There are fictional feuds, and then there’s whatever is going on between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni. What started as a movie collaboration has now descended into lawsuits, PR warfare, and multi-million-dollar accusations that would make even a seasoned soap opera writer take notes.

But this isn’t a plotline. This is Hollywood’s most brutal public fallout in years, and it involves everything from sexual harassment claims to alleged smear campaigns up to $400 million defamation lawsuits.

And let’s be real: if you thought It Ends With Us was dramatic, this mess is on another level.

It Was All Good… Until It Wasn’t

At first, everything seemed like a Hollywood fairy tale—a bestselling novel getting a high-profile adaptation, an all-star cast, and two respected actors taking on career-defining roles.

When Sony Pictures and Wayfarer Studios announced in January 2023 that Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni would lead It Ends With Us, the internet erupted with excitement. Lively, known for her effortless grace and emotional depth, was cast as Lily Bloom, a florist navigating a turbulent romance. Baldoni, an actor-turned-director, would not only play Ryle Kincaid, the male lead but also direct the entire project.

Everything seemed perfect. Too perfect. But Hollywood is rarely that smooth.

Then Came Filming… And the First Cracks Showed

When principal photography kicked off in May 2023, the whispers started.

At first, it was subtle tension. Lively, known for being deeply involved in her projects, allegedly began suggesting script changes—something Baldoni, as both lead actor and director, didn’t always agree with.

The first red flags?

• Lively reportedly clashed with Baldoni over how Lily’s character should be portrayed.

• On-set insiders claimed Baldoni sometimes prioritized his directorial vision over Lively’s performance concerns.

• Baldoni allegedly overstepped his boundaries as both director and co-star, creating a complicated power dynamic.

By mid-2023, industry insiders started picking up on creative tensions, but nothing major leaked to the press—yet.

Then, the New York premiere in August 2024 happened, and everything changed.

Something felt… off.

• Baldoni avoided press interviews with the cast.

• He walked the red carpet with his wife, Emily Baldoni, instead of Lively or his fellow actors.

• Lively posed with everyone—except him.

Even worse? Baldoni did not introduce the film before the screening. Traditionally, directors take the stage, express their gratitude, and rally excitement for the movie. Instead, he let Lively and Hoover take the spotlight.

Hollywood took notice. The whispers weren’t whispers anymore. Something had clearly gone wrong behind the scenes—and it was only a matter of time before the truth spilled out.

December 2024: The Gloves Came Off

By December 2024, all the quiet tension, hidden feuds, and behind-the-scenes hostility erupted into a full-blown legal war.

December 20, 2024: Blake Lively Drops the Bombshell Lawsuit.

In a shocking legal filing, Lively sued Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios, producer Jamey Heath, and key members of Baldoni’s PR team.

Her allegations?

• Sexual harassment – Lively alleged that Baldoni entered her trailer without permission while she was breastfeeding her child.

• Unprofessional conduct – She accused Baldoni of making disturbing comments about sex and pornography on set, which created an unsafe work environment.

• A smear campaign to destroy her career – Lively’s lawsuit claimed that Baldoni and his PR team—specifically, publicists Melissa Nathan and Jennifer Abel—worked behind the scenes to plant negative press stories about her.

• Emotional distress – Lively’s team argued that Baldoni’s post-production behavior severely impacted her mental health and career.

Lively’s lawsuit was strategic, aggressive, and unflinching.

But Baldoni? He refused to go down quietly.

December 31, 2024: Justin Baldoni Fires Back with a $400 Million Lawsuit

Within ten days, Baldoni filed a massive counter-lawsuit, turning the legal battle into a high-stakes, industry-rattling case.

What Hollywood Insiders Said:

• "This is career suicide for one of them."

• "There’s no coming back from a lawsuit like this unless you prove beyond a doubt that the other party is lying."

• "This isn’t just a legal fight. It’s an all-out war between two powerful public figures."

By early January 2025, the industry realized: this wasn’t going to settle quietly. Instead, it was about to get much, much worse.

Baldoni Hits Back – And Hits HARD (December 31, 2024 - January 2025)

Less than two weeks later, Baldoni filed not one, but two major lawsuits.

