In a high-profile legal battle, actor and director Justin Baldoni has filed a $400 million lawsuit against Blake Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and Lively’s publicist, Leslie Sloane. 

The lawsuit, which claims defamation and extortion, has added a new layer to the ongoing legal disputes between the two stars, following the release of their 2024 film It Ends With Us.

Baldoni, best known for his role in Jane the Virgin and for directing films such as Five Feet Apart, 

alleges that Lively made inappropriate comments about his physical appearance while they were filming It Ends With Us. 

According to court documents obtained by Page Six, Baldoni claims that Lively repeatedly “broke character” during scenes, 

stepping out of her role as Lily to make personal remarks about his appearance. 

One particular incident described in the lawsuit involved Lively joking about Baldoni’s nose, which she allegedly suggested he should consider having plastic surgery for.

The lawsuit includes a detail where Lively allegedly apologized to Baldoni for the smell of her spray tan and body makeup. In response, Baldoni commented that it “smelled good,” continuing with the scene, which involved slow dancing and physical touch between the two actors. However, as they continued to act, Lively allegedly took the moment to once again joke about Baldoni’s nose, which Baldoni claims was “captured on camera” during the filming.

While Baldoni acknowledged the tension created by these comments, he stated that he laughed them off at the time, trying to keep things professional. However, the lawsuit suggests that Lively’s behavior crossed a line, making Baldoni feel uncomfortable on set.

The lawsuit is not the first instance of controversy between the two stars. In December 2024, Lively filed her own lawsuit against Baldoni, accusing him of sexual harassment and retaliation. Lively alleged that Baldoni engaged in inappropriate behavior and made remarks about her physical appearance, which she claimed created a toxic work environment. According to her suit, there was a meeting between the production team, Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and other key personnel to address these concerns, with Lively’s legal team seeking action to resolve the issue.

Baldoni has denied all allegations made in Lively’s lawsuit. He maintains that any comments he made regarding Lively’s appearance were purely professional and that any claims of inappropriate conduct were unfounded. He has also claimed that he has been open about his own struggles with body image and dysmorphia in public, particularly through his podcast Man Enough, where he has discussed his insecurities and the challenges of navigating body image issues in the public eye.

In addition to the claims regarding on-set comments, Baldoni’s lawsuit also suggests that Lively used her friendship with pop star Taylor Swift to exert control over the production of It Ends With Us. Baldoni has accused Lively of manipulating the production environment, which he argues was done to damage his reputation and influence the direction of the film. According to Baldoni, Swift’s involvement with Lively was a tool used to affect his relationship with the cast and crew.

Baldoni’s legal team has responded robustly, claiming that Lively’s actions were an attempt to control Baldoni’s career and actions, which has led to significant damage to his reputation. In the ongoing litigation, Baldoni has also filed a $250 million libel lawsuit against The New York Times, alleging that the newspaper misrepresented his actions and misquoted communications in their coverage of Lively’s allegations.

Lively’s legal team, meanwhile, has responded to Baldoni’s recent lawsuit with sharp criticism, calling it “another chapter in the abuser playbook.” They continue to stand by Lively’s accusations of sexual harassment and retaliation, with their legal team insisting that Lively took necessary steps to address Baldoni’s behavior on set.

This ongoing legal dispute between Baldoni and Lively has quickly become one of Hollywood’s most controversial battles, with both actors publicly fighting over their versions of events. As both sides prepare for their upcoming court appearances, it remains to be seen how these complex allegations will unfold and whether the legal system will provide resolution to the public’s questions about what transpired during the making of It Ends With Us.

With the controversy surrounding the film’s production making headlines, fans and industry insiders alike are watching closely, as the outcome of these lawsuits could have long-term ramifications for both actors’ careers and the film industry’s approach to addressing workplace behavior on set.

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