Unraveling the Conflict: A Timeline of the Justin Baldoni-Blake Lively Legal Battle

The ongoing legal dispute between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni can be likened to a modern-day interpretation of the story “Rashomon”. Each party presents contradictory accounts in their lawsuits and public statements, with certain aspects mirroring each other while other details are starkly different.

One story portrays a situation where a filmmaker, supported financially by a billionaire, is embroiled in an issue involving sexual harassment and subsequent retaliation. This narrative also includes a network of PR professionals who seemingly manipulate crises behind the scenes. The other account paints a picture of a prominent actress, bolstered by some of the most influential celebrities globally, orchestrating a plot to usurp control over a director’s cherished project and tarnish his reputation.

The origin of this tale was quite ordinary in Hollywood terms, as a filmmaker nurtured a personal project from its beginnings. In 2019, Baldoni approached author Colleen Hoover for the rights to her 2016 novel “It Ends With Us.” Through an exchange of heartfelt emails, they formed a connection. Eventually, Hoover agreed to sell the rights to Baldoni’s Wayfarer Studios, which he established with Steve Sarowitz. Interestingly, she proposed that not only would Baldoni direct the movie, but he should also portray Ryle Kincaid, the abusive neurosurgeon spouse of Lily Bloom (Lively), the central character in both the book and film. In an email dated April 11, 2019, Hoover wrote to Baldoni, “You are the right person to bring this story to life.

In the time span that ensued, it was unforeseen by all parties that an adaptation of a blockbuster novel would continue to capture media attention for months post-launch, igniting discussions about public relations, stardom, and influence within the film industry.

As a game enthusiast delving into this virtual world, I’m piecing together a chronology of events based on the latest reports from The Hollywood Reporter. They’ve provided insights from both parties’ legal battles, offering different perspectives found within the lawsuits and their accompanying documents.

The First Hints of Conflict: “I Happen to Have a Few Dragons” (April 2023)

Following numerous years of progress, all elements for the movie eventually fall into place. Sony steps in to handle distribution and co-financing, while Lively secures the role of Lily. Prior to shooting, they both work on establishing a connection through extended text messages and discussions. Yet, creative disagreements surface fairly quickly.

As stated in Baldoni’s grievance, Lively proposes revisions to the script involving a scene set on the rooftop at the start of the movie, and extends an invitation to her director to visit her home in New York City on April 12, 2023, for a discussion about these changes.

In an unexpected turn of events, Baldoni found himself face-to-face with Ryan Reynolds, Taylor Swift, and Lively’s husband. These two massive stars commended Lively’s portrayal of the scene, which left Baldoni feeling somewhat compelled to incorporate their suggestions, as stated in his lawsuit. Later, he texted Lively expressing that he didn’t require their input, as he was already pleased with her interpretation of the scene.

On April 14th, Lively sends Baldoni a message stating that Reynolds and Swift are her “dragon companions,” using the character Daenerys Targaryen from “Game of Thrones” as an analogy. The text continues, “If you ever decide to watch ‘Game of Thrones,’ you’ll understand why I’m like Khaleesi, who also has dragons. These dragons are with me, whether for good or bad, but more often than not, they help me. They also protect those I stand up for.

Baldoni’s back-and-forth about rewriting the scene prompted him to apologize to Lively via a lengthy voice message at 2 a.m., acknowledging any upset he might have caused. At the conclusion of the recording, Baldoni noted, “I suspect you’re surrounded by children and nursing a baby, yet here I am babbling away at 2 in the morning.

Allegations of “Improvised Physical Intimacy” (May 15 – June 8, 2023)

Cameras start to role on It Ends With Us on May 15, 2023 amid the WGA strike.

On May 16, 2023, according to a lawsuit filed by Lively, she faced an instance of sexual harassment on set. This alleged incident involved the unexpected visit by CEO Jamey Heath to Lively’s hair and makeup trailer. At that time, Lively was reportedly bare-chested and undergoing body makeup application by makeup artists. However, Baldoni, in his lawsuit, denies this claim, stating that Lively was not naked, and any accusation that Heath inappropriately stared at her is untrue.

On another occasion, Lively claims that during filming, Baldoni unexpectedly added intimate physical scenes, such as a slow dance, where “Baldoni was kissing Lively passionately, an action unrelated to their characters’ roles.” In January 2025, attorney Bryan Freedman for Baldoni will release footage from behind the scenes of the scene in question, which they argue contradicts Lively’s accusations.

Production Halts Amid Ongoing WGA Strike (June 15, 2023)

Baldoni and Wayfarer temporarily halted filming for It Ends With Us because WGA pickets disrupted the set, and there’s also a potential SAG-AFTRA strike starting on July 14, 2023.

Lively Sends Wayfarer Her Non-Negotiables (November 2023)

On November 9, 2023, Lively’s legal team delivers a list of 17 strict requirements to Wayfarer, which Lively must fulfill before resuming filming. This document, titled “Protections for Return to Production,” will later prove significant in the unfolding drama, as it seems to suggest misconduct occurred on set. The conditions include a ban on any more personal, physical contact or sexual remarks from Mr. Baldoni or Mr. Heath.

On November 15th, representatives from Wayfarer consented to the outlined conditions. However, Baldoni would later label the assertions within this document as baseless, claiming they were part of a strategy orchestrated by Lively to gain control over the film.

Lively, Baldoni and Wayfarer Attend an “All Hands Meeting”(Jan. 4, 2024)

On January 4th, there’s a proposed face-to-face gathering scheduled for Blondi, Heath, producers Alex Saks and Todd Black, Sony executive Ange Gianetti, as well as Lively and her spouse Ryan Reynolds. This meeting is expected to take place in person.

