The conflict between actors Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni over their film "It Ends With Us" continues to escalate. Baldoni has levied accusations against Lively, claiming she's delaying the movie's release due to disagreements about using a Taylor Swift song. A timeline published on Baldoni's website, accompanied by the amended lawsuit against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, details alleged text exchanges that reveal Lively's demands and a potential threat regarding the use of Swift's "My Tears Ricochet" in the film's trailer.
Baldoni asserts that Lively is obstructing the film's marketing by withholding approval of essential materials, including the trailer. He claims Lively is leveraging her connection with Swift to exert pressure on the production. The initial lawsuit filed by Baldoni named Swift, alleging Lively used their friendship as a bargaining chip.
The dispute also involves a rewritten rooftop scene, which Lively championed. Baldoni claims he felt pressured by Lively, Reynolds, and Swift to accept the revised scene. Text messages included in the complaint document the exchange between Baldoni and Lively, where Lively refers to Swift and Reynolds as her protective "dragons." This, according to Baldoni, made it clear he was contending not only with Lively but also with two highly influential figures in the entertainment industry.
Lively's lawsuit against Baldoni includes allegations of sexual harassment, retaliation, emotional distress, and negligence. Baldoni subsequently filed a $400 million lawsuit against Lively and Reynolds, citing civil extortion and defamation. He also released unedited footage from the film set, which his team claims disproves Lively's sexual harassment allegations. This led to Lively's legal team requesting a gag order against Baldoni's lawyer, accusing him of making public statements that could prejudice a potential jury. Baldoni's lawyers countered, labeling the gag order attempt as an intimidation tactic. A judge has since instructed both legal teams to adhere to the New York Rules of Professional Conduct regarding communication with the press, restricting statements that could influence a jury.
