It Ends with Us fight heats up as Justin Baldoni sues co-star Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds
Actor and director Justin Baldoni has taken legal action against his co-star Blake Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, for defamation in the ongoing legal battle surrounding the film “It Ends With Us.” Baldoni, along with his production company Wayfarer Studios, is seeking damages of at least $400 million US for lost future income. This lawsuit comes on the heels of Lively’s own lawsuit against Baldoni and others involved with the film, alleging harassment and a coordinated effort to damage her reputation for speaking out about her treatment on set.
In response to Lively’s accusations, Baldoni has also filed a lawsuit against the New York Times for libel, claiming that the publication worked with Lively to tarnish his reputation. The legal drama has escalated with both parties taking legal action against each other, with allegations flying back and forth.
The lawsuit filed in federal court in New York states that the plaintiffs were reluctant to take legal action but felt compelled to do so in order to set the record straight and shed light on the darker aspects of Hollywood that they have worked to combat throughout their careers. Lively’s publicist, Leslie Sloane, who represents both Lively and Reynolds, has not yet provided a comment on the matter.
Both Lively and Reynolds are represented by agency WME, which dropped Baldoni as a client following Lively’s initial legal complaint. The fallout from the legal battles surrounding “It Ends With Us” has brought to light the challenges faced by female actors in the industry, both on set and in the media.
The film, based on the novel by Colleen Hoover, has been a surprising success, sparking important conversations about the treatment of female actors in Hollywood. The legal disputes between the cast and crew serve as a reminder of the complexities and challenges within the entertainment industry.
