Actor and director Justin Baldoni filed a lawsuit against actors Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds on Thursday for defamation and extortion. The lawsuit, filed in New York federal court, seeks at least $400 million in damages, including lost future income.
Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios, claim Lively and Reynolds interfered with the production and marketing of their film “It Ends With Us.” They allege the couple used media to falsely accuse Baldoni and others involved in the production of sexual harassment and other misconduct. The lawsuit states: “This is a case about two of the most powerful stars in the world deploying their enormous power to steal an entire film right out of the hands of its director and production studio. Then, when Lively and Reynolds’ efforts failed to win them the acclaim they believed they so richly deserved, they turned their fury on their chosen scapegoat.”
This lawsuit comes two weeks after Lively sued Baldoni and others connected to the film, alleging retaliation for reporting her on-set treatment. Lively’s lawyers responded to Baldoni's suit, saying: “This is an age-old story: A woman speaks up with concrete evidence of sexual harassment and retaliation and the abuser attempts to turn the tables on the victim. This is what experts call DARVO. Deny. Attack. Reverse Victim Offender.”
The film, “It Ends With Us,” based on Colleen Hoover's novel, debuted in August and surpassed box office expectations with a $50 million opening. The film's plot involving domestic violence has sparked conversations in Hollywood about the treatment of female actors. Baldoni’s lawsuit states: “Heartbreakingly, a film that Baldoni envisioned years ago would honor the survivors of domestic violence by telling their story, with the lofty goal of making a positive impact in the world, has now been overshadowed beyond recognition solely as a result of Lively’s actions and cruelty.”
Baldoni’s lawsuit denies Lively's allegations and claims she was comfortable around him. The suit also addresses Lively’s previous lawsuit against the New York Times, which Baldoni also sued for libel, claiming the paper collaborated with Lively to damage his reputation. The Times stated they stand by their reporting. Baldoni also claims that Lively's requests for an intimacy coordinator were honored, specifically during a birthing scene which he alleges she misrepresented. He further alleges that an inquiry about Lively’s weight for a lifting scene was misinterpreted by Reynolds. The lawsuit claims: "Reynolds later swore at Baldoni and accused him of fat-shaming his wife." Baldoni alleges Reynolds influenced his agency, WME, to drop him. The lawsuit states: “Lively knew full well that making those allegations would be a career death sentence for Plaintiffs, especially given that Baldoni has lived his private and public life as an impassioned advocate for gender equality and healthy masculinity.” Lively's lawyers responded: “In short, while the victim focuses on the abuse, the abuser focuses on the victim. The strategy of attacking the woman is desperate, it does not refute the evidence in Ms. Lively’s complaint, and it will fail.”
Baldoni's lawyer, Bryan Freedman, stated: “This is a battle she will not win and will certainly regret. Ms. Lively will never again be allowed to continue to exploit actual victims of real harassment solely for her personal reputation gain at the expense of those without power.”
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This lawsuit comes two weeks after Lively sued Baldoni and others connected to the film, alleging retaliation for reporting her on-set treatment. Lively’s lawyers responded to Baldoni's suit, saying: “This is an age-old story: A woman speaks up with concrete evidence of sexual harassment and retaliation and the abuser attempts to turn the tables on the victim. This is what experts call DARVO. Deny. Attack. Reverse Victim Offender.”
The film, “It Ends With Us,” based on Colleen Hoover's novel, debuted in August and surpassed box office expectations with a $50 million opening. The film's plot involving domestic violence has sparked conversations in Hollywood about the treatment of female actors. Baldoni’s lawsuit states: “Heartbreakingly, a film that Baldoni envisioned years ago would honor the survivors of domestic violence by telling their story, with the lofty goal of making a positive impact in the world, has now been overshadowed beyond recognition solely as a result of Lively’s actions and cruelty.”
Baldoni’s lawsuit denies Lively's allegations and claims she was comfortable around him. The suit also addresses Lively’s previous lawsuit against the New York Times, which Baldoni also sued for libel, claiming the paper collaborated with Lively to damage his reputation. The Times stated they stand by their reporting. Baldoni also claims that Lively's requests for an intimacy coordinator were honored, specifically during a birthing scene which he alleges she misrepresented. He further alleges that an inquiry about Lively’s weight for a lifting scene was misinterpreted by Reynolds. The lawsuit claims: "Reynolds later swore at Baldoni and accused him of fat-shaming his wife." Baldoni alleges Reynolds influenced his agency, WME, to drop him. The lawsuit states: “Lively knew full well that making those allegations would be a career death sentence for Plaintiffs, especially given that Baldoni has lived his private and public life as an impassioned advocate for gender equality and healthy masculinity.” Lively's lawyers responded: “In short, while the victim focuses on the abuse, the abuser focuses on the victim. The strategy of attacking the woman is desperate, it does not refute the evidence in Ms. Lively’s complaint, and it will fail.”
Baldoni's lawyer, Bryan Freedman, stated: “This is a battle she will not win and will certainly regret. Ms. Lively will never again be allowed to continue to exploit actual victims of real harassment solely for her personal reputation gain at the expense of those without power.”
