Blake Lively Takes Legal Action Against Co-Star and Director Justin Baldoni

The off-screen drama surrounding the film adaptation of It Ends With Us has reached a boiling point as Blake Lively files a lawsuit against her co-star and director, Justin Baldoni.

According to court documents obtained by TMZ, the lawsuit stems from Baldoni’s alleged on-set behavior, which Lively claims caused her “severe emotional distress.”

Reports of tension between the two have swirled since the movie’s press tour. Fans noticed the pair avoided joint interviews and didn’t pose together at the premiere. Now, the lawsuit sheds light on what might have been happening behind the scenes.

According to the lawsuit, a meeting was held during production to address Lively’s grievances, with attendees including her husband, Ryan Reynolds. Among her alleged demands were bans on showing nude images or videos of women, discussions of Baldoni’s “pornography addiction,” and inappropriate conversations about cast and crew’s genitalia. The lawsuit also claims Lively requested an end to remarks about her weight and references to her late father, as well as assurances that no new explicit scenes would be added to her role outside of the script she initially approved.

Sony Pictures reportedly agreed to these terms. However, Lively alleges that Baldoni launched a “social manipulation” campaign in retaliation, aimed at tarnishing her reputation and harming her career. The actress contends this campaign caused significant damage to her family’s emotional well-being.

The lawsuit also cites creative clashes between Lively and Baldoni, particularly over the film’s marketing. While Baldoni wanted to center the campaign on themes of domestic violence, Lively reportedly preferred a narrative focusing on her character’s resilience.

In response, Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, released a statement calling Lively’s accusations “categorically false” and accusing her of “intentionally salacious” claims to shift the blame for the film’s struggles. He further alleged that Lively made threats during production, such as refusing to show up on set or promote the film, which reportedly led the studio to hire a crisis management team.

It Ends With Us is currently streaming on Netflix, but the real-life drama may overshadow the film’s storyline for now.