Justin Baldoni Strikes Back at Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds with Multimillion-Dollar Lawsuit

Justin Baldoni responds to Blake Lively’s accusations with a $400 million lawsuit, fueling an explosive legal battle.

Actor and director Justin Baldoni has reacted to accusations from his co-star Blake Lively by filing a lawsuit against her and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, for $400 million. This move comes after Lively filed a legal complaint in December accusing Baldoni of sexual harassment and orchestrating a campaign to “destroy” her reputation.

Baldoni’s countersuit alleges civil extortion, defamation, and invasion of privacy. His attorney, Bryan Freedman, described Lively’s allegations as a “deceptive ploy” aimed at tarnishing the actor’s image. Freedman also accused Lively’s team of spreading manipulated and unfounded information to the media, claiming these actions are designed to “destroy reputations and careers for selfish motives.”

The dispute originates from the production of It Ends With Us, a drama based on Colleen Hoover’s novel about domestic abuse. Despite its box office success, grossing over $350 million worldwide, tensions between the lead actors became apparent during the press tour. Baldoni and Lively avoided posing together on the red carpet at the New York premiere, and Baldoni even skipped an event in London.

Four months after the film’s release, Lively filed a complaint implicating not only Baldoni but also the head of his production company, Wayfarer. The actress accused them both of sexual harassment and creating a “hostile environment” on set. Additionally, she claimed Baldoni and his crisis management team tried to ruin her reputation on social media.

Baldoni’s legal team has vehemently denied the allegations, stating they sought crisis management support only after receiving threats from Lively that jeopardized the production. In his 179-page lawsuit, Baldoni stated that “the jury will recognize that even the most powerful celebrity cannot manipulate the truth at will.”

Meanwhile, Lively’s legal representatives dismissed Baldoni’s lawsuit as “yet another tactic from an abuser’s playbook.” They argued that the actor is attempting to shift the narrative by falsely accusing her of creatively manipulating the production and isolating the cast from him.

Their statement concluded that this desperate strategy fails to counter the evidence presented by Lively and “will not succeed.” The outcome of this high-profile legal battle promises to shine a spotlight on workplace dynamics in the entertainment industry.