First up? He went straight for The New York Times, suing them for $250 million for what he called "deliberately misleading coverage" of Lively’s lawsuit.

Then, on January 16, 2025, he escalated big time:

A $400 million lawsuit against:

• Blake Lively

• Ryan Reynolds (yes, her husband got dragged in too)

• Lively’s PR firm, Vision PR

Baldoni’s claim?

That Lively, Reynolds, and their PR machine orchestrated a calculated takedown—one that allegedly led to him losing major projects and getting dropped by his talent agency, WME.

His lawsuit didn’t hold back:

• He claimed Lively never even read the book before filming.

• That she insulted his appearance, joking he should get plastic surgery on his nose.

• That she tried to take over the production process despite her lack of directorial experience.

At this point, Hollywood was in shock.

Enter: The Evidence War

Now, here’s where it gets even wilder—because when lawsuits aren’t enough, there’s always leaked evidence.

January 21, 2025 – Baldoni’s team released behind-the-scenes footage from It Ends With Us to media outlets like TMZ.

One key video?

The slow-dancing scene where Lively had alleged Baldoni dragged his lips down her neck and whispered, "It smells so good."

The raw audio in the clip?

• Lively (laughing): “I’m probably getting spray tan on you.”

• Baldoni (laughing back): “It smells good.”

Baldoni’s camp claimed this proved his innocence.

Lively’s lawyers clapped back:

• “Carefully selected and edited clips do not erase what happened.”

• They accused Baldoni of "trying to rewrite history through PR tactics."

At this point, even the judge had had enough.

February 2025: The Legal Firestorm

By February 3, 2025, the courtroom wasn’t the only battlefield—the internet had become an all-out war zone. At a pre-trial hearing, Judge Lewis J. Liman had officially lost his patience with both sides.

The Judge’s Warning:

• "Enough with the media circus."

• "If this keeps up, the trial date moves up. No exceptions."

Translation? Shut up or lawyer up faster.

And honestly? It was about time.

But instead of cooling off, Baldoni did the exact opposite. He launched a website. Yes, a whole website dedicated to his side of the story—because apparently, nothing screams "I'm innocent" like building a digital fortress of legal documents and text messages.

What Was on Baldoni’s Website?

• His lawsuit, in full—because nothing says transparency like 1,000 pages of legal jargon.

• Screenshots of private texts with Lively—which he claimed prove she was lying or at least, “twisting” the narrative.

• A so-called "truth timeline", mapping out his version of events in painstaking detail.

It was a bold move. Some called it genius PR control. Others called it a desperate last-ditch attempt to save his career.

And Lively’s team? Absolutely roasted it.

Lively’s Legal Response:

• Called it “a calculated manipulation of public opinion.”

• Accused Baldoni of “weaponizing selective evidence to gaslight the public.”

• Dismissed it as “an unhinged PR stunt that will not hold up in court.”

But let’s not lie—we all clicked on it. Hollywood insiders. Gossip blogs. Random people on Reddit. Everyone. Because at this point, the court of public opinion was just as loud as the actual court battle.

What’s Next? The Future of Hollywood’s Messiest Feud

The trial is officially set for March 9, 2026, and let’s be real: it’s going to be a media circus.

So, what’s the verdict so far?

Team Lively?

• Believes Baldoni is gaslighting the public with selective evidence.

• Says he weaponized PR to turn the narrative in his favor.

• Calls his lawsuit a classic abuser tactic of retaliation.

Team Baldoni?

• Believes Lively is twisting the truth for career leverage.

• Says he’s the victim of a Hollywood takedown campaign.

• Claims her team fed stories to ruin his reputation.

And Hollywood? Silent.

No A-list actors have taken sides. Not even Reynolds. Because at the end of the day, one of them is lying. And in 2026, we’ll find out who.

The Scandal That Won’t Die

This isn’t just a Hollywood lawsuit—this is a cultural moment.

• $650 million in lawsuits.

• Careers at stake.

• A legal battle that could redefine Hollywood power dynamics.

Whatever happens, Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni are now tied together forever.

And we’re all watching every second of it.