The Blake Lively & Justin Baldoni Legal War: A Complete Timeline

The summer of 2024 was defined by the massive box office success of It Ends With Us, which grossed $350 million worldwide. However, behind the scenes, a storm was brewing between the film's lead stars.

What began as social media speculation during the press tour quickly escalated into a complex legal war involving sexual harassment allegations, defamation lawsuits, and high-profile Hollywood figures. The conflict between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni has transformed from a simple rumor into one of the entertainment industry's most closely watched legal battles.

The tension first became visible to the public during the promotional campaign for the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover's novel. Fans noticed a distinct lack of interaction between the two leads, who played romantic partners on screen.

Lively handled press events alongside co-stars Brandon Sklenar and Isabela Ferrer, as well as author Colleen Hoover. Baldoni, conversely, appeared at most events solo. The divide was most apparent at the New York premiere on August 6, 2024, where the two were not photographed together.

This isn't my night — this is a night for all the women who we made this movie for. This is a night for Blake, this is a night for Colleen.

Social media sleuths quickly pointed out that Lively, Hoover, and other cast members did not follow Baldoni on Instagram. When asked about working with Baldoni at the premiere, co-star Jenny Slate sidestepped the question entirely, focusing instead on the difficulty of directing and acting simultaneously.

• Lively posed with her castmates and husband Ryan Reynolds
• Baldoni was photographed with his wife and producers
• Cast members unfollowed Baldoni on social media

As speculation mounted, the narrative shifted toward creative control. Baldoni admitted in interviews that he struggled to balance Lively's significant contributions with his own vision as director.

In an August 2024 interview, Baldoni praised Lively's energy but noted there were moments where he would 'get out of the way too much.' Meanwhile, Lively revealed that her husband, Ryan Reynolds, had contributed to the script—a detail the film's screenwriter claimed she was unaware of until seeing the final cut.

The promotional strategy also drew criticism. While Baldoni consistently addressed the film's heavy themes of domestic abuse, Lively focused on the movie's lighter, romantic elements. This disparity led to a wave of online sentiment turning against Lively, exacerbated by the resurfacing of a 2016 interview where she made an off-color remark to a reporter.

Brandon Sklenar eventually addressed the backlash on Instagram, asking fans to stop vilifying the women involved in the production.

The conflict moved from social media to the courtroom in December 2024. Lively filed a legal complaint with the California Civil Rights Department, accusing Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios, of sexual harassment and orchestrating a smear campaign.

The complaint detailed an all-hands meeting in January 2023 where Baldoni and CEO Jamey Heath were accused of showing Lively nude videos and improvising intimate scenes. Lively alleged that Baldoni hired crisis PR representatives to 'destroy' her reputation.

Baldoni's attorney, Bryan Freedman, denied the allegations, calling them a desperate attempt to fix Lively's negative reputation. The legal filings triggered a cascade of lawsuits:

• Baldoni filed a $400 million countersuit against Lively and Reynolds
• Publicist Stephanie Jones sued Baldoni for breach of contract
• Lively filed a federal lawsuit in New York

In a significant development, William Morris Endeavor dropped Baldoni as a client, and Vital Voices rescinded an award they had given him days prior.

The legal momentum shifted decisively in mid-2025. On June 9, 2025, U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman dismissed Baldoni's $400 million countersuit.

The judge ruled that Lively's claims of sexual harassment were legally protected and immune from a defamation lawsuit. Baldoni was permitted to file an amended complaint, but the deadline passed in November 2025 without action, leading the judge to formally end the suit.

Throughout the battle, Baldoni's legal team released behind-the-scenes footage of a dance scene to counter Lively's claims of unwanted touching. Lively's attorneys responded that the video actually corroborated her story, noting she repeatedly leaned away and asked for the characters to simply talk.

Every moment of this was improvised by Mr. Baldoni with no discussion or consent in advance, and no intimacy coordinator present.

The video release was described by Lively's team as an 'unethical attempt to manipulate the public.'

In January 2026, following a ruling to release evidence before a scheduled May trial, court documents were unsealed, revealing private text messages and depositions.

Text messages between Lively and Taylor Swift showed Swift referring to Baldoni as a 'bitch' and writing that he 'knows something is coming.' In a message from a year prior, Lively referred to Baldoni as the 'doofus director of my movie.'

The deposition of co-star Jenny Slate was also made public. Slate described an incident where Baldoni told her, 'I can say this because my wife is here, but you look sexy in what you're wearing.' Slate testified that the comment was 'not appropriate' and 'unwanted.'

• Swift's texts: Called Baldoni a 'bitch'
• Lively's texts: Called Baldoni a 'doofus'
• Slate's testimony: Described inappropriate on-set comments

Baldoni's legal team maintained that the evidence does not support Lively's claims, pointing to messages from Sony discussing Lively's behavior on set.

While Baldoni's countersuit has been dismissed, the legal war is far from over. Lively's original lawsuit against Baldoni remains active, with a trial date currently set for May 18.

The case has highlighted the complexities of workplace harassment claims in Hollywood and the power dynamics involved when high-profile stars clash. As both parties prepare for the upcoming trial, the industry watches closely to see how the court will adjudicate the competing narratives of creative collaboration versus harassment.

For now, the dust has settled on the initial legal skirmishes, but the courtroom battle is just beginning.