The legal battle between It Ends With Us co-stars Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni has escalated, with Lively filing an amended version of her lawsuit. 

The revised 163-page complaint was submitted to a New York federal court on February 18, expanding upon her original lawsuit filed on December 31.

According to her attorneys, Esra Hudson and Mike Gottlieb, the updated filing presents “significant additional evidence and corroboration of her original claims.” 

The new version also includes “previously undisclosed communications” between Lively, Sony, Wayfarer Studios, and other key individuals involved in the dispute.

New Defamation Claim Added

In addition to strengthening her existing allegations, Lively’s legal team introduced a new claim for defamation. 

Her lawyers argue that since the initial lawsuit, Baldoni and other defendants have made “repeated false statements” about Lively, prompting the amendment.

Furthermore, the revised complaint names Jed Wallace and his company as additional defendants. Wallace, who has separately filed his own lawsuit against Lively, has denied any involvement in what she claims is a “smear campaign” against her.

Lively’s Lawyers Push Back Against Counter-Narratives

In a key portion of the amended lawsuit, Lively’s attorneys argue that the defense’s “false narrative crumbles under the indisputable truth”—specifically, that she was not the only person to raise concerns about Baldoni. The lawsuit states that Lively “voiced her concerns contemporaneously as they arose in 2023” and not as part of any “power play for control of the film in 2024.”

A spokesperson for Lively emphasized that the new filing “details the corroboration that backs up Blake’s original sexual harassment and retaliation concerns.” The representative also stated that other women had privately expressed discomfort to Lively, fearing backlash if they came forward.

Baldoni’s Countersuit and Courtroom Tensions

Baldoni, 41, has also made legal moves of his own. On January 31, he filed an amended countersuit against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, their publicist, and The New York Times. His legal team made the documents available to the public through a dedicated website.

With the case heading to trial in March 2026, tensions remain high. Both parties recently declined mediation, indicating that they are prepared for a lengthy courtroom battle.

Subpoenas and Allegations of a “Smear Campaign”

Lively’s attorneys have recently issued subpoenas seeking Baldoni’s phone records. They argue that the documents will expose “the people, tactics, and methods” allegedly used to “destroy” Lively’s reputation over the past year.

In response, Baldoni’s legal team has pushed back against the subpoenas, calling them “a massive fishing expedition.” His lawyers claim that Lively’s attorneys are “desperately seeking any factual basis for their provably false claims” and insist that they “will find none.”

Judge Warns Against Trial by Media

As the legal drama unfolds, U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman has cautioned both sides about conducting their battle in the press. During a pre-trial hearing earlier this month, he warned that if the public relations war continued, he might move up the trial date.

With neither side showing signs of backing down, this high-profile legal clash continues to captivate both the entertainment industry and the public. As new filings and claims emerge, all eyes remain on how this dispute will ultimately play out in court.

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