Baldoni’s lawyers claim Baldoni and Reynolds were “expressing mutual respect” throughout this exchange, with Reynolds signing off, “Looking forward to seeing you. And thank you again for all you’re doing. I happen to adore you, Justin. xo.”
January 27, 2025: A voice note about the rooftop scene confirms it became contentious.
A (unverified) six-and-a-half-minute voice note, sent by Baldoni to Lively, in the wee hours of the morning, about her reaction to his reaction to her script changes to the “iconic” rooftop scene, seems to confirm that this was a point of contention during filmmaking. In the recording Baldoni apologizes, apparently for not taking her revisions more seriously.
January 26, 2025: Lively reappears.
Though she’s been basically out of sight since the suit dropped, it seems the star is back to work. Michele Morrone, an Italian actor who has an unspecified role in the upcoming sequel to A Simple Favor, which Lively shot in Italy while It Ends With Us was going through post-production, shared a smiling selfie with Reynolds and Lively, writing, “Missed you guys! Love you!!”
January 24–25, 2025: Baldoni’s loved ones praise him on his birthday.
Quiet since the premiere, Baldoni’s family publicly showed their support in honor of the star and director’s 41st birthday on January 24. His mother, Sharon Baldoni, posted three photos from his wedding to Emily Baldoni in 2013. In the caption Sharon reflected on a different project of Justin’s: Jane the Virgin. “Remembering a wonderful moment after the final ending of ‘Jane the Virgin’—a moment where joy and love permeated the set, where friendships and family were born and kindness and integrity permeated the hearts of all the actors and crew,” she wrote. “Life has its moments and also its surprises—as you keep your integrity through it all Justice and truth will shine today and into eternity…May God continue to bless you in truth.”
The next day, his wife Emily Baldoni shared a family photo on Instagram with the caption, “Celebrating the man, husband, and father that you are. I’d choose you again and again.”
Meanwhile, the lawyers are fighting about a potential gag order.
January 22, 2025: Colleen Hoover quits Instagram.
The author who started it all leaves the platform without so much as a goodbye. Is it related to the drama? Maybe. She eventually returns to Instagram in February, having reportedly removed posts that include Lively and Baldoni.
January 21, 2025: Raw footage shows awkward conversation during a dance scene.
Ten minutes of footage from filming a scene in which their characters dance shows up online, thanks to Baldoni’s team. In it, Lively can be heard commenting on Baldoni’s nose, while Baldoni assures Lively that her spray tan smells good. Both sides say the video proves their point. Intimacy coordinators later weigh in.
The same day, Baldoni’s team promises to publish an unedited trove of correspondence on a dedicated website.
January 16, 2025: Baldoni sues Lively and Reynolds for $400 million, alleging defamation and extortion.
The suit was filed on behalf of Baldoni, producer Jamey Heath, publicist Jennifer Abel, crisis publicist Melissa Nathan, and Baldoni’s production company. “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,” said Baldoni’s attorney in a statement to People. One of the details that jumps out from the suit is the mention of a “megacelebrity friend” of the couple’s, who by all accounts seems to be Taylor Swift.
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