Blake Lively & Justin Baldoni: The 5 Biggest Bombshells From The $400M Lawsuit And 'It Ends With Us' Feud

The working relationship between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, once celebrated as the lead stars of the highly anticipated film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s novel, It Ends With Us, has devolved into one of Hollywood's most contentious and high-stakes legal battles. The drama transcends the typical on-set disagreement, now involving dueling lawsuits that allege everything from sexual harassment to multi-million dollar defamation claims. As of December 2025, the core civil trial over Lively's allegations is officially set for a 2026 date, keeping the controversy firmly in the spotlight long after the film's release.

The saga has cast a shadow over the adaptation of the beloved book, which deals with sensitive themes of domestic abuse and trauma. Fans, media, and industry professionals alike are closely tracking the developments, as the legal filings offer a disturbing glimpse behind the scenes of a major studio production. Here is a deep dive into the shocking details, the key players, and the latest updates on the feud that has rocked the world of the It Ends With Us movie.

Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni: A Dual Biography Profile

The two actors at the center of the controversy are established figures in film and television, with successful careers that now share an unexpected and dramatic intersection.

• 7 Shocking Things Jessica Capshaw Revealed About Growing Up With Steven Spielberg As Her Stepfather 892ho

Blake Lively (Lily Bloom)

• Full Name: Blake Ellender Brown (Lively)
• Born: August 25, 1987 (Age 38 as of late 2025)
• Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, U.S.
• Career Highlights: Rose to fame as Serena van der Woodsen in the teen drama Gossip Girl (2007–2012). Notable film roles include The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, The Age of Adaline, and A Simple Favor.
• Other Ventures: Founder of the non-alcoholic mixer company, Betty Buzz.
• Spouse: Ryan Reynolds (m. 2012)
• Role in Controversy: Plaintiff in the sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit against Justin Baldoni.

Justin Baldoni (Ryle Kincaid)

• Full Name: Justin Louis Baldoni
• Born: January 24, 1984 (Age 41 as of late 2025)
• Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, U.S.
• Career Highlights: Best known for his role as Rafael Solano on the CW series Jane the Virgin. Also a director, helming films such as Five Feet Apart and Clouds.
• Other Ventures: Author and public speaker, known for his documentary series My Last Days and his book Man Enough.
• Role in Controversy: Defendant in Lively's lawsuit; filed a massive $400 million countersuit against Lively and Ryan Reynolds (which was dismissed).

Bombshell 1: The Sexual Harassment and Retaliation Lawsuit

The core of the legal drama began with Blake Lively’s $161 million lawsuit filed against Justin Baldoni. The complaint, which became public in the aftermath of the film’s production, details a deeply fractured working environment on the set of It Ends With Us.

Lively, who also served as an executive producer on the film, accused Baldoni of sexual harassment and subsequent retaliation. The most shocking claim in the complaint alleges that Baldoni, who plays the abusive character Ryle Kincaid, improvised an unwanted kissing scene during filming. Lively’s filing asserts that this was part of a pattern of inappropriate behavior that created a hostile work environment. The lawsuit seeks damages for mental pain and anguish, severe emotional distress, and lost wages resulting from the alleged misconduct.

Baldoni has vehemently denied all allegations, stating that the claim is a calculated attempt to damage his reputation. The dispute has led to a highly publicized "Hollywood takes sides" narrative, with industry figures weighing in on the explosive claims and counterclaims.

• The Enduring Legacy Of Haylor 5 Shocking Facts About Harry Styles And Taylor Swifts Relationship 10 Years Later Sf662

Bombshell 2: The Dismissal of Baldoni's $400 Million Countersuit

In response to Lively's initial complaint, Justin Baldoni and his legal team launched a massive $400 million defamation countersuit against Blake Lively and her husband, actor Ryan Reynolds. Baldoni's suit alleged that Lively and Reynolds had conspired to "smear" his name and reputation in the media, particularly through a New York Times editorial piece published in December 2024.

Baldoni’s defense centered on the claim that he was never inappropriate on or off the set and that Lively herself had engaged in misconduct. However, in a major victory for Lively’s side, a federal judge formally shut down Baldoni's $400 million countersuit. The judge's decision found that Lively's accusations of sexual misconduct were protected under New York’s anti-SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) laws, effectively ending the defamation claim against the star couple. Lively's attorneys celebrated the dismissal, calling Baldoni's claim a baseless attempt at intimidation.

Bombshell 3: The May 2026 Trial Date

Despite the dismissal of the countersuit, the original lawsuit filed by Blake Lively against Justin Baldoni for sexual harassment and retaliation is still active and moving forward. The civil trial, which was originally scheduled for March 2026, has been postponed by the presiding judge in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

• The Untouchable Privacy 7 Secrets Of Rachel Mcadams And Jamie Lindens Life Beyond The Red Carpet E820e

The new, definitive trial date is now set for May 18, 2026. This extended timeline means the legal drama will continue to loom over both actors' careers and the legacy of the It Ends With Us film for well over a year. The postponement allows both legal teams more time for discovery and preparation for what is expected to be a highly scrutinized and emotionally charged trial.

Bombshell 4: The Metadata Mystery and Text Message Evidence

Baldoni’s legal team attempted to use a "metadata mystery" to support his now-dismissed countersuit, alleging that the New York Times began preparing its article weeks before Lively filed her formal complaint. This was presented as "cold hard proof" that Lively and Reynolds were orchestrating a pre-meditated attack on his reputation.

Court filings also revealed text exchanges between the two stars, which Baldoni’s side used to suggest a shifting dynamic in their relationship, initially presenting a friendly and collaborative tone. Lively’s camp, however, argued that these attempts were merely a distraction to "avoid accountability" for the alleged misconduct. The judge’s ultimate decision to dismiss the $400 million suit validated Lively’s position that the focus should remain on the original claims of on-set misconduct.

Bombshell 5: The Impact on Colleen Hoover and the Film’s Legacy

The legal feud has had a tangible impact on the perception of the It Ends With Us film, which was a massive box office hit. The source material, Colleen Hoover's novel, is deeply personal, based on the relationship between her own parents.

The author, who served as a co-executive producer alongside Lively, has publicly expressed her distress over the fallout. Hoover admitted she was "almost embarrassed" by the film's controversy, regretting that the legal drama overshadowed the important themes of the story. The status of a potential sequel to the film is reportedly in doubt due to the ongoing dispute between the two stars, further complicating the movie's future.

Despite the turmoil, the film, which also stars Brandon Sklenar as Atlas Corrigan and Jenny Slate as Allysa Kincaid, has been a commercial success, yet the conversation around it remains inextricably linked to the allegations and the upcoming 2026 trial. The public and the legal system will continue to watch closely as Blake Lively seeks justice and Justin Baldoni defends his name in a case that promises to be a landmark moment in the discussion of on-set behavior and accountability.