Blake Lively lawsuit against Justin Baldoni names A-list stars: Taylor Swift, Hailey Beiber, others

Blake Lively's lawsuit against her It Ends With Us co-star and director Justin Baldoni has drawn attention for mentioning several A-list celebrities. Lively, 37, filed the suit alleging sexual harassment, a hostile work environment, and a smear campaign aimed at ruining her reputation. Baldoni, 40, responded to the claims, with court documents revealing mentions of Lively’s husband Ryan Reynolds and Justin Bieber’s wife Hailey Bieber, alongside Taylor Swift, Leighton Meester, Anna Kendrick, and Ben Affleck.

The filing included a 'scenario planning' document reportedly detailing Baldoni’s alleged PR strategy, which included targeting Lively’s relationships with the aforementioned celebrities. The document suggested a calculated smear campaign, planning to shift focus onto Lively’s previous working relationships.

Lively’s history with Gossip Girl co-star Leighton Meester was highlighted, referencing past rumors of tension during their time on the show from 2007 to 2012. However, in 2017, former cast members and the executive producer denied these rumors in an interview.

Her collaboration with Anna Kendrick on the 2018 film A Simple Favor was another focus. While fans speculated about tension during the press tour, Kendrick later dismissed any issues, expressing fondness for reuniting with Lively for a sequel in an interview earlier this year.

Lively’s work with Ben Affleck on the 2010 thriller The Town was also referenced. Affleck had previously praised her professionalism and the depth she brought to her role.

Taylor Swift was mentioned in connection to Lively’s support base, with Baldoni’s team reportedly concerned about Swift’s fans amplifying the issue. A separate document allegedly proposed planting stories about “weaponization of feminism” involving Swift.

Hailey Bieber was cited in an exhibit showing Baldoni referencing an online smear campaign as an example of how to tarnish Lively’s reputation. The strategy reportedly included “astroturfing” tactics similar to past claims against Bieber.

Text exchanges revealed tensions between Baldoni and Ryan Reynolds, with the latter allegedly blocking Baldoni and his production company on social media. Baldoni advised his team to prepare for possible public fallout if Lively followed suit. 

The lawsuit underscores complex dynamics, with both sides raising serious allegations that continue to unfold.