Blake Lively’s alleged feud with director and costar Justin Baldoni on the set of It Ends With Us exploded into multiple lawsuits in 2025.

The former Gossip Girl star kicked off the legal battle by filing a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department and subsequently sued Baldoni over sexual harassment allegations.

Baldoni’s lawyer Bryan Freedman fired back by calling Lively’s allegations “completely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious,” before countersuing the actress for $400 million on the filmmaker’s behalf in January 2025.

Lively’s lawyers declared “total victory and a complete vindication” against Baldoni when his countersuit was dismissed in June 2025, but their court battle is far from over. A trial over Lively’s original lawsuit is set to take place in New York in May 2026, with her husband, Ryan Reynolds, pal Taylor Swift and other It Ends With Us stars all being dragged into the matter along the way.

Related: Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively Were ‘Unknown’ to Judge Before Legal Battle

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Keep scrolling for a full timeline of the legal battle.

Lively Files Complaint Against Baldoni

The New York Times reported on December 21, 2024, that Lively had filed a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department against Baldoni. The initial complaint included a litany of accusations about Baldoni’s alleged onset conduct on It Ends With Us and alleged smear campaign against Lively.

Lively claimed that a meeting was held to address “a hostile work environment” on It Ends With Us, where her husband, Reynolds, was present. Lively recounted requesting “no more showing nude videos or images of women to Blake, no more mention of Baldoni’s alleged previous ‘pornography addiction,’ no more discussions about sexual conquests in front of Blake and others, no further mentions of cast and crew’s genitalia, no more inquiries about Blake’s weight, and no further mention of Blake’s dead father” at this meeting.

Lively allegedly also asked for “no more adding of sex scenes, oral sex or on camera climaxing by BL [Blake Lively] outside the scope of the script BL approved when signing onto the project” to be added to It Ends With Us by Baldoni or other creatives.

Elsewhere, Lively accused Baldoni of using a “social manipulation” campaign to smear her reputation, including sharing a text message allegedly sent by his publicist to a studio PR contact about him allegedly wanting “to feel like [Lively] can be buried.”

Another Complaint

Lively’s legal filing referenced a complaint from an unnamed It Ends With Us actress about Baldoni’s onset conduct. Her lawyers wrote in court documents that Lively’s decision to raise concerns about Baldoni “were not only for herself, but for the other female cast and crew, some of whom had also spoken up.”

“As result of Mr. Baldoni’s behavior, on May 29, 2023, another cast member lodged a sexual harassment complaint about Mr. Baldoni’s ‘gross’ and ‘unwanted comment[s]’ towards her and others,” the complaint read.

Lively stated that Baldoni “expressly acknowledged her concerns in writing” and promised to “adjust accordingly,” though she reported having another worrying conversation with an actress following that agreement.

“On June 8, 2023, that actress informed Ms. Lively that ‘outside of anything in a scene, I actually cannot talk to Justin at all,” her attorneys alleged. “Mr. Baldoni later expressed suspicion regarding Ms. Lively’s friendship with this actress, as if they were colluding against him.”

Lively alleged that Baldoni made demeaning and sexist comments about her and other coworkers during production on It Ends With Us, in addition to sharing alleged details about having sex without asking for consent in the past. (Baldoni denied any wrongdoing.)

Baldoni’s Lawyer Responds

In the immediate aftermath, Baldoni’s lawyer Freedman dismissed the merit of the complaint in a statement to Us Weekly. The attorney suggested the complaint was Lively’s attempt to “fix her negative reputation” and “rehash a narrative” that It Ends With Us’ production was troubled.

Freedman accused Lively of making “multiple demands and threats” throughout production of the blockbuster, including “threatening to not show up to set, threatening to not promote the film, ultimately leading to its demise during release, if her demands were not met.”

1st Mention of Taylor Swift Involvement

The first mention of Lively’s friend Swift’s involvement in the dispute seemingly came in an exhibit attached to the complaint by the It Ends With Us actress’ attorneys. A crisis management expert working for Baldoni allegedly wrote in an August 2024 email that “we have seen the most innocuous issues turn giant due to socials or the hugest crises have no effect on social whatsoever. You just cannot tell at this stage. But, BL [Blake Lively] does have some of the same TS [Taylor Swift] fanbase so we will be taking it extremely seriously.”

Another “scenario planning” document prepared by Baldoni’s side referenced how their “team can also explore planting stories about the weaponization of feminism and how people like Taylor Swift, have been accused of utilizing these tactics to ‘bully’ [enemies] into getting what they want.”

Lively Makes 1st Statement

In her first public statement since filing her sexual harassment complaint, Lively described her legal action as an important step toward eliminating hostile work environments on Hollywood sets.

“I hope that my legal action helps pull back the curtain on these sinister retaliatory tactics to harm people who speak up about misconduct and helps protect others who may be targeted,” she said on December 21, 2025.

Baldoni Dropped by Talent Agency

Top executives at powerful Hollywood talent agency WME made the decision on December 21, 2024, to drop Baldoni as a client in the wake of sexual harassment allegations in Lively’s complaint. Lively continued to be represented by WME.

Baldoni Has Award Rescinded

A spokesperson for the Vital Voices Solidarity Awards announced it was rescinding an award given to Baldoni for his allyship on behalf of women’s rights.

“The Voices of Solidarity Award honors remarkable men who have shown courage and compassion in advocating on behalf of women and girls,” a statement released via Instagram on December 23, 2025, read. “On December 9, 2024, we recognized Justin Baldoni with this award. On Saturday, December 21, we learned through news reports about a lawsuit brought by Blake Lively against Mr. Baldoni, his publicists, and others that is disturbing and alleges abhorrent conduct. The communications among Mr. Baldoni and his publicists in the lawsuit — and the PR effort they indicate — are, alone, contrary to the values of Vital Voices and the spirit of the Award.”

New Baldoni Statement

Baldoni’s attorney Freedman released a new statement on December 23, 2024, to deny that the filmmaker’s work with crisis management firm The Agency Group PR amounted to a “social manipulation.”

“TAG PR operated as any other crisis management firm would when hired by a client experiencing threats by two extremely powerful people with unlimited resources,” Freedman said. “The standard scenario planning TAG PR drafted proved unnecessary as audiences found Lively’s own actions, interviews and marketing during the promotional tour distasteful, and responded organically to that which the media themselves picked up on.”

Freedman accused Lively’s legal team of “cherry-picking” text messages between Baldoni and TAG PR to build their case in a New York Times article about the scandal.

“It’s ironic that the New York Times, through their effort to ‘uncover’ an insidious PR effort, played directly into the hands of Lively’s own dubious PR tactics by publishing leaked personal text exchanges that lack critical context — the very same tactics she’s accusing the firm of implementing,” the lawyer said.

Sony Supports Lively

Sony Pictures — the studio that distributed It Ends With Us — publicly supported Lively in connection with her work on the blockbuster without directly mentioning Baldoni.

“We have previously expressed our support for Blake in connection with her work on and for the film. We fully and firmly reiterate that support today,” a Sony representative told Variety in a December 23, 2024, statement. “Further, we strongly condemn any reputational attacks on her. Any such attacks have no place in our business or in a civil society.”

SAG-AFTRA Applauds Lively

The acting union released its own statement on December 23, 2024, to “applaud” Lively’s “courage in speaking out on issues of retaliation and harassment and for her request to have an intimacy coordinator for all scenes with nudity or sexual content.”

“This is an important step that helps ensure a safe set,” a SAG-AFTRA spokesperson continued. “Employees have every right to raise issues of concern or to file complaints. Retaliation for reporting misconduct or inappropriate behavior is illegal and wrong. We all have a right to be treated with dignity and respect on the job and to work in an environment free of harassment, discrimination and retaliation.”

Jenny Slate Breaks Silence on Legal Battle

Lively’s It Ends With Us costar Jenny Slate came to her defense in a strongly-worded statement sent to NBC’s Today.

“As Blake Lively’s castmate and friend, I voice my support as she takes action against those reported to have planned and carried out an attack on her reputation,” Slate said on December 24, 2024. “Blake is a leader, loyal friend and a trusted source of emotional support for me and so many who know and love her.”

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Related: Justin Baldoni Gives Life Update Amid Blake Lively Drama: ‘Grateful’

Justin Baldoni is feeling “grateful” amid his legal battle with Blake Lively. On Monday, September 29, the actor, 41, spoke with TMZ outside of Los Angeles International Airport, where a reporter for the outlet peppered him with questions about his state of mind.  “I’m actually doing wonderful,” Baldoni said, adding that he was “very grateful,” […]

She went on, “What has been revealed about the attack on Blake is terribly dark, disturbing, and wholly threatening. I commend my friend, I admire her bravery, and I stand by her side.”

Baldoni Lawyer Promises Countersuit

Freedman confirmed to Deadline on December 28, 2024, that he was preparing a countersuit against Lively on Baldoni’s behalf.

“I am not going to speak to when or how many lawsuits we are filing but when we file our first lawsuit, it is going to shock everyone who has been manipulated into believing a demonstrably false narrative,” the lawyer said. “It will be supported by real evidence and tell the true story.”

Freedman then warned, “In over 30 years of practicing, I have never seen this level of unethical behavior intentionally fueled through media manipulation.”

Baldoni Sues ‘The New York Times’

The filmmaker filed a $250 million lawsuit against The New York Times over its coverage of Lively’s complaint, on behalf of himself, his studio Wayfarer, publicists Melissa Nathan and Jennifer Abel, It Ends With Us producers Jamey Heath and Steve Saraowitz, and five others. The suit accused Times staff of libel and false light invasion of privacy for “cherry-picking” communications and text messages between Baldoni and a crisis PR firm for its article “We Can Bury Anyone: Inside a Hollywood Smear Machine” by reporters Megan Twohey, Mike McIntire and Julie Tate.

Baldoni’s lawyers accused the Times of aiding in Team Lively’s “strategic and manipulative” smear campaign against the director, which included making “sexual harassment allegations to assert unilateral control over every aspect of the production” of It Ends With Us.

“The Times story relied almost entirely on Lively’s unverified and self-serving narrative, lifting it nearly verbatim while disregarding an abundance of evidence that contradicted her claims and exposed her true motives,” Baldoni’s legal team alleged in court documents.

