledging the severity of the situation and calling Lively a trusted friend and leader.
“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,”
Slate said.
“Blake is a leader, loyal friend and a trusted source of emotional support for me and so many who know and love her.”
“What has been revealed about the attack on Blake is terribly dark, disturbing, and wholly threatening,”
she added.
“I commend my friend, I admire her bravery, and I stand by her side.”
Other castmates including America Ferrera, Alexis Bledel, and Amber Tamblyn publicly aligned themselves in solidarity with Lively. Brandon Sklenar, playing Lively’s character’s love interest, urged people to read the court documents to understand the depth of the situation.
Departure of Podcast Cohost Amidst Growing Turmoil
On December 23, 2024, Liz Plank, a cohost alongside Baldoni and Heath on The Man Enough Podcast, announced she would no longer continue with the show. Posting on Instagram, Plank expressed gratitude toward listeners and the supportive community while emphasizing her commitment to justice and accountability, though she did not specify her reasons for leaving.
“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,”
Liz Plank shared.
“Thank you for trusting me with your hearts and stories, for holding space for mine, and for making this show what it was. I will miss you, the listeners, so much.”
“As this chapter closed for me, I remain committed to the values we’ve built together,”
she added.
“Thank you for being here, for trusting me, and for being by my side for the last four years. We all deserve better, and I know that together, we can create it.”
“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.”
Lawsuit Filed by Former Publicist Accuses Coordinated Smear Plot
Stephanie Jones, who formerly publicized for Baldoni, filed a lawsuit on December 24, 2024, against Baldoni, his company Wayfarer, and his current publicists Jennifer Abel and Melissa Nathan. The suit claimed that Abel and Nathan conspired to undermine Jones and her agency Jonesworks LLC through a media smear campaign, pointing fingers at Jones while secretly coordinating with Baldoni and Wayfarer.
“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,”
the legal documents state.
The suit says the defendants used the crisis surrounding the sexual harassment allegations as a tactic to pit Jones against Baldoni and publicly blame her, despite her lack of involvement in the alleged smear campaign. They further allege continual defamation and attacks within the industry against Jones.
Ongoing Legal Warfare and Counterclaims Intensify
On December 31, 2024, Baldoni, Wayfarer, their associates, and PR representatives filed a $250 million lawsuit against The New York Times, accusing the media outlet of libel, false light invasion of privacy, promissory fraud, and breach of implied contract related to its report on the alleged smear campaign. The suit demands accountability for publishing what the plaintiffs describe as a misleading narrative based largely on Lively’s complaint.
“Despite its claim to have ‘reviewed these along with other documents[,]’ the Times relied almost entirely on Lively’s unverified and self-serving narrative,”
according to the lawsuit.
“They lifted it nearly verbatim while disregarding an abundance of evidence that contradicted her claims and exposed her true motives.”
That same day, Lively also filed a formal lawsuit against Baldoni and others associated with Wayfarer in New York, reiterating her claims of sexual harassment, retaliation, and related offenses. Her legal team emphasized that this federal litigation builds upon the earlier CRD complaint.
“This lawsuit is based on the obviously false premise that Ms. Lively’s administrative complaint against Wayfarer and others was a ruse based on a choice ‘not to file a lawsuit against Baldoni, Wayfarer,’ and that ‘litigation was never her ultimate goal,'”
her lawyers stated.
“As demonstrated by the federal complaint filed by Ms. Lively earlier today, that frame of reference for the Wayfarer lawsuit is false.”
Plaintiffs Signal Future Litigation Against Additional Parties
In early January 2025, Baldoni’s legal team signaled plans to pursue further lawsuits beyond their case against The New York Times and Lively. Freedman, Baldoni’s attorney, stated in a January 2 interview that more legal action was forthcoming against other individuals involved in the dispute.
“There are other bad actors involved,”
court documents read.
“Make no mistake—this will not be the last lawsuit.”
Controversy Intensifies Over Alleged Movie References and Public Reactions
Social media speculation grew regarding Ryan Reynolds allegedly referencing Justin Baldoni through the character “Nicepool” in his film Deadpool & Wolverine. While Reynolds has not publicly addressed these claims, Freedman criticized any such mockery.
“What I make of that is that if your wife is sexually harassed, you don’t make fun of Justin Baldoni,”
Freedman said on The Megyn Kelly Show.
“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.”
Meanwhile, Lively’s legal team denounced ongoing attacks against their client, maintaining that her claims are backed by substantial evidence and dismissing the situation as a dispute over creative differences.
“Ms. Lively’s federal litigation before the Southern District of New York involves serious claims of sexual harassment and retaliation, backed by concrete facts,”
her lawyers said.
“This is not a ‘feud’ arising from ‘creative differences’ or a ‘he said/she said’ situation.”
“Wayfarer and its associates engaged in unlawful, retaliatory astroturfing against Ms. Lively for simply trying to protect herself and others on a film set. And their response to the lawsuit has been to launch more attacks against Ms. Lively since her filing.”
“While we go through the legal process, we urge everyone to remember that sexual harassment and retaliation are illegal in every workplace and in every industry.”
