The highly anticipated film adaptation of It Ends With Us has taken a dramatic turn off-screen, 

as co-stars and producers Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni are embroiled in a bitter legal battle. 

Lively has accused Baldoni of sexual harassment, citing inappropriate on-set behavior, 

while Baldoni has retaliated with a massive $400 million countersuit, alleging defamation, civil extortion, and invasion of privacy. 

As both sides present their arguments, the controversy has sparked intense debate within Hollywood.

Lively’s Allegations Against Baldoni

In January 2025, Lively filed a lawsuit against Baldoni, accusing him of sexually harassing her while filming It Ends With Us. According to Lively, Baldoni—who both directed and starred in the film—introduced unwanted kissing into romantic scenes, made inappropriate comments about his personal sex life, and attempted to insert gratuitous, raunchy content into the script.

Lively claimed that she had to demand the presence of an intimacy coordinator on set, alleging that Baldoni’s direction of intimate scenes was unprofessional and made her uncomfortable. She argued that his alleged behavior crossed professional boundaries and created a toxic working environment.

Baldoni’s $400 Million Counterattack

Shortly after Lively’s lawsuit became public, Baldoni filed a countersuit against her, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and their publicist Leslie Sloane. He accused them of attempting to destroy his reputation and career through false allegations, claiming that their actions amounted to defamation and civil extortion.

To support his claims, Baldoni launched a website, thelawsuitinfo.com, where he published documents, emails, and handwritten notes in an effort to present his version of events. Among the evidence are records of his meetings with the film’s intimacy coordinator—meetings that he says contradict Lively’s claims.

The Disputed Role of the Intimacy Coordinator

A major point of contention in the case is the role of the intimacy coordinator in the production. Lively has insisted that there was no intimacy coordinator involved until she specifically requested one, while Baldoni argues that an intimacy coordinator was hired from the start.

According to Baldoni’s legal team, text messages between him and Lively suggest that she declined an initial meeting with the coordinator before filming began. On April 5, 2023, Baldoni texted Lively, saying:

“Just hired intimacy coordinator who I LOVE. Will set you up to meet/FT with her next week for intro.”

Lively reportedly responded:

“I feel good. I can meet her when we start 🙂 thank you though!”

Baldoni alleges that because Lively declined the early meeting, he was forced to relay the intimacy coordinator’s notes to her himself, which led to misunderstandings about the content of their discussions.

The “Orgasm Notes” and Improvised Kissing Scenes

A particularly controversial aspect of the lawsuit involves Baldoni’s handwritten notes from an April 21, 2023, meeting with the intimacy coordinator. These notes, which were published on Baldoni’s website, allegedly contain phrases such as “goes down on her,” “orgasm,” “foreplay,” and “cl*t test.”

Lively’s lawsuit claims that Baldoni inappropriately inserted graphic scenes into the film without her consent, but Baldoni insists that these notes were direct instructions from the intimacy coordinator. His legal team argues that Lively misunderstood a professional discussion about character development and intimate scenes as sexual harassment.

Furthermore, Lively accused Baldoni of improvising unwanted kissing during filming. However, Baldoni’s legal team argues that any improvisation was mutual and that Lively herself made last-minute changes to certain scenes. They claim that the intimacy coordinator’s presence during kissing scenes was not standard practice and that Lively’s lawsuit is misrepresenting typical filmmaking processes.

Fallout and Industry Reactions

The lawsuit has divided public opinion, with some supporting Lively’s claims of workplace misconduct and others siding with Baldoni, believing he is a victim of false allegations.

Meanwhile, Lively’s husband, Ryan Reynolds, has remained mostly silent about the lawsuit, although his name appears in Baldoni’s countersuit. Reynolds was noticeably absent from the Critics Choice Awards, fueling speculation about how deeply he is involved in the legal battle.

The controversy has also placed It Ends With Us in an uncertain position. Filming was already delayed in June 2023 due to the writers’ strike, and this legal battle further complicates the movie’s release prospects.

What’s Next?

As the lawsuit unfolds, both sides continue to present conflicting narratives. Lively maintains that Baldoni engaged in inappropriate behavior, while Baldoni argues that she has misrepresented professional discussions as personal harassment. The case could set a precedent in Hollywood regarding boundaries on film sets and the role of intimacy coordinators.

For now, the future of It Ends With Us remains unclear. Whether the film will make it to the big screen—or if the lawsuit will overshadow its release—remains to be seen.

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