‘The New York Times’ Responds to Lawsuit

The New York Times stood by its reporting in the wake of Baldoni’s $250 million lawsuit.

“The role of an independent news organization is to follow the facts where they lead,” a statement from the Times read on December 31, 2024. “Our story was meticulously and responsibly reported. It was based on a review of thousands of pages of original documents, including the text messages and emails that we quote accurately and at length in the article. Those texts and emails were also the crux of a discrimination claim filed in California by Blake Lively against Justin Baldoni and his associates.”

One major disagreement between the two sides revolved around Baldoni alleging that the New York Times published its article earlier than it had originally promised.

“To address some inaccuracies in the lawsuit, when seeking comments from Mr. Baldoni and others who would be mentioned in the article, The Times shared the information that we intended to publish, including references to specific text messages and documents, asked them to identify any inaccuracies, provide additional context and speak with our team. Mr. Baldoni, Wayfarer and the other subjects chose not to have any conversations with The Times or address any of the specific text messages or documents and instead emailed a joint response, which was published in full. (Also, they sent their response to the Times at 11:16 p.m. ET Dec 20th, not at 2:16 a.m. ET Dec 21st as the complaint says.)”

A spokesperson for the outlet vowed to “vigorously defend” itself against the lawsuit.

Lively Responds to Baldoni’s ‘New York Times’ Suit

Lively’s spokesperson told Us that any insinuation that she’d collaborated with The New York Times to defame Baldoni was “obviously false.”

“Nothing in this lawsuit changes anything about the claims advanced in Ms. Lively’s California Civil Rights Department Complaint, nor her federal complaint, filed earlier today,” Lively’s statement read on December 31, 2024. “This lawsuit is based on the obviously false premise that Ms. Lively’s administrative complaint against Wayfarer and others was a ruse based on a choice ‘not to file a lawsuit against Baldoni, Wayfarer,’ and that ‘litigation was never her ultimate goal.’ As demonstrated by the federal complaint filed by Ms. Lively earlier today, that frame of reference for the Wayfarer lawsuit is false. While we will not litigate this matter in the press, we do encourage people to read Ms. Lively’s complaint in its entirety. We look forward to addressing each and every one of Wayfarer’s allegations in court.”

Lively Sues Baldoni

On the same day as Baldoni took legal action against The New York Times, Lively sued him in the Southern District of New York for sexual harassment, retaliation, breach of contract, infliction of emotional distress, invasion of privacy and lost wages. Baldoni’s studio Wayfarer, along with publicists Nathan and Abel, were also named in Lively’s lawsuit.

“Earlier today, Ms. Lively filed a federal complaint against Wayfarer Studios and others in the Southern District of New York,” Lively’s attorneys told Us on December 31, 2024. “Ms. Lively previously sent her California Civil Rights Department Complaint in response to the retaliatory campaign Wayfarer launched against her for reporting sexual harassment and workplace safety concerns. Unfortunately, Ms. Lively’s decision to speak out has resulted in further retaliation and attacks.”

Their statement went on, “As alleged in Ms. Lively’s federal Complaint, Wayfarer and its associates have violated federal and California state law by retaliating against her for reporting sexual harassment and workplace safety concerns. Now, the defendants will answer for their conduct in federal court. Ms. Lively has brought this litigation in New York, where much of the relevant activities described in the Complaint took place, but we reserve the right to pursue further action in other venues and jurisdictions as appropriate under the law.”

Baldoni Confirms Countersuit Plans

Freedman told NBC News on January 2, 2025, that his office was “absolutely” working on a countersuit against Lively.

“We plan to release every single text message between the two of them,” Freedman told the outlet. “We want the truth to be out there. We want the documents to be out there. We want people to make their determination based on receipts.”

In that same interview, Freedman denied Lively’s accusation that Baldoni coordinated a smear campaign against her in cooperation with a crisis management firm.

“One hundred percent no,” he said. “Justin Baldoni, from the get-go, said, ‘I don’t want to do anything negative toward her. I don’t want to hurt her.’”

Lively Denounces Baldoni ‘Attacks’

Lively’s attorneys condemned Freedman’s recent public comments in a statement to Us and insisted that her lawsuit was based on “serious claims of sexual harassment and retaliation.”

“This is not a ‘feud’ arising from ‘creative differences’ or a ‘he said/she said’ situation,” the lawyers’ statement said on January 7, 2025. “As alleged in Ms. Lively’s complaint, and as we will prove in litigation, Wayfarer [Studios] and its associates engaged in unlawful, retaliatory astroturfing against Ms. Lively for simply trying to protect herself and others on a film set. And their response to the lawsuit has been to launch more attacks against Ms. Lively since her filing.”

Lively’s legal representatives further explained, “Sexual harassment and retaliation are illegal in every workplace and in every industry. A classic tactic to distract from allegations of this type of misconduct is to ‘blame the victim’ by suggesting that they invited the conduct, brought it on themselves, misunderstood the intentions, or even lied. Another classic tactic is to reverse the victim and offender, and suggest that the offender is actually the victim. These concepts normalize and trivialize allegations of serious misconduct.”

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Their statement concluded, “Most importantly, media statements are not a defense to Ms. Lively’s legal claims. We will continue to prosecute her claims in federal court, where the rule of law determines who prevails, not hyperbole and threats.”

Freedman told Us on January 7, 2025, that the new comments from Lively’s attorneys were a misrepresentation of the facts.

“It is painfully ironic that Blake Lively is accusing Justin Baldoni of weaponizing the media when her own team orchestrated this vicious attack by sending the New York Times grossly edited documents prior to even filing the complaint,” he said. “We are releasing all of the evidence which will show a pattern of bullying and threats to take over the movie. None of this will come as a surprise because 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!”

The ‘Nicepool’ Controversy

Us reported on January 14, 2025, that Freedman issued a litigation hold letter to The Walt Disney Company’s Bob Iger and Marvel Studio’s Kevin Feige to “preserve all existing documents and data relevant” relevant to a potential lawsuit. Freedman specifically requested that Disney and Marvel Studios preserve documents pertaining to whether the character “Nicepool” in Reynolds’ 2024 movie Deadpool & Wolverine was intended to mock Baldoni.

“[The request is] relating to or reflecting a deliberate attempt to mock, harass, ridicule, intimate or bully Baldoni through the character of ‘Nicepool,’” Freedman wrote. “It is important that Marvel take every reasonable step to preserve this information until further notice.”

Baldoni’s Studio Sues Lively

Baldoni’s company Wayfarer Studios filed a $400 million lawsuit against Lively, her husband, Reynolds, and her publicist, Leslie Sloane, on January 16, 2025. They accused Lively of trying to “make Baldoni the real-life villain in her story” to make up for “tone-deaf” promotion of her haircare and alcohol products while releasing a film about domestic violence.

The suit accused Lively of initiating a “takeover strategy” on It Ends With Us due to creative differences with Baldoni, in addition to a litany of claims about her preparedness to work and alleged demeaning onset comments. He accused Lively of pressuring other It Ends With Us castmates to “shun” him once they started having creative disputes.

“This lawsuit is a legal action based on an overwhelming amount of untampered evidence detailing Blake Lively and her team’s duplicitous attempt to destroy Justin Baldoni, his team and their respective companies by disseminating grossly edited, unsubstantiated, new and doctored information to the media,” Freedman told Us. “It is clear based on our own all out willingness to provide all complete text messages, emails, video footage and other documentary evidence that was shared between the parties in real time, that this is a battle she will not win and will certainly regret. Blake Lively was either severely misled by her team or intentionally and knowingly misrepresented the truth.”

Freedman told Us that the goal of the lawsuit was to make sure Lively could “never again be allowed to continue to exploit actual victims of real harassment solely for her personal reputation gain at the expense of those without power.”

Taylor Swift Text Message

As part of his lawsuit, Baldoni’s lawyers released a text message from the filmmaker to Lively that seemingly referenced her friend Swift and Reynolds giving feedback on It Ends With Us’ rooftop scene.

“Was working on rooftop scene today, I really love what you did. It really does hep [sic] a lot,” he purportedly wrote. “Makes it so much more fun and interesting. (And I would have felt that way without Ryan and Taylor). You really are a talent across the board. Really excited nd [sic] grateful to do this together.”

Lively Responds to Baldoni Lawsuit

Lively condemned Wayfarer’s lawsuit as a “desperate” strategy and described the legal action as “another chapter in the abuser playbook.”

“This is an age-old story: A woman speaks up with concrete evidence of sexual harassment and retaliation and the abuser attempts to turn the tables on the victim. This is what experts call DARVO. Deny. Attack. Reverse Victim Offender,” Lively’s representatives told Us on January 16, 2025. “Wayfarer has opted to use the resources of its billionaire co-founder to issue media statements, launch meritless lawsuits, and threaten litigation to overwhelm the public’s ability to understand that what they are doing is retaliation against sexual harassment allegations.”

Her attorneys accused Baldoni of “trying to shift the narrative to Ms. Lively by falsely claiming that she seized creative control and alienated the cast from Mr. Baldoni.”

“The evidence will show that the cast and others had their own negative experiences with Mr. Baldoni and Wayfarer. The evidence will also show that Sony asked Ms. Lively to oversee Sony’s cut of the film, which they then selected for distribution and was a resounding success,” they said. “Their response to sexual harassment allegations: she wanted it, it’s her fault. Their justification for why this happened to her: look what she was wearing. In short, while the victim focuses on the abuse, the abuser focuses on the victim. The strategy of attacking the woman is desperate, it does not refute the evidence in Ms. Lively’s complaint, and it will fail.”

Baldoni Lawyer Defends Lawsuit

Freedman released a statement to Deadline on January 18, 2025, to object to Lively’s characterization of Baldoni’s lawsuit. The attorney said his suit was filled with “almost 200 pages of undeniable facts” that “crushed” Lively’s “smear campaign” with The New York Times.

“Blake and her legal team have just one heinous pivot left, and that is to double down on the revoltingly false sexual allegations against Mr. Baldoni,” Freedman said.

Baldoni’s Rare Comment

The It Ends With Us director was filmed outside Los Angeles International Airport on January 17, 2025, with his daughter Maiya and son Maxwell, as well as his wife, Emily.

