Hollywood, CA — Tensions are high in Hollywood as actor and director Justin Baldoni is embroiled in a multifaceted legal conflict with actress Blake Lively and others. The controversy stems from allegations made by Lively that Baldoni engaged in sexual harassment during the production of the film “It Ends with Us,” in which Baldoni served as director and co-star.
Following these serious accusations, Baldoni found himself severed from the WME talent agency. Ari Emanuel, CEO of Endeavor and former representative of Baldoni at WME, has taken a public stand in support of Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, who remain clients. Emanuel, in a recent appearance on the “Freakonomics Radio Live” show, went as far as describing his commitment to the couple as “ride or die,” blasting the involvement of Lively and Reynolds in these unsavory allegations as “disgusting.”
In response, Bryan Freedman, Baldoni’s legal representative, countered Emanuel’s remarks with a touch of irony, pointing out the longstanding professional relationship that was unceremoniously ended, and humorously noting that Baldoni hadn’t been referred to as “Bologna,” a nickname used derogatorily by Emanuel, since he was a child.
The foundation of the case against Baldoni includes charges that he and his production company, Wayfarer Studios, along with others, engaged in misconduct. Lively has also accused Baldoni of enlisting a crisis management firm to orchestrate a smear campaign against her, an allegation fueled by a New York Times story, which subsequently led her to initiate a lawsuit against Baldoni.
On the defensive, Baldoni has launched his own legal battles, denying all allegations and filing a staggering defamation lawsuit demanding $400 million from Lively, Reynolds, and others. Adding a novel twist to an already dramatic series of events, Baldoni claims that the fictional character Nicepool in “Deadpool & Wolverine,” who meets a grisly end, is based on him, further muddying the waters between real life and cinematic interpretation.
Apart from Emanuel’s sharp critique, he has expressed positive sentiments towards the Lively/Reynolds household, whom he categorized as “good people.” In contrast, Baldoni and his associated PR firm have vehemently denied deploying any underhanded tactics against Lively.
The legal drama also includes a suit against Lively by Jed Wallace of Street Relations, a PR firm. Wallace is seeking $7 million and a legal declaration clearing his name against accusations made by Lively that he produced deceptive social media content as part of her ongoing disputes.
As the legal proceedings edge closer, with a trial tentatively scheduled for March 2026, the entertainment industry and public alike are bracing for a potentially escalated conflict. It remains to be seen whether additional figures from Hollywood will step into the fray as Emanuel has.
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