Justin Baldoni claims Blake Lively sent him 'to basement' at 'It Ends With Us' premiere in leaked audio
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: In alleged audio shared during a recent episode of 'The Megyn Kelly Show' podcast, Justin Baldoni voiced claims that Blake Lively sidelined him during the premiere of their film 'It Ends With Us.'
The clip, reportedly recorded at the event, features Baldoni expressing frustration over being sent "to the basement" alongside his friends and family to avoid contact with Lively and the rest of the cast, Variety reported.
Justin Baldoni allegedly snubbed at 'It Ends With Us' premiere
The premiere of 'It Ends With Us' took place on August 6, 2024, at AMC Lincoln Square Theater in New York City. Speculation about a feud between Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively initially gained traction online after Baldoni opted not to pose for photos with Lively or the rest of the cast at the event.
Baldoni is heard saying in the audio clip, "On what could have been one of the most beautiful nights of my life career-wise, I literally was sent to the basement with all my friends and family for over an hour because I wasn’t allowed to be seen. She didn’t want me anywhere near her or the rest of the cast."
He recounted how he and his loved ones spent over an hour isolated from the main event.
He went on, "So they ushered me off the carpet and sent us down to the basement, we were down there together, my friends and family, the people that love me the most."
Baldoni said, "We start laughing because of the ridiculousness of this whole thing and I realize, like on a night that was supposed to be so materialistically joyful, I was in the basement with the people that love me the most and we were all joyful and laughing cause none of that s**t matters, none of it."
The actor-director also emphasized his belief in the film’s power to resonate with audiences.
"That’s not why we’re in the business to attend a premiere and be celebrated like that, we’re in it because we’re artists and we believe in what we do and because we want to create art that touches people’s souls and can move people. And that’s what we did, that’s what you both did and I believe that will follow us, the truth will prevail and light and love will win," he concluded.
Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively face off in legal battle
At the end of December, Blake Lively lodged a complaint accusing Justin Baldoni of sexual harassment on the set of 'It Ends With Us' and orchestrating a smear campaign to damage her reputation during the film's release.
In response, Baldoni initiated a $250 million lawsuit against The New York Times, according to Daily Mail claiming the publication misrepresented communications in its reporting on Lively's allegations.
Baldoni’s legal team said the article relied on "cherry-picked and altered communications stripped of necessary context and deliberately spliced to mislead."
Earlier this week, Baldoni’s attorney, Freedman, announced plans to release evidence purportedly revealing a "pattern of bullying" by Lively.
"None of this will come as a surprise," Freedman told People. "Consistent with her past behavior, Blake Lively used other people to communicate those threats and bully her way to get whatever she wanted. We have all the receipts and more."
The legal dispute stems from tensions on the set of 'It Ends With Us', a film adaptation of the bestselling novel by Colleen Hoover. The film, which stars Lively and Baldoni, has been mired in controversy since production began, with both stars leveling serious accusations against each other.
