Justin Baldoni’s lawsuit alleges that he was pressured by Taylor Swift and Ryan Reynolds to rewrite “It Ends With Us.
” Alleging pressure from Taylor Swift and Reynolds to accept Lively’s rewrites for It Ends With Us, Justin Baldoni has launched a $400 million lawsuit against Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, and their publicist.
After Lively accused him of sexual harassment and retribution on December 20, the Jane the Virgin star and It Ends With Us director made the accusations in a 179-page complaint filed on January 16.
Justin Baldoni’s Claims Against Taylor Swift, Ryan Reynolds, and Blake Lively
According to Justin Baldoni, he was under a lot of pressure from Taylor Swift and Ryan Reynolds to accept Blake Lively’s updated script for the romantic drama based on Colleen Hoover’s book.
At first, the 40-year-old Baldoni refused Lively’s request to change the rooftop sequence in which their characters first meet. Baldoni reportedly voiced “mild resistance” to Lively’s version, and Lively apparently became silent for days after telling him via text that neither she nor her supporters—including Reynolds and a “megacelebrity friend”—felt comfortable with the rejection.
Swift was the powerful buddy, according to a text exchange that was part of the lawsuit. Baldoni goes on to say that Swift commended Lively’s adaptation of the screenplay when he was invited to Reynolds’ penthouse in New York City. According to Baldoni, the encounter was a subliminal pressure to accept Lively’s innovative modifications.
Related: Blake Lively’s Lawsuit Against Justin Baldoni: 8 Shocking Allegations of Harassment
Blake Lively Allegedly Compared Ryan Reynolds and Taylor Swift to “Stage Moms”
A slew of text conversations in which Lively referred to Reynolds and Swift as her “Dance Moms level stage moms,” highlighting their emotional support during the production, are also highlighted in the lawsuit.
According to reports, Lively called Reynolds and Swift her “dragons” and quipped that she felt like Daenerys Targaryen from Game of Thrones. She thanked them for their steadfast assistance, calling them “gorgeous monsters” who assist in safeguarding the people she loves.
One of the main points of conflict between Lively and Baldoni was that Lively gave credit to her husband for authoring the crucial rooftop scene, which is also included in Justin Baldoni’s complaint.
Justin Baldoni Pushes Back Against Allegations
Blake Lively filed a complaint against Justin Baldoni in December 2024, alleging that Baldoni had engaged in improper behavior on production, which sparked the start of their court war. She claimed that Baldoni participated in inappropriate physical contact without the required choreography or authorization, and that he forced her to act completely nude in a birth scene.
Baldoni says these charges are part of a smear effort and refutes them. In a different $250 million defamation claim, he accused The New York Times of misrepresenting his activities and using deceptive statements from Lively’s complaint.
Taylor Swift’s Connection to It Ends With Us
Beyond only providing creative support, Taylor Swift is also involved in It Ends With Us. The music and promo for the film both used her song “My Tears Ricochet.”
“My husband actually wrote it,” Lively said during the film’s August 2024 New York City premiere, praising her husband for his involvement in the screenplay. Now, only you are aware of it.
Justin Baldoni Defends His Directorial Decisions
Justin Baldoni highlights in his complaint his dedication to the film’s original concept and his authority as the director to make artistic choices. He contends that Lively, Swift, and Reynolds’ pressure undermined his authority as a professional and put him in a challenging situation.
Although he valued Lively’s input, Baldoni says he thought her edits significantly changed the original purpose of the script. According to his reply to Lively, which is included in the court records, he thought her rewrites were “so much more fun and interesting,” but he would have approved them in the absence of outside pressure.
Blake Lively’s Rise as a Producer and Creative Force
Given that Lively received her first executive producer credit on It Ends With Us, it is clear that she was more involved in the film’s development.
“The work I did as an actor on this film pales in comparison to the work I did outside of acting,” Lively said in an interview with Digital Spy, illustrating how her efforts went well beyond acting. That used to make me insecure, but now I’m proud of it.
Ongoing Legal Dispute
Taylor Swift and Ryan Reynolds are now involved in the legal battle between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, which is a major Hollywood controversy. Due to the divergent testimony from both sides, this is a well-publicized court dispute with significant financial implications.
Baldoni’s resolve to defend his name while contesting the public narrative is demonstrated by his $400 million lawsuit and his concurrent $250 million defamation suit against The New York Times.
Swift, Reynolds, and Lively have not yet made any public remarks on Baldoni’s most recent lawsuit.