Here’s What’s Been Going On With Blake Lively & Justin Baldoni

From a novel that gained popularity on BookTok during lockdown, to serious allegations about on set behaviour, It Ends with Us co-stars Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively are in the midst of a public legal battle.

In December 2024, The New York Times reported that Blakey accused Baldoni of sexual harassment on the set of the film, which caused her “severe emotional distress.” She also accused him of orchestrating a smear campaign against her.

Baldoni has since denied these claims and has filed a lawsuit against both Lively and Ryan Reynolds for defamation of character. His legal team has released behind-the-scenes footage, private text messages, and emails in an effort to refute the allegations against him.

One specific claim made by Lively was that during the filming of a dance montage, Baldoni allegedly “leaned forward and slowly dragged his lips from her ear and down her neck as he said, ‘it smells so good.'”

In response, Baldoni’s team released footage from the scene, which they argue contradicts her statement. Additionally, messages and voice notes between Baldoni and Lively have surfaced, with Lively allegedly confiding in Baldoni about past experiences with male colleagues.

 

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In the voice notes, sent at 2am, Baldoni references Reynolds’ and Lively’s friend Taylor Swift’s involvement in script re-writes, saying he would have liked the edits regardless. He also called Lively his “creative partner” and alluded to their “chemistry.”

The controversy surrounding the film first arose during production. In 2019, Baldoni acquired the rights to Colleen Hoover’s novel through his production company, Wayfarer Studios. He took on the roles of both director and leading male actor, portraying the antagonist character Ryle, while Lively was cast as the protagonist, Lily.

Reports of creative differences between Baldoni and Lively emerged, with claims that Lively and Reynolds sought to rewrite parts of the script. Reynolds allegedly took an active role in the production, with Lively stating in a red-carpet interview that he had rewritten the film’s opening scene. “The iconic rooftop scene in the movie, my husband actually wrote it, he works on everything I do,” she said.

During the press tour further tensions surfaced, as Lively and fellow co-star Jenny Slate, refused to discuss Baldoni on the red carpet. The marketing of the film also drew criticism, as critics argued that the promotional materials, which featured a lighter and more colourful aesthetic, did not accurately reflect the novel’s serious themes, including domestic violence.

 

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Lively also faced backlash after an interview where she was asked how victims of domestic violence should approach her, apparently responding sarcastically before answering the question. The response led to criticism online, with some perceiving it as dismissive. This scrutiny escalated when an old 2016 interview resurfaced, in which Norwegian journalist Kjersti Flaa claimed that her experience interviewing Lively had been so negative that it “made her want to quit.”

As the dispute between Lively and Baldoni continues, the future of the It Ends with Us franchise remains uncertain. Both Lively and Hoover have expressed interest in a sequel, with Lively and Reynolds reportedly wanting to produce. However, Baldoni’s original contract for the rights includes a morality clause, stating that if any individual involved in the production is accused of serious misconduct, their rights to the project may be revoked.

As the legal battle rages on, the drama between Baldoni and Lively continues to unfold, with new allegations and evidence surfacing daily. What started as a highly anticipated book-to-film adaptation has spiralled into one of Hollywood’s most talked-about controversies, leaving fans divided and the actor’s reputations hanging by a thread.

Whether this feud ends in a courtroom victory or an industry blacklisting, one thing is certain, the controversy surrounding with It Ends with Us, will have a lasting imprint for all parties involved.

Words by Alyssa O’Sullivan