Justin Baldoni, director of the drama “It Ends With Us,” launched a $400 million defamation lawsuit against his co-star, Blake Lively, and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, on Saturday. The amended lawsuit includes a timeline of events, including texts and emails involving the actors, intimacy coordinators, and producers.
Baldoni’s lawyer argues that the lawsuit is not about celebrities sniping at each other in the press but rather about two powerful stars using their power to steal an entire film from its director and production studio. The amended complaint claims Lively and Reynolds tried to hijack the movie after it failed to win them the acclaim they believed they deserved.
Initially, Baldoni developed a close relationship with Lively, who shared stories and pictures from her life. However, in texts exchanged on May 11, 2023, Lively jokingly redirected a compliment given by Baldoni, saying “Never met her.” The exchange also showed that Lively’s husband Ryan Reynolds was present during meetings between the couple and an intimacy coordinator.
Baldoni claims that as negative press built around the film’s troubled production, Lively and Reynolds pressured him to take the blame while she promoted the film. They allegedly wrote a draft statement on behalf of Baldoni’s studio, warning that if it wasn’t released, they would release their own version.
Lively had filed a $150 million sexual harassment suit against Baldoni in December, which is still ongoing. Baldoni also sued the New York Times for $250 million over an article about his alleged smear campaign against Lively.
This latest lawsuit claims Lively and Reynolds attempted to hijack “It Ends With Us” and create their own narrative, resulting in a loss of $400 million for Baldoni’s studio.
Source: https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/blake-lively-justin-baldoni-lawsuit-messages-expose-alleged-lies-threats-intimate-secrets