The drama surrounding Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively continues to heat up, with both sides having their supporters in the entertainment industry. This time, it’s Baldoni who is facing some sharp criticism from a well-known Hollywood agent. Ari Emanuel, the executive at WME (William Morris Endeavor), didn’t hold back when discussing his former client.
During an appearance on Freakonomics Radio Live, hosted by Stephen Dubner, Emanuel didn’t just make it clear where his loyalty lies—he also took a jab at Baldoni’s surname. In a rather scornful remark, he said, “It is a f—-d up, bad situation with what Bologna… Baldoni—whatever his name is doing.” This led Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, to respond with a touch of sarcasm, calling Emanuel “one of the best agents, and clearly the most loyal, in Hollywood.” Freedman even pointed out that Baldoni was last called “Bologna” back in 5th grade, adding, “Perhaps Ari’s perspective would be different if they had ever met during the half-decade they were clients of his agency.”
The tension between Emanuel and Baldoni traces back to when the news broke of Blake Lively suing the actor. Following the controversy, Emanuel reportedly fired Baldoni from WME and has since strongly backed Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, supporting their character throughout the legal battle.
But Baldoni isn’t the only one facing criticism. Blake Lively recently found herself at the center of new allegations when an assistant director from her 2018 film A Simple Favor made a shocking claim. Barbara Szeman posted a comment under Henry Golding’s Instagram post, alleging that Lively’s behavior led her to quit her job as an AD. Although Szeman deleted her comment, it quickly went viral across social media, fueling further public scrutiny of Lively.
The legal and personal tensions between these two stars are far from over, with both sides continuing to trade barbs as the drama unfolds.