The ongoing legal drama between It Ends with Us stars Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni has taken a new twist, with actress Isabela Ferrer accusing Baldoni of harassment.
The 24-year-old actress, who portrayed the younger version of Lively's character, Lily, in the 2023 adaptation of Colleen Hoover's novel, is now entangled in the high-profile legal battle between the director and the 37-year-old actress, who is suing Baldoni for sexual harassment and accusing him of launching a retaliatory smear campaign.
Ferrer has filed a legal rebuttal in response to Baldoni's repeated attempts to subpoena her, alleging that the 41-year-old director is using his legal motions to harass and pressure her.
According to legal documents obtained by PEOPLE, Baldoni's legal team has made several attempts to obtain communications from Ferrer related to Lively’s federal lawsuit.
However, Ferrer’s attorney, Sanford Michelman, contends that Baldoni’s subpoena and subsequent motions are examples of “bad faith tactics” designed to “harass” Ferrer.
Her legal team has also argued that Baldoni’s efforts are not motivated by a desire to gather new information but instead are aimed at intimidating her into silence. Michelman has asked Judge Lewis J. Liman to deny Baldoni’s motion entirely and impose sanctions for his conduct.
The legal conflict began earlier this year when the Gossip Girl actress served Ferrer a subpoena in February, seeking communications that might shed light on her interactions with Baldoni amid the dispute.
Ferrer, who had previously signed an indemnification clause in her It Ends with Us contract with Wayfarer Studios, invoked the clause to have the studio cover her legal fees.
However, her legal team contends that Wayfarer Studios has not honored its obligations.
They have alleged that the studio attempted to exert control over her response by demanding she "surrender control" of her defense before allowing her to provide documents that would reveal the full truth.
Ferrer had originally praised Baldoni’s leadership on set, describing him as an encouraging and positive presence during the filming of It Ends with Us.
In interviews, she had gushed about the Jane The Virgin actor's support and said that he created a “comfortable, safe space” for her to fully step into her role as young Lily, per Daily Mail.
She recalled their first conversation after landing the role, when Baldoni made it clear that she could reach out to him for anything. “I immediately had his number. There was an immediate understanding that literally, whatever, if I needed anything, I knew that I could reach out to him,” Ferrer said in 2023.
However, the dynamic between the co-stars reportedly changed after the film’s release, particularly once Ferrer began promoting the movie alongside Lively. It’s been alleged that the mom-of-four influenced both the cast and author Colleen Hoover against Baldoni.
Ferrer and Lively developed a close bond during production, with Lively even taking on a “stage mom” role for Ferrer by styling her for premieres and sharing sleepovers. Ferrer has since spoken about how she admires Lively, calling her a “Wonder Woman” for juggling family, business, and career, per PEOPLE.
Despite the behind-the-scenes drama, It Ends with Us became a commercial success, grossing $351 million globally from a modest $25 million budget.
However, the success has been overshadowed by the ongoing legal battles, with Baldoni and Lively scheduled to face off in a highly anticipated sexual harassment and defamation trial in March 2026.
The outcome of these proceedings could have significant implications for everyone involved, as the case heads toward its courtroom showdown in 2026.