Subsequently, both Lively and Baldoni provide distinct accounts of this encounter. According to Lively’s version, they went over a list of twenty instances that led to the creation of the ‘Protections for Return to Production’ document, and neither Baldoni nor Health disputed these examples. Furthermore, her account indicates that the men consented that such behaviors would no longer occur in the future.

Baldoni asserts that Reynolds verbally attacked him during the meeting, and further contends that Lively’s lawsuit deceptively implies that the parties agreed upon a list of 30 points during this gathering. Several of the items mentioned in the lawsuit, according to him, were entirely unfounded, never brought up, or discussed beforehand.

The Team Completes Principal Photography (Jan. 5 – Feb. 9, 2024)

The second stage of principle filming picks up again. Both sides confirm that shooting went smoothly, with Lively attributing this to the safety measures outlined in her contract.

The Lively Cut vs. the Baldoni Cut (February – May 2024)

There are dueling narratives on what happens during post-production.

According to Baldoni’s claim, Lively insisted on having control over the editing of “It Ends With Us“, and after making threats about not promoting the movie unless she got her way, she was granted access to the editing room. This allowed her to work on a version of the film that she edited with her own personal editor, as stated in Baldoni’s complaint.

Lively maintains that Baldoni’s claim that “Lively ‘bullied’ her way into edit room” are false.

It’s unquestionable that Lively collaborates with her personal editors, including one who has experience from Reynolds’ “Deadpool & Wolverine”, on a version of the movie that Sony eventually approves. This version is scheduled to be shown at Book Bonanza on June 14, 2024. Her lawsuit claims, “The Sony-approved cut represents the film that was decided to be released in cinemas. Lively oversaw the Sony cut, with their backing, working closely with Sony and Colleen Hoover.

Lively’s Premiere vs. Baldoni’s Premiere (Aug. 6, 2024)

In New York, the premiere of “It Ends with Us” takes place, but Baldoni doesn’t pose for photos with the other cast members. Based on his attire and accompanying documents, it appears that he and Wayfarer were requested to host a separate event and were prevented from mingling with Lively and the rest of the crew. Baldoni describes this as a degrading conclusion to his years of dedication to the project.

Lively-Baldoni Rift Revealed (Aug. 8, 2024)

For several weeks, there’s been talk on TikTok about a possible disagreement between Lively and Baldoni due to their absence from joint press events and photographs together. However, according to The Hollywood Reporter, the nature and extent of the conflict between Lively and Baldoni have not been made public yet.

Indeed, the book “It Ends with Us” turns out to be an undeniable success upon its release on August 9, raking in over $50 million initially, and eventually accumulating a total of $351 million worldwide.

Public Sentiment Turns Against Lively (August 2024)

Following the movie’s premiere, opinions about Lively shift negatively as some people claim she didn’t handle the film’s theme of domestic violence with sufficient gravity during promotional events. Lively alleges in her lawsuit that Baldoni, along with his team including PR crisis manager Melissa Nathan, devised a plan to discredit her, involving the hiring of an enigmatic individual named Jed Wallace. Additionally, she claims Baldoni failed to adhere to the previously agreed marketing strategy. Baldoni counters that the strategy was defensive in response to “Reynolds’ and Lively’s persistent threats,” and asserts that any negative public sentiment towards Lively was spontaneous.

Lively Goes Public (Dec. 21, 2024)

In her accusation, Lively alleges that Baldoni behaved inappropriately, fostered an uncomfortable work atmosphere, and orchestrated efforts to tarnish her image. This explosive report by the New York Times stirs reactions across Hollywood. The PR representatives of Wayfarer and Baldoni, Melissa Nathan and Jennifer Abel, are also included in the complaint. The complaint presents numerous emails and text conversations as proof, suggesting that Baldoni’s team was involved in a scheme to manipulate social interactions with the intention of ruining Lively’s reputation.

On December 31, 2024, Lively chooses to take legal action. Coincidentally, Baldoni initiates a lawsuit against The New York Times on the same day, alleging libel. He claims that the newspaper colluded with Lively’s PR team to propagate an unproven and self-beneficial story. This narrative, according to Baldoni, was fabricated using selective and distorted communications, disregarding crucial context. Furthermore, he asserts that evidence refuting her assertions was intentionally overlooked by the newspaper.

Baldoni Sues Lively and Reynolds (Jan. 16, 2025)

In the heat of a growing legal dispute, Baldoni has filed a lawsuit for $400 million against Lively, Reynolds, Leslie Sloane (actress’ public relations representative at Vision PR), among others. He’s got support from Wayfarer and its CEO Jamey Heath, along with Nathan and Abel. In response, attorneys for Lively released a statement, positioning the situation as a classic scenario: “A woman presents clear evidence of sexual harassment and retaliation, and the accused tries to shift blame onto the victim.

First Court Hearing in Legal Battle (Feb. 3, 2025)

In a New York City courtroom, attorney Bryan Freedman, who represents Baldoni and has experience in media operations, faces off against Lively’s lawyers regarding the amount of information he can disclose to the press. This is due to a federal court rule that prohibits lawyers from making statements that might bias a case. U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman reluctantly applies this rule as a court order to avoid “secondary litigation” arising from statements made by the legal teams. A trial has been scheduled for March 2026.

Lively Claims Two Actresses Also Complained on Set (Feb. 18, 2025)

In the revised lawsuit filing, Lively claims that she has found two actresses who are prepared to support her case in court. According to reports from The Hollywood Reporter, these actresses are believed to be Jenny Slate and Isabela Ferrer.

2025-02-21 17:25