Asked how he was holding up, Baldoni replied: “We’re grateful to be with the family, man. We have amazing friends and family and faith.”

‘It Ends With Us’ Set Footage Released

Freedman released 10 minutes of behind-the-scenes footage from It Ends With Us which purportedly showed Baldoni and Lively having friendly banter in between filming a romantic scene. In the footage, Baldoni compliments Lively about her marriage to Reynolds and she jokes about getting her “body makeup” on her costar as they cuddled for a scene.

“Ms. Lively’s complaint alleges that during a scene Mr. Baldoni and Ms. Lively were filming for a slow dance montage, Mr. Baldoni was behaving inappropriately. The following videos captured on May 23, 2023, clearly refute Ms. Lively’s characterization of his behavior,” Freedman told Us in a statement on January 21, 2025. “The scene in question was designed to show the two characters falling in love and longing to be close to one another. Both actors are clearly behaving well within the scope of the scene and with mutual respect and professionalism. These are all three takes filmed of the sequence.”

Lively’s Attorneys Condemn ‘It Ends With Us’ Footage Release

Lively’s lawyers dismissed Baldoni’s release of behind-the-scenes footage from It Ends With Us as a “stunt” that did nothing to disprove their client’s allegations.

“The video shows Mr. Baldoni repeatedly leaning in toward Ms. Lively, attempting to kiss her, kissing her forehead, rubbing his face and mouth against her neck, flicking her lip with his thumb, caressing her, telling her how good she smells, and talking with her out of character,” her attorneys said. “Every moment of this was improvised by Mr. Baldoni with no discussion or consent in advance and no intimacy coordinator present. Mr. Baldoni was not only Ms. Lively’s costar, but the director, the head of [the] studio and Ms. Lively’s boss.”

Lively’s legal team suggested that anyone who’d been “inappropriately touched in the workplace” would recognize the actress’s behavior in the footage.

“They will recognize her attempts at levity to try to deflect the unwanted touching,” her lawyers argued. “No woman should have to take defensive measures to avoid being touched by their employer without their consent.”

Their statement concluded, “The matter is in active litigation in federal court. Releasing this video to the media, rather than presenting it as evidence in court, is another example of an unethical attempt to manipulate the public. It is also a continuation of their harassment and retaliatory campaign. While they are focused on misleading media narratives, we are focused on the legal process. We are continuing our efforts to require Mr. Baldoni and his associates to answer in court, under oath, rather than through manufactured media stunts.”

Trial Date Set

Judge Lewis J. Liman, of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, announced on January 27, 2025, that Baldoni and Lively’s trial would begin on March 9, 2026, unless they settled their dispute beforehand.

Lively and Reynolds Try to Dismiss Baldoni Countersuit

The couple asked a federal judge on January 30, 2025, to dismiss Baldoni’s countersuit. Lively also attempted to block Freedman from being able to depose her as part of their legal battle.

No Mediation

In a rare moment of agreement, Baldoni and Lively’s attorneys filed a joint letter to Judge Liman on January 30, 2025, to say that they both “agreed that settlement discussions would be premature” at the time. Judge Liman ultimately granted their request to forego traditional mediation processes since Lively was preparing to file an “amended complaint imminently.”

Baldoni Launches Website About Case

Amid very public complaints from Lively and her lawyers, Freedman moved forward with the launch of a website about the case on February 1, 2025. The website — which has the URL of “thelawsuitinfo.com” — went live with a massive 224-page “Amended Complaint” detailing Baldoni’s accusations against Lively, plus a 168-page PDF breaking down the timeline of their dispute.

Some of the evidence featured on the website included a text message where Reynolds allegedly called Baldoni a “standup person,” plus additional communication between the director and Lively over It Ends With Us’ iconic rooftop scene. The site even featured an alleged message drafted by Reynolds and Lively where they took accountability for the much-maligned promotion of It Ends With Us.

“Justin and team have the right to defend themselves with the truth,” Baldoni’s lawyer Freedman told Us about the website. “And this is what we will be continuing to show with the upcoming website containing all correspondence as well as relevant videos that directly quash her claims.”

Financial Impact

Freedman revealed at a pretrial conference on February 3, 2025, that Baldoni and other parties named in Lively’s lawsuit were “devastated financially and emotionally” because of the case.

“Not to sound like a 4-year-old fighting a 4-year-old with ‘they started it,’ but in these kinds of cases, once someone says something it becomes fact: There’s no way to fight against it,” Freedman told the court.

In her own statement, Lively’s lawyer Michael Gottlieb argued that the impact of Baldoni’s accusations had been “devastating” for the actress’s life and career.

Lively Sued by Crisis PR Firm

Jed Wallace and his company, Street Relations Inc. — a crisis PR firm named in Lively’s initial complaint against Baldoni but reportedly not included in her eventual lawsuit — filed a lawsuit against the actress on February 5, 2025. Wallace alleged that the “damage was done” by Lively simply linking him to the It Ends With Us dispute.

Wallace claimed that Lively wrongly connected him to helping crisis management firm TAG PR with “their unlawful retaliatory social combat campaign.” He alleged his company suffered millions of dollars of harm as well as more than a million dollars in projected losses for Street Relations Inc.

Lively’s legal team responded by telling Us: “Another day, another state, another nine-figure lawsuit seeking to sue Ms. Lively ‘into oblivion’ for speaking out against sexual harassment and retaliation. This is not just a publicity stunt — it is transparent retaliation in response to allegations contained within a sexual harassment and retaliation complaint that Ms. Lively filed with the California Civil Rights Department. While this lawsuit will be dismissed, we are pleased that Mr. Wallace has finally emerged from the shadows, and that he too will be held accountable in federal court.”

Phone Records Subpoenaed

Us confirmed on February 13, 2025, that Lively’s lawyers sent subpoenas to AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile seeking phone records for Baldoni, producer Jamey Heath and Wayfarer Studios cofounder Steve Sarowitz, plus Baldoni’s publicists Abel and Nathan.

“Phone records belonging to all of the individual defendants will expose the full web of individuals who were involved in the smear campaign against Ms. Lively,” a Lively representative explained to Us. “Such records will provide critical and irrefutable evidence not only about who, but also about when, where, and how their retaliation plan came together and operated.”

Freedman responded by telling Us that subpoenas “are an ordinary part of the litigation” before decrying Team Lively’s latest request.

“What is extraordinary is what the Lively Parties are seeking. They are asking for every single call, text, data log, and even real-time location information for the past 2.5 years, regardless of the sender, recipient, or subject matter,” he claimed. “This massive fishing expedition demonstrates that they are desperately seeking any factual basis for their provably false claims. They will find none.”

Reynolds Jokes About Case on ‘SNL’

Reynolds and Lively both attended the Saturday Night Live 50th anniversary special in New York City on February 16, 2025, where the Deadpool actor made light of the couple’s legal drama.

During a segment where Amy Poehler and Tina Fey interviewed celebrities in the live studio audience, the SNL legends asked Reynolds how he was doing.

“[I’m doing] great. Why, what have you heard?” Reynolds replied as the camera flashed to Lively with a blank expression.

Baldoni Lawyer Condemns ‘SNL’ Joke

Freedman wasn’t laughing about Reynolds’ joke at the SNL 50th anniversary special when he was asked about it on the “Hot Mics With Billy Bush” podcast on February 17, 2025.

“I’m unaware of anybody, frankly, whose wife has been sexually harassed and has made jokes about that type of situation. I can’t think of anyone who’s done anything like that,” the lawyer said. “So it surprised me.”

New Accusations Against Baldoni

Following the January 30 pretrial conference, Lively filed an amended complaint in a New York court on February 18, 2025, with new accusations against Baldoni. One of the bigger revelations in Lively’s complaint involved new details about alleged workplace harassment that other women who worked on It Ends With Us  allegedly faced from Baldoni. (The other party is not named directly in Lively’s amended complaint.)

The revised court documents accused Wayfarer Studios of launching a “farce” investigation into sexual harassment complaints against Baldoni because the filmmaker was still involved in the company.

“The amended complaint details the corroboration that backs up Blake’s original sexual harassment and retaliation concerns, including that (1) Justin Baldoni and Jamey Heath made other women uncomfortable on set; and (2) other women confided in Blake about their discomfort and fear of coming forward, and their concern about the current public vitriol,” a spokesperson for Lively told Us in a statement. “The new filing also details that a Sony representative spoke to Baldoni about the concerns, and that Baldoni responded, including by reaching out to one of the other women who complained to reassure her that he heard her and promised to make adjustments.”

According to Lively, Baldoni “didn’t follow through on that promise” to adjust his conduct. Lively alleges that Baldoni decided instead to “hire a crisis management team, digital manipulation experts, litigators, and used those helpers to plan and execute the smear campaign.”

“In doing so, Blake has alleged, Baldoni hoped that if she or any other woman made their grievances public, nobody would believe them,” Lively’s spokesperson concluded.

Baldoni Responds to New Accusations

On February 19, 2025, Freedman described Lively’s amended complaint as “underwhelming” and once again dinged Reynolds for joking about the case on SNL.

“Our clients have taken this matter and these issues very seriously notwithstanding the jokes made publicly by the plaintiff and her husband,” he told Us. “Her underwhelming amended complaint is filled with unsubstantial hearsay of unnamed persons who are clearly no longer willing to come forward or publicly support her claims. Since documents do not lie and people do, the upcoming depositions of those who initially supported Ms. Lively’s false claims and those who are witnesses to her own behavior will be enlightening. What is truly uncomfortable here is Ms. Lively’s lack of actual evidence.”

Lively and Reynolds Seek More Protection

Lively and Reynolds submitted a legal request for a stronger protective order to be issued on their behalf on February 20, 2025. The couple argued in court documents that “additional protections” were needed since they’d been subject to violent threats due to their dispute with Baldoni.

“As detailed in Ms. Lively’s Amended Complaint, Ms. Lively, her family, other members of the cast, various fact witnesses, and individuals that have spoken out publicly in support of Ms. Lively have received violent, profane, sexist, and threatening communications,” their attorneys alleged.

Team Baldoni told Us that they did not support anyone sending threatening messages on his behalf.

