In the ongoing legal dispute surrounding "It Ends With Us," Justin Baldoni has filed a staggering $400 million defamation and extortion lawsuit against Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds, with Taylor Swift now drawn into the controversy.
According to the complaint obtained by Page Six, Baldoni alleges that Lively is using Swift's celebrity status to exert control over the film's production.
The lawsuit details an encounter at Lively's New York City apartment, where Baldoni, Reynolds, and a close friend discussed the screenplay.
Following this meeting, Baldoni texted Lively about an important "rooftop scene," expressing his appreciation for her rewrites without needing pressure from Reynolds or Swift.
"I really love what you did. It really does help a lot," he wrote. "Makes it so much more fun and interesting. (And I would have felt that way without Reynolds or Swift)."
Lively responded positively, emphasizing their shared goals and referring to Reynolds and Swift as "absolute titans" of storytelling.
However, Baldoni's legal team claims he felt compelled to reassure Lively that he valued her contributions independently of her celebrity connections.
Per Yahoo, the lawsuit further accuses Lively of overstepping her contractual boundaries by inserting herself into the production process and demanding creative control over her character's wardrobe, which is typically not granted to lead actors.
Moreover, Baldoni addresses Lively's California Civil Rights Department complaint, which alleges that he made her uncomfortable with inappropriate comments.
Baldoni denies interrupting Lively as she breastfed her baby, as her complaint claims, asserting that Lively was comfortable enough to breastfeed in front of him during meetings, and they shared lighthearted moments while working late into the night.
Additionally, Baldoni's lawsuit alleges that Lively made derogatory remarks about his appearance, suggesting he undergo rhinoplasty.
He also refutes Lively's assertion that he hired crisis management to damage her reputation, attributing the negative public perception to her own marketing missteps related to the film's sensitive themes.
Baldoni's publicists claim that Lively initiated a smear campaign to gain sympathy for her own missteps, resulting in death threats and hateful comments directed at Baldoni and his team. They argue that this lawsuit highlights the misuse of power and intimidation by Lively.
Tensions escalated during a meeting where Reynolds allegedly confronted Baldoni, demanding an apology for actions that never occurred. Witnesses described the atmosphere as shocking, with one producer stating he had never seen such behavior in his career.
Baldoni's lawyer asserts that Lively's actions have harmed their reputations and livelihoods, claiming she collaborated with the New York Times to create a misleading narrative. The lawsuit promises to present substantial evidence to support their claims, emphasizing that Baldoni and his team have nothing to hide.
Business Times has reached out to Taylor Swift's representatives for comments.