“A classic tactic to distract from allegations of this type of misconduct is to ‘blame the victim’ by suggesting that they invited the conduct, brought it on themselves, misunderstood the intentions, or even lied. Another classic tactic is to reverse the victim and offender, and suggest that the offender is actually the victim.”
“These concepts normalize and trivialize allegations of serious misconduct.”
“Media statements are not a defense” to her claims, her attorneys added, confirming the case will be pursued in court.
Counteraccusations and Evidence Disputes Continue
Freedman responded to these allegations by accusing Lively’s team of orchestrating media attacks and withholding complete information.
“It is painfully ironic that Blake Lively is accusing Justin Baldoni of weaponizing the media when her own team orchestrated this vicious attack by sending the New York Times grossly edited documents prior to even filing the complaint.”
“We are releasing all of the evidence which will show a pattern of bullying and threats to take over the movie,”
he said.
“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.”
New Lawsuit Filed Against Lively and Ryan Reynolds
On January 16, 2025, Baldoni, Wayfarer, and representatives including Abel and Nathan filed a civil lawsuit against Lively, Reynolds, her publicist Leslie Sloane, and Sloane’s firm Vision PR. This suit accuses the defendants of extortion, defamation, false light invasion of privacy, and other offenses. It denies all claims of harassment and retaliation and accuses Lively of commandeering creative control of the film and collaborating with others to damage the plaintiffs’ reputations post-release.
“Tar and feather Plaintiffs in the press,”
the suit alleges with respect to Lively, Reynolds, and others.
“Put out a blockbuster news report as devastating as it was false.”
Freedman stated,
“Blake Lively was either severely misled by her team or intentionally and knowingly misrepresented the truth.”
Lively’s Legal Team Labels Opposing Lawsuit a Desperate Strategy
Lively’s attorneys publicly criticized Baldoni’s lawsuit as a typical abuser tactic known as DARVO—Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim and Offender—to undermine victims who come forward with evidence.
“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,”
Lively’s legal team said.
“This is what experts call DARVO.”
They accused Baldoni of distorting the narrative by claiming Lively took over creative control and alienated the cast, stating that many others had troubling experiences with Baldoni and Wayfarer. They also emphasized that Sony had officially asked Lively to manage their cut of the film, which was successfully distributed.
“Their response to sexual harassment allegations: she wanted it, it’s her fault. Their justification for why this happened to her: look what she was wearing,”
her lawyers elaborated.
“In short, while the victim focuses on the abuse, the abuser focuses on the victim. The strategy of attacking the woman is desperate, it does not refute the evidence in Ms. Lively’s complaint, and it will fail.”
Behind-the-Scenes Footage Brings Conflicting Interpretations
On January 21, 2025, Baldoni’s legal team released behind-the-scenes footage from the It Ends With Us set to rebut allegations of inappropriate conduct. The footage portrayed a romantic scene between actors as professional and consensual.
“The scene in question was designed to show the two characters falling in love and longing to be close to one another,”
Baldoni’s lawyers said.
“Both actors are clearly behaving well within the scope of the scene and with mutual respect and professionalism.”
Lively’s lawyers disputed this interpretation, asserting that the footage supported Lively’s description of the events and her discomfort with Baldoni’s improvised, non-consensual actions on set.
“The video shows Ms. Lively leaning away and repeatedly asking for the characters to just talk,”
her legal team told E! News.
“Any woman who has been inappropriately touched in the workplace will recognize Ms. Lively’s discomfort.”
Lively and Reynolds Request Gag Order Against Baldoni’s Lawyer
In January 2025, Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds sought a gag order to limit public statements by Baldoni’s lead attorney, Bryan Freedman, aimed at preventing potential interference or escalation in the ongoing litigation process.
Leaked Voice Memo Reveals Private Communication
On January 27, 2025, a seven-minute voice memo recorded late at night reportedly sent by Baldoni to Lively was made public. The message referenced changes Lively made to a key rooftop scene, mentioning a meeting that included Reynolds and Taylor Swift. Baldoni praised the creativity of their collaboration, while also apologizing for his initial reaction to her script changes.
“We should all have friends like that aside from the fact that they’re two of the most creative people on the planet,”
he said.
“The three of you guys together, it’s unbelievable.”
“I f–ked up. One thing you should know about me is that I will admit and apologize when I fail.”
Court Date Set for Lively vs. Baldoni Trial
Following months of litigation, a trial date was scheduled for March 9, 2026, setting the stage for a prolonged courtroom showdown between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni over the serious allegations involved in their dispute.
Lawsuit Against The New York Times Expands
At the end of January 2025, Baldoni’s legal team amended their lawsuit to include The New York Times as a defendant in a $400 million lawsuit. The amended claim accuses Lively and her team of colluding with the newspaper to disseminate misleading and selectively edited information.
“Feeding falsehoods to the New York Times,”
the filing states, while alleging that the outlet cherry-picked and distorted messages to mislead the public.
