Justin Baldoni has made bold claims regarding his co-star Blake Lively, alleging that she sought to exclude him from the premiere of their film “It Ends With Us” in what he describes as a humiliating snub. The actor, who also directed and produced the film, has filed a substantial $250 million lawsuit against the New York Times, asserting that Lively took steps to undermine his position in the project.
According to court documents obtained, Baldoni stated that Lively initially barred him from attending the August premiere, allegedly aiming to diminish his contributions. It was only after considerable pressure that she allowed Baldoni and his Wayfarer Studios team to participate, but under what he terms as humiliating conditions. The lawsuit outlines that Baldoni and his associates were seen as outsiders, being segregated from the main cast, denied access to the exclusive after-party, and forced to host their own gathering at an extra expense. Furthermore, Baldoni’s time on the red carpet was reportedly cut short, while his friends and family were confined to a basement holding area before being escorted to a separate theater post Lively’s departure.
In his legal arguments, Baldoni claimed that Lively not only overshadowed his directorial efforts but also deprived him and his team of the chance to celebrate their hard work. At 40, Baldoni contends that this incident is part of a broader pattern of behavior by the 37-year-old actress that systematically sidelined him during the film’s promotional activities.
The scenario escalates further with Baldoni alleging that Lively’s husband, Ryan Reynolds, was involved in persuading his agency to drop him as a client. He claims that both Lively and Reynolds seemed intent on jeopardizing his career and personal life. Along with detailing an alleged confrontation where Reynolds reprimanded him for supposedly “fat-shaming” Lively, the lawsuit also states that Reynolds influenced Baldoni’s former agency, WME, to sever ties with him. WME, which also represents Lively and Reynolds, denied these allegations, asserting that Baldoni’s claims regarding the premiere were unfounded.
This legal drama has intensified, coinciding with Lively’s own lawsuit against Baldoni, in which she accused him of sexual harassment and numerous other serious allegations. Lively’s legal team has maintained that her complaint is legitimate and unrelated to Baldoni’s assertions, emphasizing their intention to address the matter in court without further media commentary.
