Many fans were left wondering what was going on after a messy press tour between It Ends With Us co-stars Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively. The stars of the new movie adaptation were often seen promoting the film separately and even refused to take cast pictures together. The press tour took a massive hit to Lively’s public image, with critics accusing her of having a “mean girl” attitude toward fans and interviewers. Adding to the controversy, Lively downplayed the serious themes of the movie, instead promoting it as a lighthearted story. Phrases like “Grab your girls and don’t forget to wear your florals” and her decision to promote her haircare line during interviews left many fans disappointed.
The backlash surrounding her image led to Lively filing a lawsuit against Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios, and several members of his team. On Dec. 21, The New York Times published an 80-page document detailing Lively’s claims. The lawsuit alleges that Baldoni hired a crisis PR team to conceal her complaints about his behavior on set. Among the serious claims, it was said that Baldoni improvised physical intimacy that had not been choreographed or rehearsed and attempted to add graphic scenes that weren’t in the original script—all without the presence of an intimacy coordinator. Baldoni’s team responded with a $400 million lawsuit accusing Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, of defamation and civil extortion, along with The New York Times for libel. His legal team denies any allegations of inappropriate behavior, focusing more on creative control, which they claim both Lively and Reynolds had input on.
In an attempt to bolster his case, Baldoni released voice memos and text messages between him, Lively, his team, and even Colleen Hoover, the author of the book. One particularly emotional voice memo, sent after the premiere, showed Baldoni choking up as he described how he and his family were initially refused entry to the event and later sent to a basement with pallets of water and soda while the premiere continued.
With a court date set for spring 2026, it’s clear that this saga will unfold over the next year, and fans are bracing for a long and messy legal battle.