“Anyone receiving violent messages by anonymous parties is abhorrent,” his attorneys declared. “When private parties were wrongfully accused by Lively and her paid team of wrongdoing, they received continuous death threats and visits to private homes where young children reside after their addresses were leaked on her initial complaints. No one should have to face that, especially private parties who do not have means for security detail. We do not condone dangerous rhetoric targeted toward anyone no matter the situation.”

Lively’s Publicist Seeks Removal From Case

Lively’s publicist Sloane formally asked a New York federal court to remove her company Vision PR from Baldoni’s countersuit on February 20, 2025. She alleged that her company was included in the legal wrangling as part of a “smoke and mirrors exercise to distract” from Lively’s sexual harassment accusations against Baldoni.

Public Information Clash

Baldoni asked Judge Liman on February 25, 2025, to block Lively’s attempt to instate an “Attorney’s Eyes Only” stipulation in the case, which would block the release of certain sensitive information to the public during the discovery process.

Baldoni’s attorney Mitchell Schuster expressed surprise at Lively’s trying to “prevent the public from accessing material and relevant evidence” given her attorney’s previous public statements about the importance of her sexual harassment suit. He suggested Lively was trying to use the court motion to “rehabilitate her tarnished image with bold statements to the press.”

“Ms. Lively lacks a ‘good faith’ belief that there is any information of such a ‘personally sensitive nature’ that disclosure thereof to the parties ‘would unnecessarily violate [her] privacy rights,’” Schuster argued.

Lively’s lawyer Gottlieb hit back at Team Baldoni for showing “callous disregard and disrespect for a woman advocating for the most basic workplace protections against sexual harassment” with its legal letter. He also condemned “certain online content creators” for “parrot[ing] the Wayfarer Parties’ line” with misleading claims about Lively.

Lively’s New Crisis PR

A spokesperson for the actress confirmed to Us on February 28, 2025, that she hired PR crisis manager Nick Shapiro to advise on the case. Shapiro previously served as the CIA’s deputy chief of staff and was an advisor to former director John Brennan.

“The litigation team for Ms. Lively retained Mr. Shapiro to advise on the legal communications strategy for the ongoing sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit occurring in the Southern District of New York,” Lively’s legal team said.

Judge Rules on Protective Order

On March 13, 2025, Judge Liman partially granted Lively’s request for additional protections. The ruling allowed for certain documents in case to only go between attorneys.

“Today, the Court rejected the Wayfarer Parties’ objections and entered the protections needed to ensure the free flow of discovery material without any risk of witness intimidation or harm to any individual’s security,” a spokesperson for Lively told Us in a statement. “With this order in place, Ms. Lively will move forward in the discovery process to obtain even more of the evidence that will prove her claims in Court.”

Baldoni’s lawyer Freedman replied: “We are fully in agreement with the Court’s decision to provide a narrow scope of protections to categories such as private mental health records and personal security measures that have never been of interest to us. As opposed to Ms. Lively’s exceedingly over broad demand for documents for a 2 [and a half] year period of time which the court rightly quashed.”

Ryan Reynolds Files for Removal

In court documents obtained by Us on March 18, 2025, Reynolds asked to be removed from Baldoni’s countersuit because the director could not “identify a single allegedly defamatory statement” made by the actor.

“The entirety of Mr. Baldoni’s case appears to be based on Mr. Reynolds allegedly privately calling Mr. Baldoni a ‘predator,’ but here is the problem, that is not defamation unless they can show that Mr. Reynolds did not believe that statement to be true,” Reynolds’ attorneys Gottlieb and Hudson told Us. “The complaint doesn’t allege that, and just the opposite, the allegations in the complaint suggest that Mr. Reynolds genuinely believes Mr. Baldoni is a predator.”

Reynolds’ spokesperson accused Baldoni of compiling “a list of grievances attempting to shame Mr. Reynolds for being the man Mr. Baldoni has built his brand pretending to be, a man who is ‘confident enough to listen’ to the woman in his life.”

Baldoni Fires Back at Reynolds

Freedman accused Reynolds of continuous “exploitation of his enormous power” by trying to remove himself from the lawsuit.

“Mr. Reynolds was a key player in the scheme, defaming Justin around Hollywood, strong-arming WME into dropping Justin as a client, and trying to destroy Justin’s career however possible,” Baldoni’s lawyer told Us on March 19, 2025. “His fingerprints have been all over this smear campaign against Justin and the Wayfarer team since day one.”

Lively Tries to Dismiss Baldoni Countersuit

The Gossip Girl alum followed a similar legal tactic to Reynolds by asking a judge to dismiss Baldoni’s multi-million dollar lawsuit on March 20, 2025. Her legal team claimed that the lawsuit was “a profound abuse of the legal process” that had “no place in federal court.”

“California law now expressly prohibits suing victims who make the decision to speak out against sexual harassment or retaliation, whether in a lawsuit or in the press,” Lively’s lawyers Gottlieb and Hudson told Us. “This meritless and retaliatory lawsuit runs head first into three legal obstacles, including the litigation, fair report, and sexual harassment privileges, the latter of which contains a mandatory fee shifting provision that will require the likes of … Wayfarer Studios, and others that brought frivolous defamation claims against Ms. Lively to pay damages. In other words, in an epic self-own, the Wayfarer Parties’ attempt to sue Ms. Lively ‘into oblivion’ has only created more liability for them, and deservedly so, given what they have done.”

Freedman unloaded on Lively’s latest legal maneuvering by calling it “one of the most abhorrent examples of abusing our legal system.”

“Stringent rules are put into place to protect the innocent and allow individuals to rightfully defend themselves,” Baldoni’s lawyer replied. “Laws are not meant to be twisted and curated by privileged elites to fit their own personal agenda. As we said yesterday in response to Mr. Reynolds’ same cowardly measures, we will continue to hold Ms. Lively accountable for her actions of pure malice which include falsely accusing my clients of harassment and retaliation. Her fantastical claims will be swiftly debunked as discovery moves forward, easily disproved with actual, evidentiary proof.”

Baldoni Adds Publicist to Lawsuit

Baldoni amended his lawsuit to include Stephanie Jones, whose PR company used to employ his one-time crisis management expert Abel. His attorneys alleged that Jones took Abel’s work phone and handed it over to Team Lively, who then mined it for emails and text messages for their lawsuit.

“It is undeniable that Stephanie Jones initiated this catastrophic sequence of events by violating the most basic of privacy rights, as well as any remaining trust her clients held,” Freedman said in a statement to Us on March 21, 2025. “No stranger to stirring up crisis scenarios for departing clients, Ms. Jones maliciously turned over communications from the phone she wrongfully took from her own partner to her cohort Leslie Sloane, immediately after Jones was terminated for cause by Wayfarer due to her own wrongful behavior.”

Baldoni’s legal move followed Jones filing a lawsuit against Abel, Baldoni and others. In her suit, Jones accused them of orchestrating an alleged smear campaign against Lively

Jones’ representative Kristin Tahler told Us: “Abel, Nathan, Baldoni and their co-defendants attempted to achieve these outcomes through bullying, distortion and outright disparagement. These facts are backed up by dozens of messages provided in the suit we filed a month ago and cannot be credibly disputed. Having no facts or evidence, we see a familiar playbook — smear our client, culminating in the work of fiction masquerading as the counterclaims that were filed yesterday.”

Baldoni Defends Suing Reynolds

Baldoni’s attorneys officially filed paperwork on April 3, 2025, to oppose Reynolds being dropped from their lawsuit. They labeled Reynolds a “co-conspirator” in the smear campaign and suggested there were “ample facts” to support him being included in the suit.

“The main takeaway from the Wayfarer Parties’ opposition to Ryan’s motion to dismiss their case is that they finally realize the plain defects in their complaint,” Reynolds’ spokesperson told Us in response. “They once again claim defamation without alleging who was defamed, what specifically was said, or how anyone suffered actual harm.”

They went on, “Unlike Mr. Baldoni, who built his brand pretending to be a man who is ‘confident enough to listen’ to the women in his life, Ryan Reynolds actually is that man and he will continue to support his wife as she stands up to the individuals who not only harassed her but then have retaliated against her. Under New York law, California law, and indeed in every jurisdiction of the United States this lawsuit not only fails but may result in the Wayfarer Parties covering Ryan’s costs and attorneys’ fees for bringing such a frivolous case in the first place.”

‘Scorched Earth’

Lively’s attorneys Hudson and Gottlieb shared a statement with Us on April 10, 2025, in which they accused Baldoni’s side of using “scorched earth litigation” to prevent people from coming forward with sexual harassment complaints. The two lawyers suggested Team Baldoni was “tear[ing] down” legal protections for accusers with their courtroom tactics.

“Mr. Baldoni has gone from monetizing a brand devoted to believing and supporting women, to leading the charge to tear down the very law that protects women who come forward about sexual assault, harassment and discrimination.” they told Us. “California’s sexual harassment privilege, AB 933, was enacted to stop perpetrators of sexual harassment from abusing defamation lawsuits to sue their accusers into oblivion.”

Baldoni’s lawyer Freedman responded that it was Lively who’d used “calculated efforts first to extort and manipulate” others to go against his client.

“Ms. Lively and her circle of Hollywood elites cannot prevent my clients from exercising their constitutional right to petition the court to clear their names from her false and harmful claims,” Freedman added. “What Ms. Lively is attempting to do is to set a dangerous precedent by barring the courthouse doors to my clients and punishing them for having their day in court, a right protected by the First Amendment.”

Marvel Responds to Baldoni Lawsuit

After being dragged into the dispute due to the “Nicepool” character in Reynolds’ movie Deadpool & Wolverine, Marvel Studios asked Judge Liman on April 29, 2025, to “quash the subpoena issued to Marvel” and grant a “protective order prohibiting the disclosure of Marvel’s confidential documents” pertaining to spoilers for future story lines in the MCU.

“The requested documents are particularly sensitive because they relate to the development of a character in an ongoing movie franchise,” their letter to the court read. “Marvel has built the success of the MCU in large part by interconnecting storylines, plots, and characters across its titles, including ‘crossover’ events and sequels. Whether and how such elements will appear in upcoming, unreleased projects is the subject of much public interest, and this information is closely guarded by Marvel.”

