Blake Lively is fighting back against Justin Baldoni’s staggering $400 million lawsuit that he filed against her and her husband, Ryan Reynolds. The legal dispute revolves around the production of the film “It Ends With Us.” In a statement released to the media, Lively’s attorneys described Baldoni’s claims as yet another disturbing instance of an abuser attempting to reverse the narrative on the victim.
“This latest lawsuit from Justin Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios exemplifies classic tactics seen in the abuser playbook,” Lively’s legal team asserted. They elaborated, stating, “This is a familiar scenario: A woman comes forward with solid evidence of sexual harassment, and the perpetrator attempts to deflect blame back onto her.”
The attorneys went on to illustrate that Baldoni was employing a tactic known as DARVO—Deny, Attack, and Reverse Victim and Offender—essentially accusing Baldoni’s team of fabricating disputes in an effort to undermine Lively’s allegations of harassment.
Lively’s lawyers also pointed to Baldoni’s production company as a party that frequently pursues baseless lawsuits meant to cloud the public’s perception of the ongoing situation. They emphasized that Baldoni and his associates are attempting to redraw the narrative to deflect from the legitimate concerns raised by Lively.
As the feud between the two continues, Baldoni’s lawsuit alleges that Lively manipulated her connections, including her celebrity husband and pop star friend Taylor Swift, to gain control over the creative direction of the film. Baldoni contends that during a meeting at Lively and Reynolds’ upscale New York City penthouse, he felt pressured when both Lively and Swift praised her script revisions.
Despite this, Baldoni claimed that he appreciated Lively’s changes and communicated this to her in a text message after leaving the meeting. Yet, he described feeling cornered by the influence of Lively’s prominent supporters, describing them as ‘dragons’ that made the negotiation challenging.
The director’s lawsuit further includes allegations from Lively’s previous accusations against him regarding inappropriate discussions he initiated concerning his past issues with pornography. Baldoni has vehemently denied any wrongdoing, categorically rejecting the claims that he conducted himself inappropriately during their working relationship.
This legal battle escalated after Lively filed a complaint against Baldoni in December 2024, alleging a pattern of harassment and a retaliation campaign in response to her disclosures. As these high-profile figures navigate their complicated legal entanglements, the entertainment world is left watching closely as the case unfolds.
