Justin Baldoni accuses Ryan Reynolds of berating him for 'fat-shaming' Blake Lively in new lawsuit

In a new lawsuit, Justin Baldoni accused Ryan Reynolds of berating him during a meeting in Reynolds' New York penthouse in 2023
UPDATED JAN 2, 2025
Justin Baldoni has accused Ryan Reynolds of 'aggressively berating' him over comments he made to Blake Lively (Getty Images)
Justin Baldoni has accused Ryan Reynolds of 'aggressively berating' him over comments he made to Blake Lively (Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Ryan Reynolds allegedly berated director Justin Baldoni during a meeting at his New York penthouse, accusing him of "fat shaming" Reynolds' wife, actress Blake Lively.

According to a lawsuit filed on December 31, the January 4 confrontation in 2023 escalated into a tirade, with Baldoni later describing it as "traumatic."

Inside Justin Baldoni's claims in new lawsuit

Actor/filmmaker and VOS Honoree, Justin Baldoni speaks onstage at the Vital Voices 12th Annual Voices of Solidarity Awards at IAC Building on December 09, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for Vital Voices Global Partnership)
Justin Baldoni speaks onstage at the Vital Voices 12th Annual Voices of Solidarity Awards at the IAC Building on December 9, 2024, in New York City (Getty Images)

Justin Baldoni's lawsuit claims Ryan Reynolds demanded an apology from Baldoni for accusations deemed "mischaracterized and demonstrably false."

When Baldoni resisted, Reynolds allegedly became more enraged, leaving those present, including producers and a Sony representative, shocked.

A veteran producer reportedly remarked that in his 40-year career, he had never witnessed such behavior.

Baldoni alleged that Blake Lively took control of the movie project 'It Ends With Us' after filming concluded.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 06: Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds attend the
Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds attend the 'It Ends With Us' New York Premiere at AMC Lincoln Square Theater on August 6, 2024, in New York City (Gotham/WireImage)

She purportedly excluded Baldoni from key events, including the red carpet premiere of 'It Ends With Us' and the after-party.

The lawsuit also accused Reynolds of leveraging his Hollywood influence to harm Baldoni’s career, including pressuring Baldoni’s talent agency to drop him.

The complaint paints Lively as orchestrating a "hostile takeover" of the project, citing her alleged refusal to work with an intimacy coordinator, wardrobe changes, and re-editing the film to produce her own version.

Blake Lively arrives at a screening of
Blake Lively arrives at a screening of 'Wicked' on December 3, 2024 in New York City (XNY/Star Max/GC Images)

Lively is also accused of demanding a Producers Guild of America (PGA) credit, which critics deemed unwarranted.

Blake Lively's allegations of a 'smear campaign' against her by Justin Baldoni

Justin Baldoni's lawsuit comes in response to a New York Times article published on December 20, which suggested Baldoni and his team engaged in a smear campaign against Blake Lively.

That story stemmed from an 80-page legal complaint filed by Lively accusing Baldoni of harassment.

Baldoni’s legal team disputes these claims, presenting text messages and emails they argue were manipulated to support the "smear campaign" narrative.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 06: (L-R) Emily Baldoni and Justin Baldoni attend the
Emily Baldoni and Justin Baldoni attend the 'It Ends With Us' New York Premiere at AMC Lincoln Square Theater on August 6, 2024, in New York City (Getty Images)

One such exchange, highlighted in the New York Times article, was described in the lawsuit as sarcastic banter taken out of context.

Fallout of Blake Lively's public relations missteps

The lawsuit attributes Blake Lively's negative press to her own actions, including promotional efforts perceived as tone-deaf.

Critics took issue with her marketing campaigns for personal brands, which coincided with her film promotions, according to Daily Mail.

Her suggestion for audiences to wear florals while watching the movie was particularly criticized for its insensitivity to the film's themes.


 
 
 
 
 
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The lawsuit asserts that any damaging press was a direct consequence of her actions, not a calculated campaign by Baldoni or his team.

Bryan Freedman, Baldoni’s lawyer, has promised additional legal actions in the coming days.

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