Baldoni’s counsel replied: “My office met and conferred with Marvel’s counsel via telephone about the objections, and although we attempted in good faith to address Marvel’s purported concerns about confidentiality and relevancy, Marvel’s counsel interrupted us, refusing to engage in that discussion.”

“Instead, Marvel’s counsel interjected and stated he merely wanted to know what documents the Wayfarer Parties ‘really’ needed, regardless of the Subpoena’s demand for all documents concerning: (a) the creation, development, modification or portrayal of Ryan Reynolds’ ‘Nicepool’ character from Deadpool & Wolverine; and (b) Justin Baldoni,” Freedman continued.

Wayfarer Foundation Shuts Down

Baldoni‘s charitable Wayfarer Foundation announced on May 6, 2025, that it was shutting down amid its cofounder’s dispute with Lively.

“Over the past four years, Wayfarer Foundation has supported dozens of grantee partners in fulfilling their missions,” cofounder Sarowitz announced via Instagram. “I am so incredibly proud of the impact this organization has made and deeply grateful for our staff, board, donors and partners.”

The Wayfarer Foundation immediately began “the process of sunsetting the Foundation,” according to Sarowitz.

“We will honor all of our current grant commitments as we carefully wind down operations over the next several weeks,” he vowed. “Although the Wayfarer Foundation is closing, my personal commitment to giving remains strong, and I’m dedicated to making an impact on society through the ongoing mission and work.”

Lively Will Testify

In a bombshell announcement, Lively’s attorney Gottlieb told People on May 8, 2025, that the actress planned to testify in her 2026 trial against Baldoni.

“The ultimate moment for a plaintiff’s story to be told is at trial,” Gottlieb said. “We expect that to be the case here [with Lively]. So we would, of course, expect her to be a witness at her trial. Of course, she’s going to testify.”

Lively Lawyer Slams Possible Taylor Swift Subpoena

Gottlieb also used his interview with People to discourage Team Baldoni from subpoenaing Lively’s friend Swift, as well as her husband, Reynolds, in their 2026 trial.

“It’s completely unclear what claims or defenses, in the case any of these celebrities … have any relevance to at all,” he complained.

He then argued: “This is a case about what happened to Blake Lively when she raised claims of sexual harassment on the set. It’s not a case about how songs were chosen for the movie. It’s not a case about fictional Marvel characters in Deadpool movies.”

Taylor Swift Subpoenaed

Team Baldoni followed through on their previous threat by formally issuing Swift a subpoena in connection with the 2026 trial. Swift’s spokesperson argued the subpoena was meritless because the singer “never set foot on the set of” It Ends With Us, nor did she make “casting or creative decisions.”

“She did not score the film, she never saw an edit or made any notes on the film,” her rep told Us on May 9, 2025. “She did not even see It Ends With Us until weeks after its public release, and was traveling around the globe during 2023 and 2024 headlining the biggest tour in history.”

Swift’s spokesperson reiterated that the only connection the musician had to It Ends With Us was allowing her song “My Tears Ricochet” to be used in the blockbuster.

“Given that her involvement was licensing a song for the film, which 19 other artists also did, this document subpoena is designed to use Taylor Swift’s name to draw public interest by creating tabloid clickbait instead of focusing on the facts of the case,” her rep insisted.

Swift asked the court to reject Team Baldoni’s subpoena on May 13, 2025.

Baldoni Returns to Instagram

Amid reports that Team Lively was looking into his financial background, Baldoni returned to social media after a five-month hiatus to celebrate Mother’s Day.

“My mom gave us faith. My wife is the definition of it. Our children are growing up in the fortress of that love,” he wrote via Instagram on May 11, 2025, alongside a family photo. “Happy Mother’s Day to all ❤️.”

Taylor Swift Dropped from Lawsuit

A source close to the matter told Us on May 22, 2025, that a summons for Swift was quietly rescinded because “information was voluntarily provided” to Baldoni’s legal team.

“We are pleased that Justin Baldoni and the Wayfarer Parties have withdrawn their harassing subpoenas to Taylor Swift and her law firm,” Team Lively responded via a statement. “We supported the efforts of Taylor’s team to quash these inappropriate subpoenas directed to her counsel and we will continue to stand up for any third party who is unjustly harassed or threatened in the process.”

They continued, “The Baldoni and Wayfarer team have tried to put Taylor Swift, a woman who has been an inspiration for tens of millions across the globe, at the center of this case since day one. Exploiting Taylor Swift’s celebrity was the original plan in Melissa Nathan’s scenario planning document, and it continues to this day. Faced with having to justify themselves in federal court, they folded. At some point they will run out of distractions from the actual claims of sexual harassment and retaliation they are facing.”

Baldoni Lawsuit’s Dismissed

Judge Liman officially granted Lively and Reynolds’ request to dismiss Baldoni’s $400 million countersuit on June 9, 2025, in addition to dismissing Baldoni’s defamation suit against The New York Times. The judge did allow for Baldoni to refile with amended claims by June 23, 2025.

Lively’s attorneys called Judge Liman’s decision “a total victory and a complete vindication” for her side.

“As we have said from day one, this ‘$400 million’ lawsuit was a sham, and the Court saw right through it,” Team Lively told Us in a statement. “We look forward to the next round, which is seeking attorneys’ fees, treble damages and punitive damages against Baldoni, Sarowitz, Nathan, and the other Wayfarer Parties who perpetrated this abusive litigation.”

Lively Breaks Silence

Hours after Baldoni’s countersuit was dismissed, Lively celebrated the ruling with an impassioned Instagram statement.

“Last week, I stood proudly alongside 19 organizations united in defending women’s rights to speak up for their safety,” she wrote to Instagram followers on June 9, 2025. “Like so many others, I’ve felt the pain of a retaliatory lawsuit, including the manufactured shame that tries to break us.”

Lively noted: “While the suit against me was defeated, so many don’t have the resources to fight back. I’m more resolved than ever to continue to stand for every woman’s right to have a voice in protecting themselves, including their safety, their integrity, their dignity and their story.”

Baldoni Attorney Responds to Lawsuit Dismissal

Freedman told Us in a statement on June 10, 2025, that Team Lively’s “predictable declaration of victory” was “false.”

“While the Court dismissed the defamation-related claims, the Court has invited us to amend four out of the seven claims against Ms. Lively, which will showcase additional evidence and refined allegations,” Freedman clarified. “This case is about false accusations of sexual harassment and retaliation and a nonexistent smear campaign, which Ms. Lively’s own team conveniently describes as ‘untraceable’ because they cannot prove what never happened.”

Baldoni Declines to Refile Lawsuit

On June 24, 2025, Baldoni’s legal team confirmed it would not file an amended legal suit against Lively and Reynolds in order to focus on the discovery process for their 2026 trial.

“The Court’s decision on the motion to dismiss has no effect whatsoever on the truth that there was no harassment nor any smear campaign, and it does not in any way affect our vigorous defense against Ms. Lively’s claims,” Freedman told People.

Celebrity Subpoenas Exchanged

With the legal battle now refocused on the 2026 trial, Team Lively asked Judge Liman on June 13, 2024, to issue a new “protective order” to block Team Baldoni’s “continuing demands” over her communication with Swift. Lively’s lawyers alleged that Baldoni had failed to produce “the documents they publicly claimed to have received as part of a deal to withdraw their subpoenas” from Swift.

Meanwhile, it was reported Team Lively planned to issue its own subpoenas to conservative commentator Candace Owens, podcaster Andy Signore and blogger Perez Hilton.

“Given the fact that I have not received any subpoena yet, I appreciate Blake’s team leaking this to TMZ to alert me to it,” Owens told People in a statement. “And, of course, I have not the slightest idea what I am being subpoenaed for as I knew none of these parties when their respective lawsuits were filed. But stay tuned, and I’ll let audiences know on my podcast.”

PR Executive Dismissed From Lively Lawsuit

Judge Liman officially dismissed PR expert Jed Wallace from Lively’s amended lawsuit on July 16, 2025, because of a lack of jurisdiction, since Wallace and his company, Street Relations, are based in Texas, not New York where Lively filed her suit. Lively had alleged that Wallace took part in orchestrating a smear campaign against her on Baldoni’s behalf — which the PR executive denied.

“Ms. Lively respects the Court’s decision, which has nothing to do with the merits of her allegations about Mr. Wallace’s role in the smear campaign and relates solely to the procedural question of whether he is subject to jurisdiction in New York or elsewhere,” a spokesperson for Lively told Us. “We currently are evaluating our numerous options for holding Mr. Wallace accountable for the pivotal role he served in the retaliatory effort that Justin Baldoni and the Wayfarer Parties paid him at least tens of thousands of dollars a month to perform.”

Lively Deposition Takes Place

Lively took part in her delayed deposition on July 31, 2025 in New York City. Baldoni was in the room, along with his legal team, to witness the actress answer questions about their onset feud and ongoing legal dispute.

Leaked Deposition Dispute

Four days after the deposition, Team Lively accused Baldoni of attempting to release the full “292-page transcript” to the public docket as part of “a “manufactured excuse to force the transcript into the public domain as fodder for the Wayfarer Defendants’ media campaign.”

“There is no conceivable legal purpose to file the whole transcript, particularly given that it has not been reviewed, corrected or finalized, and a mere two pages of it were cited in their argument,” Team Lively wrote in a letter to the court.

Baldoni’s attorney Freedman responded on August 6, 2025, to deny that his side tried to release the deposition transcript.

“[Blake] also fails to explain why any such ‘leak’ could not have originated from [Lively], her husband [Reynolds], her multiple attorneys, legal or administrative staff from the law firm representing her (whose office she demanded host the deposition), or the catering staff employed thereby who served lunch,” Freedman responded.

Lively Scores Win Over Deposition

Judge Liman granted Team Lively’s request on August 8, 2025, to block Team Baldoni from introducing portions of her deposition in the court record before the transcript was finalized. Freedman previously attached a portion of Lively’s transcript to a court motion under seal as supporting evidence.

Isabela Ferrer Drama Begins

Team Baldoni asked Judge Liman to compel It Ends With Us star Isabela Ferrer — who played a younger version of Lively’s character Lily in the movie — to turn over text messages relevant to the case.

