Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni are officially at odds as they take their dispute to court, each filing lawsuits against the other. The tension between the two began when Lively accused Baldoni, the actor-director behind It Ends With Us, of orchestrating a smear campaign against her. In response, Baldoni hit back with a counter-lawsuit, claiming that Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, actively worked to exclude him from the film’s promotional events.
According to sources close to the situation, the legal dispute has taken an emotional toll on Baldoni. Insiders revealed that the filmmaker has been under immense stress since the legal documents were filed. On the other hand, Lively appears to be handling the situation with a sense of calm, choosing to prioritize her family. A source close to the Age of Adaline star told People Magazine that she remains focused on her four children and is staying in constant communication with her legal team. “She sees the whole lawsuit drama as a necessary bump, but she’s not letting it take away from her main focus, which is her children,” the insider shared.
The legal battle escalated nearly six months after It Ends With Us premiered in theaters and performed well at the box office. The attorneys representing both Lively and Baldoni recently met for a pre-trial session in February 2025. Following the meeting, Baldoni’s representative, Bryan Freeman, described the director’s emotional state, saying he was “devastated” by the situation. Freeman also commented on the complexities of the case, stating, “Not to sound like a 4-year-old fighting a 4-year-old with ‘they started it,’ but in these kinds of cases, once someone says something, it becomes fact: There’s no way to fight against it.”
Meanwhile, Lively’s legal team expressed confidence in the proceedings, indicating they were pleased with how the session went.
Despite the off-screen drama, It Ends With Us remains available for streaming on Netflix.