Justin Baldoni vs. Blake Lively Feud Explained: Lawsuits, Allegations, and Hollywood Drama

The feud between Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively has captivated Hollywood, evolving from on-set tensions during the filming of It Ends With Us to a full-blown legal battle involving allegations of sexual harassment, defamation, and smear campaigns. Here’s everything you need to know about the drama that has pitted the two stars against each other.

The Origins of the Feud

The conflict began during the production of It Ends With Us, the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel, which Baldoni directed and co-starred in alongside Lively. Rumors of creative disagreements and personal tensions surfaced during post-production, with sources claiming Lively avoided mentioning Baldoni during the film’s press tour.

In December 2024, Lively filed a formal complaint alleging Baldoni subjected her to “sexually inappropriate behavior” on set. She claimed that during a slow-dancing scene, Baldoni “leaned forward and slowly dragged his lips from her ear and down her neck,” making her uncomfortable. Baldoni’s team countered by releasing a 10-minute video of the scene, arguing it showed “mutual respect and professionalism.” Lively’s team, however, maintained the footage corroborated her discomfort, stating, “any woman who has been inappropriately touched in the workplace will recognize Ms. Lively’s discomfort.”

The Voice Note and Apology

Adding another layer to the drama, The Daily Mail published a nearly seven-minute voice note allegedly sent by Baldoni to Lively at 2 a.m. during filming. In the message, Baldoni apologizes for his reaction to script changes, calling himself a “very flawed man” and expressing admiration for Lively. “I f***ed up, that is a fail on my part,” he said. “One thing you should know about me is that I am willing to apologize when I fail... I am a very flawed man, as my wife will attest.”

Baldoni’s Countersuit

In January 2025, Baldoni filed a $250 million lawsuit against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and her publicist, Leslie Sloane, accusing them of orchestrating a smear campaign to destroy his reputation and career. Baldoni claimed Lively “calculatingly devised” false stories to damage his reputation and seize control of the film. He also alleged that Lively’s team created a hostile work environment and used him as a “scapegoat” to avoid negative press.

In a dramatic escalation, Baldoni's team filed an amended lawsuit in February 2025, increasing the claim to $400 million. The amended suit included a 168-page "timeline of relevant events" that Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, described as crucial in proving their case. Freedman said, “The decision to amend our lawsuit was a logical next step due to the overwhelming amount of new proof that has come to light.”

The Smear Campaign Allegations

Lively’s legal team accused Baldoni’s lawyer of attempting to sway potential jurors by launching a public website that included private documents and communications from the set. The website, which went live two days ahead of the first court hearing on February 3, 2025, contained the amended $400 million complaint and the timeline. While Baldoni's team insisted they had “nothing to hide,” Lively’s team is concerned about the media influence on the trial.

Texts released as part of Baldoni’s countersuit revealed conversations between Baldoni and his PR team, discussing a potential social media campaign against Lively. One text allegedly showed Baldoni stating that he wanted to see Lively “buried” under negative media coverage. These revelations have only fueled the fire of the accusations and have made the already public dispute even more volatile.

Fallout and Repercussions

The feud has already had significant consequences for Baldoni. He has reportedly lost three jobs and seen hundreds of millions of dollars in lost projects since the allegations surfaced. His involvement in an in-the-works Pac-Man movie project has also been jeopardized. Meanwhile, Lively has received significant support from fellow celebrities, including Colleen Hoover, her Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants co-stars, and even Amber Heard, who condemned the alleged smear campaign as “horrifying and destructive.”

What’s Next?

The legal battle is set to go to trial in March 2026, with a pre-trial conference scheduled for February 3, 2025. At the hearing, Lively and Reynolds are expected to ask the judge to dismiss Baldoni’s lawsuit. With both sides preparing for a high-stakes courtroom showdown, the situation remains fluid, and the public remains fixated on the outcome.

As the drama unfolds, the feud between Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively continues to highlight the complexities of power, reputation, and accountability in Hollywood. The added tension of public documents, smear campaign allegations, and the looming trial suggests that this saga is far from over.