In the August 12, 2025, court filing, Baldoni’s lawyers alleged that they’d failed to serve Ferrer with a subpoena at multiple locations and that the actress’s lawyer did not respond to their request to turn over data related to the case. Team Baldoni sought “all documents relating to any discriminatory, harassing, retaliatory, inappropriate or unwelcome action, conduct or statement.”

Baldoni alleged that Lively pressured Ferrer to isolate herself from him during the production of It Ends With Us.

Ferrer Accuses Team Baldoni of ‘Harassment’

Ferrer’s legal team alleged in court documents on August 18, 2025, that Team Baldoni was “harassing” her in “transparent efforts to exert pressure on Ms. Ferrer” to turn over communications with Lively. Her attorneys asked the court to deny Baldoni’s request for documents and impose sanctions upon him.

“Baldoni has tried to manipulate, threaten, control and otherwise act inappropriately towards Ms. Ferrer,” Ferrer’s attorneys alleged.

Team Baldoni dismissed those accusations on August 19, 2025, and insisted they were only after “documents that [Ferrer] either neglected to produce or were not requested” when Lively first subpoenaed her in February 2025.

Text Messages and Emails Unsealed

On August 25, Judge Liman unsealed a selection of Baldoni’s text messages and emails that were previously redacted exhibits from one of Lively’s court motions.

One message included an exchange between Baldoni and his PR agent about an “example of someone trolling Blake” from his Instagram account that may not have been “a real account.” The publicist insisted that the message was potentially written by an “actual troll” and that it was “100 percent” not anyone from Baldoni’s team.

Another text message from Baldoni’s business partner Jamey Heath referenced hiring a “crisis management team” that cost “$9 million.”

“Just have to manage every land mine so it doesn’t go off,” the text message from Heath read. “And there’s just so much to it.”

Lively Seeks Millions from Baldoni

In the wake of Baldoni’s countersuit being dismissed in June 2025, Lively sought a multi-million dollar payout from the director for alleged abuse of the court system in September 2025. Us obtained court documents in which Team Lively alleged she was owed “reasonable attorney’s fees and costs for successfully defending [herself] in the litigation.” Lively planned to seek damages for economic, emotional and psychological harms in addition to the aforementioned fees.

Lively cited California’s Protecting Survivors from Weaponized Defamation Lawsuits Act, which “ensures that individuals who experience sexual harassment or retaliation are able to share their experiences with courts, agencies, the press and others without fear of being sued for doing so.”

Baldoni’s attorneys have insisted the law does not apply to Lively’s case.

Taylor Swift Deposition Drama

In a shocking development, Us exclusively reported on September 11 that Baldoni’s team filed court docs stating that Swift “agreed to appear” for a deposition in October.

However, Swift’s own attorneys issued a response to counter any suggestion that the singer volunteered to be deposed.

“As counsel for the parties know, since the inception of this matter we have consistently maintained that my client has no material role in this action,” Swift’s legal team wrote to Judge Liman on September 12. “Further, my client did not agree to a deposition, but if she is forced into a deposition, we advised (after first hearing about the deposition just three days ago) that her schedule would accommodate the time required during the week of October 20 if the parties were able to work out their disputes. We take no role in those disputes.”

Team Lively blasted Freedman’s framing of Swift’s deposition as voluntary and pointed out that a proposed late October date would take place after the cutoff for the discovery process.

“In this respect, [Baldoni and his team’s] lack of diligence, and disrespect for [Swift’s] privacy and schedule, is astounding,” Lively’s attorney argued on September 12, 2025. ”Discovery has been ongoing for more than six months, and [Swift] is someone whose calendar should be presumed to be packed with professional obligations for months in advance. At any point over the past six months, [Baldoni’s team] could have noticed a deposition, served a subpoena, and negotiated an agreeable time and place for this deposition. But they did not.”

Judge Liman ruled on September 13, 2025, that there would be no extension for Swift be deposed because Team Baldoni waited too long to initiate the process.

“The only justification they have provided for the extension is their assertion that Swift’s preexisting professional obligations now prevent her from appearing for a deposition prior to October 20, 2025,” he wrote.

The judge added, “Discovery has been ongoing in this case for approximately six months. They have offered no evidence that they have served a renewed subpoena on Swift… Having failed to demonstrate appropriate diligence, the requested extension is denied.”

Baldoni Hires Diddy’s Lawyer

Team Baldoni beefed up its legal roster on September 15, 2025, by hiring Alexandra Shapiro, who previously represented disgraced mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs and FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried.

Baldoni Sued by ‘The New York Times’

The New York Times Company formally filed suit against Baldoni‘s production company, Wayfarer Studios LLC, on October 1, 2025, over the actor’s dismissed defamation lawsuit.

Following Judge Liman’s decision to throw out Baldoni’s suit in June 2025, the Times sought to recoup at least $150,000 in “compensatory and punitive damages” associated with Baldoni’s legal action. The media organization accused Baldoni of violating New York’s anti-SLAPP law against lawsuits that seek to “inhibit the exercise of free speech and harass publishers by forcing them to expend time and resources on baseless litigation.”

“It is now well-established that news coverage of matters of public interest fall within the scope of the law,” the New York Times lawsuit asserted.

Freedman responded to the Times’ lawsuit by telling People that Baldoni would continue seeking justice “win, lose or draw.”

“We refuse to cave to power brokers even in the face of seemingly impossible odds,” the lawyer said. “We continue to stand tall for a reason: the pursuit of truth, in the face of giants.”

‘It Ends With Us Stars’ Deposed

On October 17, 2025, it was reported that It Ends With Us stars Slate and Ferrer and book author Colleen Hoover were all deposed as part of the discovery process.

Slate and Ferrer reportedly took part in depositions over the summer, while Hoover was recently deposed about her knowledge of the dispute between Lively and Baldoni.

‘Hidden Messages’ Dispute

Us obtained court documents filed by Team Lively on October 23, 2025, in which they accused Team Baldoni of “hid[ing] the ball at every turn in the discovery process, either failing to produce documents or improperly cloaking them in the attorney-client privilege.”

“Now that the dust has settled, and fact discovery and depositions have closed, two things are clear,” Lively’s team insisted. “There is substantial evidence that the retaliatory campaign was, in fact, implemented as planned.”

Lively’s lawyers asked the court to sanction Baldoni because his legal team “destroyed and/or failed to preserve or produce additional material and highly relevant evidence, the absence of which they intend to try to unjustly exploit in their favor.”

Team Baldoni did not immediately comment on the motion.

Lively Claims ‘It End With Us’ Producer Did Not Hand Over Video of Wife Giving Birth

According to a letter obtained by People on November 3, 2025, Lively’s lawyers asked judge Judge Lewis J. Liman to “sanction” producer Jamey Heath after he allegedly failed to hand over “certain materials” that he was asked to provide by September 2, 2025, including “the video Mr. Heath showed Ms. Lively on the set of the Film of his fully nude wife during the birth of their child during an at-home birth.” Lively claims the alleged video was shown to her by Heath “without warning or consent.”

Lively further alleged that she has “consistently disputed” that the three-minute video Heath has turned is not the same clip she was shown on the It Ends With Us set. Despite Heath’s previous claims that he did not have any other videos, Lively alleged that Heath has been “knowingly and willfully withholding” relevant information, therefore failing to give her the chance to address it when he was deposed.

Per the outlet, Lively asked Judge Liman to “order” Heath to provide all footage related to the birth video within three days. She also asked that Heath be prohibited from giving any evidence, including oral or written testimony, related to him showing the birth footage.

Us Weekly reached out to Baldoni for comment.

Baldoni Intentionally Misses Filing Deadline

After Us exclusively reported in November 2025 that Baldoni did not miss a deadline to file an appeal after a judge dismissed the lawsuit against Lively, but rather that his legal team never intended to file in the first place, the director’s lawyer broke his silence regarding the trial.

“The truth regarding this case [is it] continuously and completely gets distorted in the media. Even something as simple as a procedural update has resulted in total mischaracterization. At this point, we have to set the record straight: no deadlines were missed. Our clients chose not to amend their complaint to preserve appeal rights,” Freedman told The Daily Mail in a November 2025 statement.

“In the meantime, we are focusing on Ms. Lively’s claims,” Freedman continued. “We remain fully committed to pursuing the truth through every legal and factual avenue available and look forward to our day in court.”

Us reached out to Lively’s legal team for comment at the time.

Judge Dismisses Claims Against Jed Wallace

A federal judge dismissed Lively’s claims against Wallace — a Texas-based social media consultant — on November 5, 2025.

According to the court, Lively failed to show that Wallace had sufficient connection to New York to be sued there.

“The court’s decision today was only about where Jed Wallace can be sued. The court ruled that Ms. Lively’s claims against him can and should be brought in a different court,” Lively’s spokesperson told Us in a statement. “Ms. Lively is evaluating her many options for doing so. This has no impact on her case against Baldoni, Heath, Sarowitz, Nathan, Abel, Wayfarer, and The Agency Group, who she will see in court in New York at the March trial.”

Baldoni’s attorney, however, had a different reaction to the judge’s ruling.

“We are grateful for the court’s order today, making clear that the claims against Mr. Wallace never belonged in this court,” Freedman said in a statement to Us. “Allegations that he participated in any smear campaign are unsupported, and all claims against him have been dismissed by this court. The other defendants look forward to their day in court when they will show there is no merit to Ms. Lively’s claims against them.”

A judge also dismissed Wallace’s claims against Lively.

“With this decision, all of the retaliatory lawsuits filed against Blake Lively by Justin Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios and their crisis communications and digital teams have been dismissed,” a spokesperson for Lively told Us in a statement. “Ms. Lively will have her day in court on her claims at the March trial in New York.”

Lively Seeks Damages and Names Potential Witnesses

Us obtained new court documents filed by Team Lively in July 2025 and unsealed that November. In these disclosure forms, Lively claimed she suffered at least $161 million in damages from Baldoni’s alleged sexual harassment and “smear campaign.” (Baldoni has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing on the set of It Ends With Us and insisted he was not involved in any smear campaign.)

Lively’s team specified that her losses amounted to $56.2 million for past and future earnings from her acting career, speaking engagements and endorsements, plus $49 million in potential losses from her beauty brand, Blake Brown, and $22 million from her beverage brand, Betty Buzz/Betty Booze. The documents specified several other associated costs that Lively is seeking from Baldoni, including $34 million in reputational damage.

