Hollywood: Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni’s bewildering brawl, explained

Before It Ends With Us became a box-office hit, it was a best-selling novel written by Colleen Hoover, who based the story on her parents’ abusive relationship.

Lily Bloom is a florist who falls in love with and marries Ryle Kincaid. Their relationship sours as Ryle begins hitting and emotionally manipulating Lily, whose mother endured abuse at the hands of her father. As the relationship worsens, Lily must decide whether to leave Ryle.

When the novel came out in 2016, some critics said its storyline romanticised red flags in intimate relationships. Some of the book’s merchandise – such as the It Ends With Us nail polish set and a planned-then-scrapped colouring book – was also deemed inappropriately cutesy considering the book’s focus on domestic violence.

But many domestic violence survivors defended the book’s rosy perspective, arguing that it was relatable and demonstrated why leaving abusive relationships can be difficult. Many looked forward to the movie, which they hoped would magnify a realistic depiction of intimate partner violence and start conversations about the issue that affects more than 12 million people a year.

Lively, who previously starred in the original Gossip Girl series and is married to actor Ryan Reynolds, was cast as Lily and served as a producer for the movie. Ever since she starred in The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants franchise, the actress has been a polarising personality to some.

Baldoni, best known for Jane the Virgin, starred opposite Lively as Ryle. He also executive produced and directed the film through his production company, Wayfarer Studios.

Lively was criticised for how she promoted the movie amid rumors of behind-the-scenes drama

The cast initially participated in a promo tour with aggressively floral outfits and sets, bubbly interviews and baking videos – all devoid of discussions about domestic violence. But it was Lively who bore the brunt of the backlash, as critics felt her lighthearted approach was particularly trivialising to the film’s serious subject matter.

She sidestepped questions about the movie’s domestic violence focus and plugged her haircare line and her drink companies on Instagram. Critics pointed out that her character’s hair gets pulled aggressively in the book, and alcoholism is linked to an increase in domestic abuse.

Reynolds, who was premiering Deadpool & Wolverine at the time, also cross-promoted his movie with Lively on their Instagram feeds, which viewers compared to “Barbenheimer”.

Meanwhile, rumblings of a rift between Lively and Baldoni surfaced. While Baldoni was applauded by viewers for speaking about domestic violence, he was isolated from the cast: Most of his castmates unfollowed him on Instagram, didn’t take pictures with him at the movie’s premiere and promoted the film without him. Baldoni hired Melissa Nathan, a crisis PR manager who represented Johnny Depp during the Amber Heard trial.

Social media commenters resurfaced claims that Lively was hard to work with, while tabloids published anonymously sourced articles alleging that Lively felt Baldoni lingered too long on a kiss in one scene and fat-shamed her when Baldoni, who has back issues, asked for her weight for a scene where he lifts her. A reporter (who’s also a Depp fan) shared an awkward interview she had with Lively in 2016.

It all suggested a major breakdown behind the scenes of the movie, and events soon confirmed the gossip.

Lively accuses Baldoni of sexual harassment and trying to ruin her reputation in a complaint and New York Times story

It Ends With Us made more than $300 million in worldwide box-office sales after its August premiere.

Then, in December, Lively filed an 80-page complaint through the California Civil Rights Department accusing Baldoni of sexually harassing her on set and using a PR firm to co-ordinate a smear campaign against her.

She alleged that Baldoni flouted intimacy protocols on set, made sexual comments objectifying her and entered her trailer while she was undressed.

After Lively and her husband pushed back on this behaviour, she alleged that Baldoni went on the defensive to punish her for complaining, working with Nathan and others on a purported smear campaign plan that involved posting and planting negative online comments about Lively.

Lively’s complaint went public a day later, after the New York Times published an investigative piece based on it. The story, which also included a statement from Baldoni’s lawyer calling the evidence “cherry-picked,” was co-authored by Megan Twohey, a Pulitzer-winning journalist best known for helping break the story of Harvey Weinstein’s pattern of sexual misconduct. Baldoni soon came under fierce criticism from fans and other actors.

Baldoni sues New York Times, Lively sues Baldoni on same day

Days later, Baldoni filed an 87-page, $250 million libel lawsuit against the New York Times in Los Angeles Superior Court, alleging that the outlet heavily relied on Lively’s claims without fact-checking them and didn’t give his team enough time to deny Lively’s allegations ahead of the story’s publication. He alleged that hiring Nathan and her crisis PR team was a “protective measure” against potential misinformation, as it was Lively who had attacked him by usurping creative control of the movie. The Times has stood by its reportage.

On the same day, Lively took her earlier complaints to court, filing a 111-page lawsuit against Baldoni in the Southern District of New York.

Baldoni sues Lively and releases behind-the-scenes footage

In January, Baldoni took aim at Lively, filing a 179-page, $400 million defamation lawsuit in the Southern District of New York. He alleged that when Lively took more creative control of the movie and premiere from Wayfarer, she destroyed Baldoni and his team’s “personal and professional reputations and livelihood, and aimed to drive … [them] out of business entirely.”

Soon after, Baldoni’s attorney released about 10 minutes of footage from the filming of It Ends With Us to media outlets, which he said refuted Lively’s claims that Baldoni behaved inappropriately with her. The video showed Lively and Baldoni filming a slow dance montage, and it included the audio of their conversation not heard in the movie. At several points, Baldoni moves in for unscripted kisses, and Lively suggests they keep talking instead.

Lively’s legal team argued that the video shows the actress was uncomfortable. “Every moment of this was improvised by Mr Baldoni with no discussion or consent in advance, and no intimacy co-ordinator present.”

Baldoni’s team has since shared plans to launch a website with more evidence defending the actor, while Lively’s team has asked the judge over their lawsuit to stop Baldoni’s counsel from selectively releasing evidence, which they argue is unprofessional and could taint the jury pool. Baldoni’s team fired back, saying they are trying to protect Baldoni’s reputation from Lively’s attacks.

Baldoni and Lively’s trial date is set – she wants his suit dismissed

Last week, ahead of a court hearing to address the lawyers’ fight over evidence being released to the public, the federal judge over the case set a tentative trial start date of March 9, 2026.

Then on Thursday, Baldoni and Lively’s New York cases against each other were combined, and Lively’s legal team told the judge that they planned to file for Baldoni’s lawsuit to be dismissed.