Furious Ryan Reynolds never 'screamed' at Justin Baldoni in meeting with Blake Lively, claims source
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: In a Hollywood saga involving big names and even bigger accusations, Justin Baldoni’s lawsuit against The New York Times has taken a dramatic turn, bringing Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively into the spotlight.
Baldoni previously claimed that Reynolds berated and screamed at him during a tense meeting held in the couple’s New York City home, a claim that insiders say has been exaggerated.
Justin Baldoni files $250M lawsuit against Blake Lively and The New York Times
Justin Baldoni reportedly took action to counter the allegations of sexual harassment leveled against him by Lively, filing a libel lawsuit against The New York Times on December 31.
As per CNN, in the suit, Baldoni accused the publication of spreading a story “rife with inaccuracies, misrepresentations, and omissions,” based on what he described as Lively’s “self-serving narrative.”
The $250 million lawsuit, which names Lively, Reynolds, and others, centers on a meeting last January as production on Baldoni’s film 'It Ends With Us' was set to resume after being delayed by industry strikes.
Baldoni’s lawsuit describes the encounter with Reynolds as "traumatic", alleging the 'Deadpool' actor’s behavior left him shaken.
"I had never been spoken to like that in my life," Baldoni stated in the suit.
According to the complaint, the meeting took place in the couple’s luxurious penthouse, where other celebrities were allegedly coming and going, adding to the tension.
Baldoni claims he felt blindsided and attacked in front of a house full of stars.
What did source say about Justin Baldoni's explosive claims against Ryan Reynolds?
The claims first came to light in a New York Times article titled, “‘We Can Bury Anyone’: Inside a Hollywood Smear Machine,” published on December 21.
The 4,000-word expose included details from Lively’s Civil Rights Department complaint, even though such filings are typically confidential
However, a source who was present at the meeting paints a different picture.
Speaking to TMZ, the insider denied that Reynolds "screamed or berated" Baldoni, describing his demeanor as "angry and stern" but not abusive.
The source emphasized that Reynolds’ tone was "impassioned", noting that the meeting’s purpose — to address Baldoni’s alleged behavior — was known to everyone in attendance.
"There was zero blindsiding," the source clarified. They also refuted the characterization of the penthouse as a revolving door of celebrity guests, claiming no such comings and goings occurred.
However, following the allegations, Baldoni was dropped by WME, his talent agency, which notably also represents Lively and Reynolds.
Meanwhile, Lively garnered widespread support within Hollywood, with SAG-AFTRA, the actors’ union, issuing a statement in her defense.
Additionally, Sony, the studio behind 'It Ends With Us', publicly expressed its support for Lively.
Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni face off in legal battle
Justin Baldoni’s lawsuit is just one piece of a larger puzzle involving multiple plaintiffs.
Alongside publicists Melissa Nathan and Jennifer Abel, Baldoni has accused Lively of defamation, alleging her complaints and subsequent media coverage were designed to tarnish reputations.
For her part, Lively has countersued Baldoni and others, citing mental anguish, emotional distress, and financial losses.
Her legal team claims Baldoni’s lawsuit is a retaliatory effort to distract from his own alleged misconduct.
Bryan Freedman, Baldoni’s attorney, has not minced words, accusing Lively of manufacturing claims to rehabilitate her public image.
"The claims are false, outrageous, and intentionally salacious with an intent to publicly hurt," Freedman declared.
Lively’s camp, however, maintains that the lawsuit is a desperate attempt to deflect from Baldoni’s actions.