Team Lively’s latest filing hinted at some stars who may be called to testify at the March 2026 trial. Her lawyers suggested that Reynolds, Swift, Emily Blunt, Scooter Braun, Hugh Jackman and Gigi Hadid, among many others, are “likely to have discoverable information” about the It Ends With Us workplace dispute.

Lively and Baldoni Battle Over Motion for Summary Judgment

In November 2025, Baldoni’s legal team filed a motion for summary judgment, or asked the court to decide a claim without a trial.

At the time, the actor’s legal team claimed Lively’s allegations were a “litany of minor grievances” that fall short of the requisite level of being “severe or pervasive enough to create an objectively hostile or abusive work environment.”

One month later, Lively’s attorneys responded to Baldoni’s motion and argued that the actress deserves her day in court.

“In their latest effort to avoid accountability for the hostile environment they created during the production and marketing of It Ends With Us, Justin Baldoni [and other defendants] ask this court to shield them from trial and deny Blake Lively her day in court, by throwing the kitchen sink at Lively’s sexual harassment and retaliation claims,” Lively’s team claimed in court documents obtained by Us in December 2025. “The record evidence is clear: Lively’s claims survive summary judgment and must be sent to a jury.”

Lively and Baldoni’s Trial Postponed

In December 2025, it was announced that Lively and Baldoni’s trial would be postponed until May 18, 2026. Liman shared during a post-discovery hearing that he was also the judge on two criminal trials and “as important as this case is … criminal trials take precedent.”

Judge Recommends Lively and Baldoni Settle

The same day news broke of the trial being postponed, Liman suggested that the It Ends With Us costars settle outside of court and directed them to contact a magistrate judge to discuss a settlement.

Lively and Baldoni’s Legal Teams Reflect on 1 Year of ‘It Ends With Us’ Drama

In December 2025, Lively’s attorneys reflected on the past 12 months of their case against Baldoni.

“One year ago, Blake Lively filed a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department to continue to stand up for a safe workplace after the experiences she and others had on the film It Ends With Us,” Lively’s lawyers Hudson and Gottlieb said in a statement to Us on December 22, 2025. “Over the past year, Blake has persevered against a billionaire-financed effort to try to ‘bury’ her, her family and businesses through retaliatory lawsuits and a relentless media and digital campaign. With their retaliatory lawsuits dismissed and only her claims set for trial in May, Ms. Lively is more determined than ever to shine a light on the forces that work behind the scenes to silence and discredit women who dare speak up.”

As for Baldoni’s legal team, they shared a message of gratitude for those who hope “truth” will win.

“My clients are deeply grateful for the support and kind words they’ve received over the past year,” Baldoni’s attorney Freedman said in a statement to Us. “We trust that the truth will ultimately prevail, and the care that so many have shown has been a meaningful source of strength during an incredibly challenging time.”

The statement continued, “At the same time, we recognize that there are many other issues affecting the world that deserve even greater attention and compassion, particularly at this time of year. We hope the focus remains on supporting those who need it most and that we continue to look out for one another this holiday season.”

Justin Baldoni Had ‘Prayer Gathering’ Before His Deposition

Baldoni said in his October 6, 2025, deposition that he gathered with friends and family to pray the night prior, according to a transcript obtained by People in January 2026.

“Jennifer Abel, my family, my wife. We had a prayer gathering last night with a lot of friends so they were aware that I was being deposed, but that’s all I can think of at the moment,” he said when asked if he spoke to anyone about the deposition.

Describing what he discussed with his publicist, Abel, he said, “It wasn’t a conversation about the deposition. It was like, ‘You’re going to do great.’ And she was letting me know she was going to be there. But there was no content that was discussed. She might have said just to keep being honest and shine your light, or something to that extent.”

Justin Baldoni Claims Blake Lively Calls Her Home Office ‘Buckingham Palace’

Elsewhere in his deposition, Baldoni claimed that Lively referred to her home office as “Buckingham Palace” when she asked to facilitate It Ends With Us meetings.

“She used to call it Buckingham Palace, as she said, because so many celebrities walked through there,” Baldoni said, per People. “I think that was her office in her penthouse apartment, which was the place that Ms. Lively requested all of our meetings be.”

Justin Baldoni Objects to Blake Lively’s Motion to Conceal Her Friends’ Names in Legal Battle

On January 12, 2025, Baldoni’s lawyers filed an objection to Lively’s motion to conceal the names of her celebrity friends and family, including Swift and Reynolds, in their legal battle, according to court docs obtained by Us. Baldoni claimed that Reynolds could be a key witness in the proceedings due to his involvement in It Ends With Us. Additionally, he argued that the names of other potential witnesses, including Swift, Hugh Jackman, America Ferrera and Emily Blunt, were already made public.

“Not one of [Lively’s] requests meets the [court’s] high standard for sealing at this stage,” the filing stated, adding that Lively’s A-list friends were “recruited as advocates on her behalf against the Wayfarer Parties in her attempt to take over the film.”

Lively claimed in her own request to conceal the names that Reynolds is an “innocent third party” in her legal battle with Baldoni.

Baldoni and his legal team requested that most of Lively’s sealing requests be denied.

Us reached out to Lively’s reps for comment.

Blake Lively Expands Her Legal Team Before Trial

Us confirmed on January 16, 2026, that Lively hired attorney Sigrid McCawley, who is a longtime advocate for Jeffrey Epstein’s victims, including Virginia Giuffre.

“It is a privilege to get to work with Blake Lively’s world-class legal team on a case that at its core is about a woman who was subjected to a hostile work environment and is being attacked for standing up to protect herself and other female coworkers,” McCawley said in a statement to Us.

McCawley will join Lively’s other attorneys Mike Gottlieb and Esra Hudson as they prepare for trial.

Blake Lively Says She Was ‘Humiliated’ by Birth Scene in ‘It Ends With Us’

Evidence unsealed in January 2026 revealed that Lively said she was “humiliated” by her birth scene in It Ends With Us.

“On the day of the Birth Scene, Baldoni and [producer] Jamey Heath insisted that I simulate giving birth naked,” she said, according to court docs obtained by Us. “Baldoni recounted that his wife tore her clothes off when giving birth to their children. I shared that that was not my experience when birthing any of my four children and requested that my character give birth wearing a hospital gown, as it was set in a hospital. Baldoni insisted that the prosthetic belly be visible and continued to press for nudity. I felt forced to compromise and ultimately agreed to simulate nudity from below the chest down, which we had not previously discussed or agreed to.”

Lively stated that filming the scene took “several hours,” during which time she was “positioned on [her] back on a hospital bed, with [her] naked legs spread apart wide in stirrups, while nonessential crew passed by.”

Related: Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni’s Conflict ‘Is Not a Celebrity Feud’: Source

Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni’s conflict is “not a celebrity feud,” a source close to the matter tells Us Weekly. “Blake Lively has alleged she was sexually harassed in the workplace and retaliated against,” the insider exclusively told Us on Monday, February 3. “This is not a celebrity feud, this is not drama, this is […]

“Other than a strategically placed hospital gown and an exposed ‘nude’ prosthetic belly, during certain shots of the scene, I only wore a small, thin and flat piece of black fabric to cover my genitalia,” she continued in her declaration.

Additionally, Lively claimed that the person playing the OB-GYN in the film was Baldoni’s “best friend,” which “amplified” her humiliation.

“[The actor who was] repeatedly positioned between my legs in close proximity to my barely covered genitalia was one of Baldoni’s friends,” she said. “I was extremely uncomfortable with the degree to which I was exposed during the Birth Scene, which felt violative and humiliating. That was amplified by having Baldoni’s best friend acting between my legs, and his other best friend and the Film’s financier visiting that day of all days.”

Unsealed evidence also revealed texts, deposition transcripts and emails from It Ends With Us author Colleen Hoover and actresses Jenny Slate and Isabela Ferrer discussing their experience working on the movie.

In response to the new court documents, Sigrid McCawley — who is a member of Lively’s legal team — told Us, “In his TED Talk to promote his brand as an advocate for women, Justin Baldoni said we must ‘listen to the women … even if what they are saying is against you.’ See how he actually reacts in the bombshell new evidence released for the first time, which includes sworn testimony and contemporaneous messages from numerous women who actually worked with him.”

McCawley continued, “As we head to trial, only Ms. Lively’s claims against the defendants remain. The Court dismissed Wayfarer’s retaliatory countersuit in its entirety last June. The newly unsealed evidence contains never-before seen testimony, messages, and evidence from numerous eyewitnesses backing the claims in Ms. Lively’s lawsuit. The evidence includes Ms. Lively’s own testimony describing the harassment she faced, as well as new evidence from numerous women describing their own disturbing experiences.”

McCawley concluded that “the newly unsealed evidence shows the concerns of Ms. Lively and others were documented in real-time as early as Spring 2023, and Wayfarer understood them as ‘sexual harassment’ concerns.”

“The evidence also documents how Wayfarer refused to investigate, but instead attempted to ‘bury’ Ms. Lively and others who spoke up through retaliation,” she said.

Blake Lively’s Private Text Messages Revealed 

Thousands of pages of documents were unsealed and made public on January 20, 2026, ahead of a court hearing.

Testimony from several members of the It Ends With Us cast — including Jenny Slate, Brandon Sklenar, Isabela Ferrer and author Colleen Hoover — were unsealed in court documents obtained by Us Weekly.

Communications, including text messages, between Blake Lively and her husband, Ryan Reyonds, with celebrities like Taylor Swift, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon were also included in the documents.

Other evidence came from Sony executives and Lively’s trainer.

Justin Baldoni Asks Judge to Dismiss Blake Lively’s Lawsuit

Days after hundreds of documents were unsealed — including numerous text messages with Blake Lively and her Hollywood peers — Justin Baldoni and his legal team appeared in court on January 22, 2026, and asked a judge to dismiss Blake Lively’s lawsuit.

According to NBC News, Baldoni’s legal team argued Lively’s sexual harassment case concerned nothing more than “trivial and petty grievances.”

Lively’s attorneys, however, rejected the argument and claimed the case revolved around “women feeling comfortable in their jobs and not being retaliated against.”

