Justin Baldoni, both actor and director, is currently embroiled in a legal dispute with Blake Lively, his collaborator on the project “It Ends with Us“. Despite denying allegations of sexual harassment and other claims made by Lively, Baldoni was recently dropped by WME talent agency. Recently, Ari Emmanuel, head of WME (and previously Baldoni’s agent), has voiced support for Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds, who are still represented by the agency. Now, Baldoni’s legal team is addressing these comments, particularly a statement described as “nonsense” or “baloney”.
Ari Emmanuel, head of Endeavor, took part in an episode of the podcast Freakonomics Radio Live. In the discussion, he expressed strong support for actors Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds, finding it unfortunate that they’re caught up in such a difficult and unpleasant situation, which he described as “disgusting.” Emmanuel also brought up his termination of Justin Baldoni, whom he playfully called “Bologna.” In response to this nickname, Baldoni’s lawyer Bryan Freedman sent an email, the contents of which were subsequently reported by The Hollywood Reporter.
As a devoted cinephile, I can’t help but admire Mr. Ari Emanuel, one of Hollywood’s top agents and undeniably its most loyal. I’ve always wondered what it would be like if Justin had crossed paths with Ari during the five-year span they were represented by his agency. You see, ‘Bologna’ was a nickname that didn’t stick to Justin past the fifth grade, but perhaps Ari might have seen things differently had their paths ever intersected in those years.
As a movie enthusiast, I was taken aback when news broke that my favorite director, Justin Baldoni, had parted ways with WME following accusations made by Blake Lively. In a legal complaint, she claimed he’d sexually harassed her and others on the set of “It Ends with Us.”
What made this more shocking was her allegation, published in The New York Times, that Baldoni had collaborated with a crisis management firm to tarnish her reputation. These claims were further substantiated in her lawsuit, which also targeted Wayfarer Studios and other parties.
Previously dismissing the allegations, the former star of “Jane the Virgin” initiated a $250 million lawsuit against The New York Times, charging them with libel and additional claims. Later, he filed a $400 million suit against Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, and others, accusing them of defamation, blackmail, and various other wrongdoings. Among the charges he has hurled at the duo is the contention that they based the character of Nicepool (who meets a gruesome demise) in “Deadpool & Wolverine” on him.
More on Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni
Blake Lively’s legal disagreement with Justin Baldoni hasn’t been resolved in a courtroom yet, but it has had significant effects on another aspect.
Regarding Ari Emmanuel’s reasoning behind letting go of Justin Baldoni, it seemed like he had concerns about Baldoni potentially damaging the reputation of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants alum via social media. This supposedly involved Baldoni and his PR team spreading negative stories about the actress, though they have since denied these claims. Emmanuel, however, expressed admiration for the Lively/Reynolds family, whom he referred to as “honorable individuals.
Beyond dealing with a lawsuit from a previous co-worker, Blake Lively is also facing a lawsuit from a PR company named Street Relations. Jed Wallace, one of their representatives, has filed a suit against her due to his involvement in the lawsuits between Lively and her former on-screen partner. Lively claims that Wallace created false content for social media, which she alleges was used to attack her. Consequently, Wallace seeks $7 million and a court order stating that he did not harass or retaliate against the actress.
Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively haven’t gone to trial yet, but one is expected to start around March 2026. As we move forward, it’s unclear if the situation will escalate or not, as some speculate. It also remains to be seen if other associates might offer their insights like Ari Emmanuel did.
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2025-02-16 18:37