Unsealed court records from Blake Lively's lawsuit against Justin Baldoni reveal multiple allegations of inappropriate behavior during the production of 'It Ends With Us.' Castmates including Jenny Slate and Isabela Ferrer detailed uncomfortable experiences with Baldoni, the film's director and co-star. The documents highlight creative clashes that led Lively to produce her own version of the movie.
On January 20, 2026, court documents in Blake Lively's harassment and retaliation lawsuit against Justin Baldoni, the director and co-star of 'It Ends With Us,' were unsealed, exposing a series of complaints from female cast and crew members about his conduct on set.
Lively, who stars as the lead in the adaptation of Colleen Hoover's novel, described profound creative differences with Baldoni. In her declaration, she stated that his cut of the film 'marginalized the female characters' and 'glorified the abuser,' potentially upsetting female audiences. As a result, Lively created her own edit and refused to promote the movie alongside Baldoni or producer Jamey Heath, whom she accused of vilifying her in retaliation. 'They painted themselves as the victims and me as a bully,' Lively said. She was unwilling to endorse them personally by appearing with them.
Jenny Slate, playing Lively's best friend, testified that Baldoni made inappropriate comments, calling Lively 'hot' and 'sexy,' and telling Slate she looked 'sexy' in her outfit. Slate flagged these remarks, later texting that Baldoni was a 'narcissist' and 'fraud' for his self-proclaimed feminist image. 'Justin is truly a false ally... honestly I have no words to describe what a fraud he is,' she wrote. 'He’s the biggest clown and the most intense narcissist.'
Isabela Ferrer, portraying the younger version of Lively's character, recounted Baldoni saying during a virginity loss scene, 'I’m not supposed to say this, but that was hot.' She found it out of place, especially for a scene depicting an innocent teenage experience.
Lively also raised concerns over added 'gratuitous' sexual scenes and felt exposed during a prolonged birth scene where she was nearly nude in stirrups. She requested a blanket for privacy between takes, which was not always provided. Colleen Hoover testified fearing the film would be overly sexualized, losing its message on female empowerment amid domestic violence. 'We want to watch love and emotions and angst and buildup,' Hoover wrote to Baldoni.
Baldoni's lawyers argue Lively's complaints do not constitute harassment, given the film's adult themes. A hearing on their motion to dismiss is set for Thursday, with a trial scheduled for May 18. Lively's legal team, including Sigrid McCawley, emphasized the documents' evidence from multiple women describing disturbing experiences.
