Entertainment Desk

Justin Baldoni, actor and director of It Ends With Us, has filed a defamation and extortion lawsuit against co-star Blake Lively and her husband, actor Ryan Reynolds, seeking $400 million in damages, reports AP.

The suit, filed in New York federal court, accuses Lively and Reynolds of hijacking the production and marketing of the film, manipulating the media to spread false claims of sexual and other harassment about Baldoni and others involved.

Baldoni’s lawsuit asserts that the couple used their immense influence to sabotage the project and shift blame onto him after their own efforts to gain acclaim for the film failed.

This lawsuit follows Lively’s legal action two weeks prior, in which she accused Baldoni and other film associates of retaliating against her for exposing her mistreatment on set. Her legal team condemned Baldoni's suit, claiming it was an attempt to reverse the victim-offender dynamic, which is a known tactic in abuse cases.

The film, based on Colleen Hoover’s bestselling 2016 novel, premiered in August and performed well at the box office. However, the aftermath of its release has sparked significant controversy over how female actors are treated on set and in the media. Baldoni’s lawsuit describes how Lively's actions overshadowed the film’s original message of supporting domestic violence survivors.

Baldoni's legal team refutes Lively’s harassment and retaliation allegations, stating that Lively had a close and comfortable relationship with him, even breastfeeding in his presence during meetings. The suit contends that Lively later misrepresented these moments as harassment. Baldoni also disputes Lively's claims about the film’s production, including a scene where she alleged misconduct.

In a broader context, Baldoni’s lawsuit alleges that Reynolds played a key role in his career’s decline, particularly when he convinced Baldoni’s agency, WME, to sever ties with him. Baldoni’s lawsuit points to Reynolds’ public criticism of him at the Deadpool & Wolverine premiere.

Lively’s lawyers maintain that there is evidence from other cast members to support their claims. They describe Baldoni's lawsuit as a desperate attempt to deflect attention from the abuse accusations.

Lively, known for her roles in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and Gossip Girl, is accused by Baldoni of serving legal papers on him during a time when the Los Angeles area was facing severe wildfires, a move he describes as particularly cruel given the circumstances.

Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, stated that Lively’s legal battle would be unsuccessful and warned that she would regret her actions.