Baldoni’s Legal Team Publicizes Lawsuit Details Online
On February 2, 2025, Baldoni’s representatives launched a website sharing information about the lawsuit against Lively, featuring the amended complaint and a timeline of events. The site included screenshots of text messages exchanged among Lively, Reynolds, and Baldoni, aiming to provide transparency to the public.
“We want the truth to be out there,”
Baldoni’s attorney said in January.
“We want the documents to be out there. We want people to make their determination based on receipts.”
Lively Files Amended Complaint Highlighting Additional Witnesses
On February 18, 2025, Lively’s legal team submitted an amended complaint revealing that other women involved in It Ends With Us also reported feeling uncomfortable with Baldoni’s behavior during filming. These new allegations underscore that Lively was not alone in raising concerns during the production.
“Ms. Lively was not alone in complaining about Mr. Baldoni,”
the complaint indicates.
“The experiences of Ms. Lively and others were documented at the time they occurred starting in May of 2023. Importantly, and contrary to the entire narrative Defendants have invented, Mr. Baldoni acknowledged the complaints in writing at the time. He knew that women other than Ms. Lively also were uncomfortable and had complained about his behavior.”
The complaint does not name these witnesses due to fears caused by the alleged retaliation campaign. Baldoni’s legal team dismissed these claims as unsubstantial hearsay and argued the women were unwilling to support Lively publicly.
Publicist Leslie Sloane Seeks Removal From Lawsuit
On February 20, 2025, Leslie Sloane, publicist for Lively and Reynolds, filed a motion to dismiss herself from the ongoing suit after being accused by Baldoni’s camp of fueling malicious stories that painted him as a sexual predator. Her attorney described her involvement as an unrelated distraction intended to dilute Lively’s allegations.
“There was no basis for the accusations made against their client,”
according to the legal motion.
“She was simply dragged into the lawsuit as a smoke and mirrors exercise to distract from Lively’s accusations.”
Lively Engages Former CIA Deputy Chief of Staff for Legal Strategy
On February 28, 2025, Blake Lively added Nick Shapiro, a former Deputy Chief of Staff of the CIA, to her legal team as an advisor on communications strategy for the ongoing litigation. Shapiro brings experience from his government service and his leadership roles in corporate security and crisis management.
“Advise on the legal communications strategy for the ongoing sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit occurring in the Southern District of New York,”
a source from Lively’s counsel revealed.
The New York Times Seeks to Exit Lawsuit Despite Ongoing Coverage
Later on February 28, 2025, The New York Times filed a motion seeking dismissal from the $400 million lawsuit, arguing that though the case had generated significant headlines, the newspaper should not be part of the dispute.
“One-sided tale that has garnered plenty of headlines,”
the filing stated.
“The Times does not belong in this dispute.”
Following the motion, U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman halted the discovery process in the lawsuit to assess The New York Times’ request, citing substantial reasons to believe the dismissal motion had merit without unfairly prejudicing Baldoni’s team.
“We appreciate the court’s decision today, which recognizes the important First Amendment values at stake here,”
The New York Times spokesperson said.
“The court has stopped Mr. Baldoni from burdening The Times with discovery requests in a case that should never have been brought against.”
Subpoena Attempt Against Taylor Swift and Subsequent Withdrawal
In May 2025, Baldoni’s legal team attempted to subpoena Taylor Swift, accusing Lively of leveraging her friendship with the singer for creative control over the film. Swift’s representatives strongly rejected these claims, clarifying that her involvement was limited solely to licensing a single song.
“Taylor Swift never set foot on the set of this movie,”
Swift’s spokesperson told E! News.
“She was not involved in any casting or creative decisions, she did not score the film, she never saw an edit or made any notes on the film.”
“Given that her involvement was licensing a song for the film, which 19 other artists also did, this document subpoena is designed to use Taylor Swift’s name to draw public interest by creating tabloid clickbait instead of focusing on the facts of the case.”
The request to subpoena Swift was subsequently withdrawn later that month as confirmed by Lively’s legal team.
Countersuit Dismissed Against Lively and Reynolds
On June 9, 2025, a judge dismissed Baldoni’s countersuit against Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, their publicist Leslie Sloane, Vision PR, and The New York Times, ruling that he failed to provide adequate evidence of defamation or civil extortion. Lively responded on social media, expressing solidarity with others who lack resources to fight similar retaliatory suits.
“Like so many others, I’ve felt the pain of a retaliatory lawsuit, including the manufactured shame that tries to break us,”
she wrote.
“While the suit against me was defeated, so many don’t have the resources to fight back.”
“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 dismissed Lively’s statement, stating the case concerns false claims of harassment and a smear campaign that Lively’s team admits is untraceable due to lack of evidence.
Blake Lively’s Deposition Takes Place Amid Media Speculation
On July 31, 2025, Blake Lively was deposed at her legal team’s office in New York. Despite media portrayal suggesting a confrontational face-to-face showdown with Baldoni, Lively’s lawyers challenged the narrative that she required heavy legal support during her testimony.
“Needed a large contingent of people with her to testify,”
the attorney’s motion contended against this portrayal. The reality, they clarified, was that Baldoni was present in the room along with other named defendants and their lawyers.
