Justin Baldoni sues Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds, claiming $400 million in damages
Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images
- Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively's legal battle continues, with Baldoni suing her for $400 million.
- His new lawsuit also names her husband, Ryan Reynolds.
- The legal feud had thrown a spotlight on Hollywood PR tactics and has involved The New York Times.
Justin Baldoni has sued his "It Ends with Us" costar Blake Lively, accusing her of hijacking the movie and destroying his reputation. He and a group of plaintiffs are seeking $400 million in damages.
The 179-page suit filed Thursday in a US District Court in New York also names Lively's husband, Ryan Reynolds, and her PR rep, Leslie Sloane, as defendants.
In the suit, Baldoni, his associates at Wayfarer Studios, and PR reps repeat some of the accusations they made in a previous libel suit against The New York Times. The Times reported December 21 on Lively's accusations of sexual harassment against Baldoni, and has previously told BI it stands by its story.
The new lawsuit accuses Lively of taking over the movie, trying to destroy Baldoni and his associates' reputations, and seeking to drive them out of business. Lively has claimed in a previous lawsuit and in a California Civil Rights Department complaint that Baldoni and his PR reps were trying to smear her in the press.
Lively reps and Sloane didn't immediately respond to requests for comment. A Lively rep previously told Business Insider that the claims in her California complaint and a similar federal lawsuit still stand.
Baldoni also alleges in the suit that Lively falsely accused him of sexual harassment to gain control over the film's creative direction and promotion.
The lawsuits from Lively and Baldoni contain differing narratives of the movie's production.
For example, Lively accused Baldoni's producing partner, Jamey Heath, of showing her a video of his naked wife. Baldoni's suit said the video depicted a home birth that was discussed in connection with a scene in the movie.
Lively has also alleged that Baldoni and Heath repeatedly entered her trailer uninvited while she was undressed and while she was breastfeeding, and that she considered certain sex scenes gratuitous. Baldoni denied those claims and said Lively "freely" breastfed in their presence.
The feud between Baldoni and Lively dates back to before the movie's August premiere. Nevertheless, the film became one of the biggest hits of the summer, grossing $350 million worldwide.
As the legal drama has played out in the media, both stars have seen a spike in negative online sentiment. The battle has also cast a harsh spotlight on Hollywood PR tactics.
The feud has extended to other parties, including Reynolds, the Times, and WME.
Baldoni claimed in his lawsuit that Reynolds pressured the talent giant to drop Baldoni as a client. Both Lively and Reynolds are repped by WME. A WME spokesperson has previously denied that Lively or Reynolds pressured the company to drop Baldoni.