The ongoing legal battle surrounding the production of "It Ends With Us" has taken another turn, with new details emerging about a confrontation between Justin Baldoni and Ryan Reynolds, husband of Baldoni's co-star Blake Lively. According to newly surfaced text messages and court filings, Baldoni claims he was "emotionally paralyzed" after being confronted by Reynolds at the couple's apartment in January 2024.
The dispute reportedly stems from Lively's concerns about Baldoni's behavior and questions regarding her weight in relation to a scene in the movie. Baldoni, who is also the director of "It Ends With Us," allegedly inquired about Lively's weight with her fitness trainer, a few weeks before filming began and less than four months after she had given birth to her fourth child. Lively reportedly felt "humiliated" by this inquiry, believing Baldoni implied she needed to lose weight. Baldoni maintains that his question was prompted by concerns about a back injury and the need to safely perform a lifting scene. However, Lively's lawsuit claims there was no such scene.
This disagreement led to a meeting at Reynolds and Lively's New York City penthouse, where Reynolds allegedly confronted Baldoni. Baldoni's legal team has characterized the exchange as an "inappropriate and humiliating berating," alleging that Reynolds "launched into a tirade" and that Baldoni had "never been spoken to like that in his life". They further claimed the confrontation occurred as other celebrity friends were arriving at the penthouse.
However, an eyewitness present at the meeting disputes Baldoni's characterization of the event. While acknowledging that Reynolds was "angry and stern" and spoke in an "impassioned" manner, the source insists that Reynolds did not scream or berate Baldoni. The source also refuted the claim that other celebrities were coming and going during the meeting.
Following the meeting, Baldoni described the confrontation as "traumatic" in text messages. His attorney, Bryan Freedman, stated that Reynolds was "angry," "stern," and "impassioned" during the meeting but clarified that he did not "aggressively berate" Baldoni. Freedman has also accused Lively of making false claims to repair her public image, calling them "outrageous and intentionally salacious".
The legal battle between Lively and Baldoni began in December 2024, with Lively accusing Baldoni of sexual harassment on the set of "It Ends With Us". Baldoni has vehemently denied these allegations and has filed a $250 million lawsuit against The New York Times for reporting on them. He claims the newspaper published false and defamatory statements that damaged his reputation. The New York Times has stated that it plans to vigorously defend against the lawsuit, asserting that its reporting was "meticulously and responsibly reported" and based on a review of thousands of pages of original documents.
The lawsuits have also ensnared publicists Melissa Nathan and Jennifer Abel, who were mentioned in Lively's initial complaint. Lively is seeking damages from Baldoni and the publicists for mental pain and anguish, severe emotional distress, and lost wages. The situation remains complex, with conflicting accounts and ongoing legal proceedings. The outcome of these lawsuits and their impact on the future of "It Ends With Us" are yet to be seen.
