The legal battle between Justin Baldoni and his It Ends With Us co-star Blake Lively has taken a dramatic turn, with Baldoni filing an amended lawsuit on January 31 that includes new allegations against Lively. The director claims that Lively made a “veiled threat” regarding the use of Taylor Swift’s song “My Tears Ricochet” in the film’s trailer, suggesting that she might change her mind about securing the track if her demands were not met. Baldoni alleges that Lively held the film “hostage in the edit room,” pressuring him by stalling the marketing efforts.
While the song ultimately appeared in the trailer and another significant scene, Swift is not directly named in the lawsuit. Instead, she is referred to as Lively’s “megacelebrity friend,” whom Lively allegedly used to apply additional pressure on Baldoni.
This lawsuit is just the latest chapter in a growing legal dispute. Baldoni previously claimed that he and Lively had significant creative differences on the film, and he accused Sony Pictures of testing two versions of the movie—one by him and one by Lively. Baldoni’s version allegedly performed better in tests, but Lively reportedly stated that if her version wasn’t chosen, the author of the Colleen Hoover novel would back her side.
In a separate December filing, Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment and retaliating by launching a smear campaign against her, which Baldoni denied. Baldoni responded by countersuing for $400 million, alleging defamation and extortion.
Lively’s legal team has called Baldoni’s claims “desperate” and “meritless,” accusing him and his team of attempting to shift the blame by falsely claiming that she took creative control and isolated the cast. Her attorneys also reiterated that her sexual harassment claims are serious, supported by concrete evidence.
As the legal back-and-forth continues, both sides are digging in, and it remains to be seen how these high-profile allegations will affect the future of It Ends With Us and the careers of those involved.