Blake Lively has issued a response after Justin Baldoni sued her and her husband Ryan Reynolds for $400 million.

Baldoni, along with his publicists, alleges that Lively fabricated sexual harassment claims to damage his career and seize control of the movie It Ends With Us.

The lawsuit, filed Thursday, accuses Lively and Reynolds of leveraging their combined star power to discredit Baldoni, who co-starred in and directed the film, per the Daily Mail.

This latest legal filing is part of a growing dispute that began in December when Lively sued Baldoni, accusing him of sexual harassment and fostering a toxic work environment on set - allegations he has adamantly denied.

Responding to the lawsuit, Lively's attorneys issued a scathing statement, calling it "another chapter in the abuser playbook."

"This is an age-old story: A woman speaks up with concrete evidence of sexual harassment and retaliation, and the abuser attempts to turn the tables on the victim. This is what experts call DARVO: Deny. Attack. Reverse Victim and Offender," the statement said.

The attorneys accused Baldoni's production company, Wayfarer Studios, of using its resources to retaliate through "meritless lawsuits" and media manipulation.

They further alleged that Sony had specifically asked Lively to oversee the film’s final cut, which later achieved commercial success.

"Their response to sexual harassment allegations: she wanted it, it’s her fault," the statement continued. "The strategy of attacking the woman is desperate, it does not refute the evidence in Ms. Lively’s complaint, and it will fail."

In Baldoni’s lawsuit, he alleges that Lively disrupted production and alienated him from the cast. According to the filing, Baldoni and his family were relegated to a makeshift basement holding area during the film’s premiere at Lively's request.

Security reportedly confined the group to a room stocked with concession stand supplies, with only foldout tables and chairs for seating.

Baldoni also claims Lively initially resisted reading the book the film is based on and acted insensitively during the promotional campaign, even naming a cocktail after the abusive male lead.

The suit alleges that Lively refused to meet with a domestic violence charity Baldoni had partnered with and mishandled the film's serious themes in favor of promoting her own brand.

The lawsuit also highlights contentious moments on set, including an incident where Lively allegedly referred to her Hollywood connections as "my dragons" during a dispute over script changes. Baldoni claims he felt threatened and pressured to comply with her demands.

The tension reportedly extended to disagreements about the film’s tone, with Lively favoring a more upbeat portrayal while Baldoni sought to focus on the story's darker themes of domestic abuse.

Despite the public feud and mixed critical reviews, It Ends With Us became a box-office success. However, the ongoing legal battles have overshadowed the film’s release, with both sides doubling down on their narratives.

Featured image credit: Gilbert Carrasquillo / Getty

Justin Baldoni has launched a $400 million lawsuit against Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds, and here is everything he has accused them of.

As you've probably seen, Baldoni has filed the lawsuit against co-star Blake Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, publicist Leslie Sloane, and Sloane’s PR firm, Vision PR.

The lawsuit, filed on Thursday, January 16, in the Southern District of New York, alleges that the defendants attempted to seize control of the production of It Ends With Us and engaged in actions that Baldoni claims harmed his career and reputation.

The lawsuit follows Lively’s December 20 legal complaint, which accused Baldoni of sexual harassment, retaliatory behavior, and creating a hostile environment during the production of It Ends With Us.

Her claims included accusations of Baldoni making inappropriate comments about her post-baby body and questioning her sex life with her husband, Ryan Reynolds.

According to Lively’s lawsuit, the allegations were addressed in a meeting attended by Lively, Baldoni, Reynolds, and other key figures involved in the film.

Baldoni’s lawsuit arrives after his earlier libel suit against The New York Times, filed on December 31, which alleged that the publication used “cherry-picked” and altered communications in its coverage of Lively’s allegations.

But what exactly has Baldoni alleged against the Hollywood couple and their PR team?

Accusations of Control and Extortion

In the 179-page complaint, Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios, allege that Lively and Reynolds hijacked the production and promotional efforts of the film, per the Daily Mail.

According to the lawsuit, the couple took over creative aspects without authorization.

The plaintiffs describe their actions as a deliberate power grab.

"This is a case about two of the most powerful stars in the world deploying their enormous power to steal an entire film right out of the hands of its director and production studio," the lawsuit states.

"Then, when Lively and Reynolds’ efforts failed to win them the acclaim they believed they so richly deserved, they turned their fury on their chosen scapegoat."

Claims of Defamation and False Allegations

The lawsuit accuses Lively of launching a smear campaign against Baldoni by making false claims of sexual harassment and social manipulation.

Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, has called the allegations baseless, stating:

"This lawsuit is a legal action based on an overwhelming amount of untampered evidence detailing Blake Lively and her team's duplicitous attempt to destroy Justin Baldoni, his team and their respective companies by disseminating grossly edited, unsubstantiated, new and doctored information to the media."

Freedman added that Baldoni and his team have provided unedited documentation to counter the claims.

Marketing Conflicts

The lawsuit also criticizes Lively for failing to address the film’s sensitive subject matter - domestic violence - during the promotional campaign.

"Heartbreakingly, a film that Baldoni envisioned years ago would honor the survivors of domestic violence by telling their story, with the lofty goal of making a positive impact in the world, has now been overshadowed beyond recognition solely as a result of Lively’s actions and cruelty," the complaint says.

Professional and Personal Damages

Baldoni’s exclusion from the film’s promotional activities is cited as a significant blow to his career and reputation. The lawsuit also details alleged personal humiliation, describing how Baldoni had to watch the premiere in a separate theater with family and friends.

"Surrounded by close friends, family, soda bottles, and a lot of love, the irony of being held in a basement on what was arguably one of the most important nights of Baldoni's career thus far, was not lost on anyone," the lawsuit claims.

Additionally, the suit alleges that Lively suggested Baldoni undergo cosmetic surgery, a comment he "brushed off and moved on with the scene."

Breakdown of Collaboration

The lawsuit further alleges that Lively demanded increased control over script edits and wardrobe decisions, with Reynolds and his team reportedly taking over creative aspects of the film.

The complaint claims that these actions were part of a broader effort to sideline Baldoni.

"Lively knew full well that making those allegations would be a career death sentence for Plaintiffs, especially given that Baldoni has lived his private and public life as an impassioned advocate for gender equality and healthy masculinity," the lawsuit states.

In response, Lively’s lawyers issued a strong rebuttal, dismissing Baldoni’s claims as part of an abuser’s strategy.

"This is an age-old story: A woman speaks up with concrete evidence of sexual harassment and retaliation and the abuser attempts to turn the tables on the victim," they said in a statement.

"This is what experts call DARVO. Deny. Attack. Reverse Victim Offender."

Featured image credit: John Nacion/Getty