Justin Baldoni, the star and director of *It Ends With Us*, has made explosive claims about Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds, 

alleging that the couple drafted a statement demanding he take full accountability for the negative press surrounding the film. 

Over the weekend, Baldoni launched a new website and filed an amended version of his $400 million lawsuit against Lively and Reynolds, 

alongside a detailed timeline outlining events before and after the film’s production. 

These filings were submitted to the court as part of his ongoing legal battle with the couple.

According to the documents, the dispute centers around *It Ends With Us*, the romantic drama based on Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel. 

Baldoni alleges that Lively and Reynolds tried to force him to accept responsibility for what they described as the “troubled production” of the film and the negative media attention that Lively had to contend with during its promotional campaign. The statement, drafted in August 2024, is said to have been created in response to tensions between Baldoni, the movie’s director, and the couple, who had issues with how the film was being positioned publicly.

Baldoni’s court filings reveal that Lively and Reynolds were upset by how the film’s promotional strategy portrayed Baldoni as the focal point of its messaging, while casting Lively in a secondary role. The couple allegedly felt that the film was being promoted as a “Barbie movie” — a reference to its vibrant visuals — while Baldoni’s more serious themes and messages were given more attention. According to Baldoni, Lively and Reynolds were frustrated by how this approach overshadowed the serious themes of the movie.

The draft statement that Lively and Reynolds allegedly wrote read, “*IT ENDS WITH US* was a troubled production which we take full accountability for. We are very sorry to everyone we caused upset to privately and publicly. Blake Lively, Colleen Hoover, the entire cast, and crew led with professionalism every step of the way; any negativity aimed at them is ours to own.” The statement continued with the couple acknowledging their understanding of the cast promoting the film separately, adding that they were not perfect and would take responsibility for any mistakes made. 

“We have always said we are not perfect, and even if unintentionally make mistakes, we will always own them,” the alleged draft statement concluded. It also included a message about accountability, stating, “We are learning and growing from the experience, and we thank everyone for their patience as we find a better way to proceed.”

However, Baldoni rejected this statement, which he claims was presented as a way to shift blame for the film’s troubled press onto him. Court documents further include an alleged screenshot of a text exchange between Baldoni’s publicist, Jennifer Abel, and crisis publicist, Melissa Nathan. According to the message exchange, Abel found the request for Baldoni to release the statement “unbelievable,” while Nathan reportedly advised Baldoni to “lawyer up” to protect himself.

The legal filings also include an alleged review of the draft statement by WME, the agency representing the film’s producer, Jamey Heath. The WME review concluded that the statement was vague, implied false culpability, and would likely worsen the negative media attention surrounding Lively. As a result, Baldoni and his team rejected the statement, refusing to take responsibility for the issues that the couple wanted him to own.

This legal drama started in December 2024 when Blake Lively filed a $250 million lawsuit against Baldoni, his production company, and others, accusing them of sexual harassment during the filming of *It Ends With Us* and claiming that Baldoni orchestrated a smear campaign against her. Baldoni, who has strongly denied all accusations, filed a countersuit, seeking $400 million from Lively, Reynolds, and their publicist, Leslie Sloane. His countersuit includes claims of civil extortion, defamation, and false light invasion of privacy.

As part of his ongoing legal response, Baldoni has launched a website aimed at refuting Lively’s allegations. The site includes purported screenshots of previously unseen text messages between Baldoni and the couple, which he claims reveal the true nature of the conflict between them. He has also continued to deny all claims of misconduct, maintaining that he acted professionally throughout the film’s production.

The ongoing legal battle has drawn significant attention, especially considering the high-profile nature of the individuals involved. As the case progresses, it remains to be seen how the courtroom drama will unfold, with both sides seemingly entrenched in a war of words and legal maneuvering that shows no signs of slowing down.

Follow us to see more useful information, as well as to give us more motivation to update more useful information for you.