The feud between the 'It Ends With Us', Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, comes to an end.
The 2024 movie 'It Ends With Us' – a drama about domestic violence – has been surrounded by numerous controversies. Not only does the author of the original book, Colleen Hoover, have a questionable reputation, but the starring actors, Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, do too.
The 'It Ends With Us' Drama
The drama surrounding the film ‘It Ends With Us’ goes from Blake Lively making tone-deaf comments about the movie's actual theme to a court trial. The film was a major success, grossing over $350 million worldwide. The public became aware of the feud between the film's lead actors at the red carpet premiere when the two did not appear together.
In December 2024, Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment and of starting a smear campaign against her to destroy her reputation. In a legal complaint, Lively claims that Baldoni and executive producer Jamey Heath engaged in "inappropriate and unwelcome behavior toward Ms. Lively and others on the set of It Ends With Us." They allegedly frequently mentioned their previous "pornography addiction" and described their own genitalia to Lively.
On the other hand, Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, denied these accusations, calling them “categorically false.” He also claims that Lively manipulated the release of the movie by threatening not to show up to the set or promote the film. In January 2025, Baldoni filed a $400 million lawsuit for “claims of civil extortion, defamation and invasion of privacy.” On June 9, the lawsuit was dismissed.
Lawsuit Ends In Settlement
Two weeks before the scheduled court trial, Baldoni and Lively agreed to a settlement. On Monday, the lawyers from both sides released a statement. Regarding the movie, they said, "Raising awareness and making a meaningful impact in the lives of domestic violence survivors – and all survivors – is a goal we stand behind."
They claim to "acknowledge the process presented challenges and recognize concerns raised by Ms Lively deserved to be heard" and to “remain firmly committed to workplaces free of improprieties and unproductive environments." Ultimately, they noted that both actors "hope that this brings closure and allows all involved to move forward constructively and in peace.”
A month earlier, ten out of thirteen of Lively’s claims were dismissed, including those for defamation and harassment. In a civil trial on May 18, where both actors will testify, the remaining accusations – breach of contract, retaliation, and aiding and abetting in retaliation – will be discussed. The two celebrities agreed not to appeal the judge’s decision.
After the dismissal Blake Lively’s lawyer said:
"For Blake Lively, the greatest measure of justice is that the people and the playbook behind these coordinated digital attacks have been exposed and are already being held accountable by other women they've targeted."
