December 29, 2024: In a dramatic turn of events surrounding the filming of It Ends With Us,” actor and director Justin Baldoni is preparing to file a countersuit against Blake Lively following her recent lawsuit accusing him of sexual harassment and orchestrating a smear campaign against her during the production. Lively’s allegations, which have attracted widespread support from co-stars and others in the film industry, have led Baldoni’s legal team to vow a counterattack that promises to “shock everyone,” according to reports from Deadline.
Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, has stated that the countersuit will challenge Lively’s accusations, claiming they are part of a strategy to rebuild her public image. Freedman argues that Lively’s allegations are false and part of a broader effort orchestrated by her publicist, Leslie Sloane, to tarnish Baldoni’s reputation. Freedman suggested that WhatsApp messages presented in the original lawsuit were taken out of context, manipulating their meaning, and that Lively’s publicist planted negative stories about Baldoni with media outlets.
Freedman also alluded to a broader narrative that Lively’s legal action was motivated by a desire to recover from negative press she received during the promotional phase for It Ends With Us. “When we file our first lawsuit, it is going to shock everyone who has been manipulated into believing a demonstrably false narrative,” Freedman said, teasing the forthcoming countersuit, which is expected to be filed when the courts reopen after the New Year.
In the wake of Lively’s lawsuit, the actress has garnered significant support from her co-stars and colleagues, including her Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants co-stars America Ferrera, Amber Tamblyn, and Alexis Bledel. The trio issued a joint statement on Instagram, voicing their solidarity with Lively. They described how, throughout the filming of It Ends With Us, Lively had shown tremendous courage in requesting a safe working environment for herself and her colleagues. The co-stars condemned the alleged retaliation campaign waged against Lively, citing the exploitation of domestic violence survivors’ stories to silence her.
Ferrera, Tamblyn, and Bledel’s statement read: “We are appalled to read the evidence of a premeditated and vindictive effort that ensued to discredit her voice. Most upsetting is the unabashed exploitation of domestic violence survivors’ stories to silence a woman who asked for safety. The hypocrisy is astounding.” They further expressed their concern that even a well-resourced and celebrated woman like Lively could face retaliation for speaking out for workplace safety, adding that they are inspired by her courage.
Additionally, author Colleen Hoover, whose novel It Ends With Us served as the source material for the film, also publicly voiced her support for Lively. Hoover praised Lively for her honesty and integrity in the face of the allegations.
Lively’s legal complaint accuses Justin Baldoni, his production company Wayfarer Studios, and others involved in the project of misconduct, sexual harassment, and orchestrating a coordinated campaign to destroy her reputation. She also claims that Baldoni’s conduct created a hostile work environment on set.
As the case continues to unfold, both Lively’s and Baldoni’s legal teams are gearing up for a significant legal battle that could reveal new details about what happened during the production of the film. In the meantime, Lively’s supporters continue to rally behind her, raising questions about the treatment of women in the entertainment industry and the extent of the alleged misconduct behind the scenes of It Ends With Us.