U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman will determine if the case will move forward.

Lively and Baldoni Both Attend Settlement Conference

Lively and Baldoni were both spotted at a settlement conference in New York City on February 11, 2026.

Baldoni’s lawyer Bryan Freedman, however, claimed the mediation was “unsuccessful.” He told Deadline that “there’s always a chance” of reaching a settlement and he’s “looking forward” to going to trial in May 2026.

By Jennifer Asencio
| Published 1 minute ago

Joe Rogan recently interviewed Oscar-winning screenwriter Roger Avary on his podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience. During their three-hour discussion, Avary mentioned that he’s been watching the show The Pendragon Cycle: Rise of the Merlin on Daily Wire+. He had high praise for the show, comparing it to the classic King Arthur movie, Excalibur.

“Mainstay producers are no longer reliable,” he complained, adding that they’re spending billions of dollars to make “Lord of the Rings things,” while Pendragon was made for very little and has flown under the radar of pop culture. He admitted that he went into the show thinking he wasn’t going to like it, but was pleasantly surprised: “This is, to me, as good as classic television.”

So why aren’t more people watching the show?

I reviewed The Pendragon Cycle for GIANT FREAKIN ROBOT. To say that I am “not its target audience” is a mixed statement. I love Arthurian legend, but the show and the novels it was based on embrace Christian themes that I was sure would feel too proselytizing. I agreed to review it out of curiosity, but I wasn’t expecting to enjoy it as much as I did. Rise of the Merlin should work for a wide audience, but for some reason, it isn’t getting the attention it deserves.

Major Critics Refuse To Review The Pendragon Cycle

Major critics are not reviewing The Pendragon Cycle. The only reviews being given are from content creators and pre-existing fans of its host service, The Daily Wire. Despite advertising on social media, YouTube, and releasing trailers, very little attention has been given to Rise of the Merlin. Even Melania got the courtesy of bad reviews from the press.

However, The Daily Wire has been controversial since its inception. The website and its streaming service are viewed as a far-right news channel, and many of its key figures have incited the anger of its political rivals.

Jordan Peterson, Ben Shapiro, and Matt Walsh are all associated with the channel, as well as other strictly conservative commentators who are very public-facing and often outspoken. Since much of the entertainment industry is progressive, they don’t agree with the politics espoused by The Daily Wire’s news arm.

The Pendragon Cycle Is Locked Behind A Paywall

Most people who subscribe to The Daily Wire are conservatives who are looking for conservative news and viewpoints. The Pendragon Cycle is limited to these viewers because The Daily Wire focuses mainly on non-fiction content. Most of its programming is news, commentary, and history. The majority of its fictional programming is kids’ television.

The streamer’s entertainment division is also less than a decade old and hasn’t produced much original content. The movies they have produced have been well-received by audiences but panned by critics: Run, Hide, Fight, which I have seen, scored 93% with audiences on Rotten Tomatoes but only 30% with reviewers. Audiences seem to enjoy the content on Daily Wire+, when they can access it.

There is not enough content on Daily Wire+ to be competitive with other small streamers like Shudder. This means that the quality entertainment The Daily Wire has been producing has not only been ignored by biased critics but also siloed away behind a paywall that has a niche audience. Their content is better than niche, and The Pendragon Cycle in particular is an incredible cinematic achievement that showcases what The Daily Wire is capable of.

How To Get Rise Of Merlin The Attention It Deserves

Given the difficulty Daily Wire+ is having getting people to sign up, they should consider licensing properties like The Pendragon Cycle for distribution beyond their service. Not only do these movies deserve to be seen, but they also have a much wider potential audience beyond the “far right.”

If Rise of Merlin had the chance to compete for viewership based on its merit rather than on whether or not someone is conservative enough to sign up for Daily Wire+, it would almost certainly succeed. In a world filled with slop created by the unreliable mainstream, The Pendragon Cycle: Rise of the Merlin is the ideal alternative. Slop eaters will always slurp up their Rings of Power episodes, but the rest of the world would happily flock to the show.

People often complain that conservatives don’t create good art, but it’s easy to pretend that when their art isn’t even acknowledged. If you’re looking for good programming, heed Avary’s advice and get over the fact that The Pendragon Cycle was produced by The Daily Wire.

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By Robert Scucci
| Published 9 seconds ago

Back in the 90s, filmmakers could make one-off superhero movies that were not based on already existing intellectual properties. Now that we are well past the superhero boom that the MCU kicked off in 2008, and with the best days of that franchise arguably behind us, I find myself looking back at the strange oddities that existed before tights and flights dominated the cinemascape. That curiosity has led me to hidden gems like 2009’s Defendor and, more recently, 1994’s Blankman, written by and starring Damon Wayans.

While Blankman is profoundly stupid, comparatively low budget when stacked against modern superhero counterparts, and wildly inconsistent with its humor and sentimentality, at least it is original. It is not a great film by any measurable metric, but it is still fun, clever, and oddly heartfelt at times. It serves as a reminder that not every superhero movie needs to be engineered by committee, even if the result ends up failing loudly on its own terms.

“But What If He Shot You In The Face?”

Blankman tells the story of two brothers, Darryl (Damon Wayans) and Kevin Walker (David Alan Grier). Darryl, the younger of the two, is a technological genius turned inventor who makes a living working as a repairman. He is also stuck in a state of arrested development, often viewing the world through a childlike lens. Kevin is more cynical and far more concerned with regular adult responsibilities, like working as a cameraman for the local news and pursuing a romantic relationship with his close friend and colleague, news anchor Kimberly Jonz (Robin Givens).

When their grandmother is killed by mobster Michael “The Suit” Minelli (Jon Polito) while attending a town hall meeting held by local politician Marvin Harris (Christopher Lawford), it becomes a massive wake-up call for Darryl. Until that moment, he had been blissfully unaware of the corruption and urban decay surrounding him. Determined to clean up the streets, Darryl, with the help of his homemade robot J-5, develops bulletproof clothing and adopts the identity of Blankman.

Running around Chicago in red long johns and a tool belt, Blankman gets shot at a lot, but the bullets conveniently strike him everywhere except the face, which would presumably be his only real weakness. With no superpowers, terrible hand-eye coordination, and a complete inability to read social cues, Darryl still manages to gain Kimberly’s affection after arranging a news interview with her. This understandably infuriates Kevin and pushes him to step in, reluctantly embracing his brother’s bizarre brand of vigilante justice.

After a series of increasingly unfortunate incidents forces Blankman underground, Darryl’s confidence takes a hit, though his spirit never fully breaks. He eventually realizes that the crime wave engulfing Chicago is not something he can handle alone, leading him to recruit Kevin by dressing him in an equally ridiculous costume and naming him Other Guy.

Profoundly Idiotic In Every Conceivable Way

If you are not a fan of Damon Wayans’ over-the-top physical comedy, Blankman may be a tough sell, even with its off-kilter charm. I am conflicted in my assessment because Wayans clearly tried to do something different and failed spectacularly in the process. Drawing inspiration from the 1960s iteration of Batman that he grew up watching, the film channels that campy spirit while layering it with the raunchy, manic energy Wayans is best known for.

The result is a collection of some of the silliest fight sequences you will ever see, paired with genuinely inventive gadgets cobbled together from household appliances. If Adam West’s Batman can keep Shark Repellent in his utility belt, there is no reason Blankman cannot use a grappling hook powered by a hand mixer. It is all incredibly stupid, but within this specific context, it works, even when the film itself struggles to hold together.

If you are exhausted by the current slate of superhero movies and want something far less self-serious, Blankman is at least worth a look. A commercial flop that earned just under $8 million against a reported $30 million production budget, Blankman was savaged by critics and currently sits at a brutal 12 percent critical score on Rotten Tomatoes. While an undeniable misfire on Wayans’ part, audiences eventually warmed to it through home video, cementing its reputation as a cult classic with real charm, provided you approach it like a B movie that just happens to have proper studio backing.

Blankman is currently streaming for free on Tubi.

By Robert Scucci
| Published 18 seconds ago

What do you get when Lucifer’s children, Lilith and Aamon, show up in late 19th-century America to destroy the American Dream as folks have come to know it? You get Blood Rush, the new horror comedy starring Billy Zane, Danielle Bisutti, and Henry Ian Cusick, which recently wrapped production. While no release date has been announced, Deadline has provided a high-level rundown on the film, and it sounds like a bloody good time for vampire aficionados.

Synopsis And Top Billing

Blood Rush is set in 1881 America and, as its title suggests, focuses on the Western Frontier Gold Rush in gruesome fashion. Billy Zane, best known for Titanic and The Phantom, takes on the role of Aamon alongside Danielle Bisutti’s (best known for her contributions to the God of War video game series) Lilith, with Henry Ian Cusick (best known for Lost) stepping in as Van Helsing.

In the film, Aamon and Lilith attempt to suck the American Dream right out of their subjects’ necks, hoping the indomitable spirit present in their blood will sustain them. Matters get complicated when Van Helsing makes his presence known, suggesting the vampires may have bitten off more than they can chew. What follows promises to be the ultimate, bloody, Dracula-driven showdown the likes of which we’ve never seen before.

It all sounds like a gloriously unhinged bloodbath, and if Billy Zane channels even a fraction of the energy he brought to the 1995’s cult classic Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight, we could be in for a horror comedy you can really sink your teeth into.

Another Familiar Name Attached To The Film

While Blood Rush already has a killer synopsis and star power, there’s more to it than meets the eye. Our very own Jonathan Klotz helped work on an early draft of the script. If you’re familiar with his writing on GIANT FREAKIN ROBOT, then you know his deadpan sense of humor should factor nicely into the equation. Especially if you’re a fan of unhinged horror comedies starring Billy Zane, who also happens to have one of the most entertaining Instagram accounts in the business.

Blood Rush was conceived and directed by Danielle Bisutti, with production handled through her Perfect Timing Productions banner in collaboration with co-director Stefan Colson’s BoatShoes Entertainment.

More updates about Blood Rush will roll out in the coming weeks and months, so check back for further developments.

Nancy Guthrie‘s neighbor is speaking out after the FBI released surveillance footage of a possible subject amid the search for Savannah Guthrie‘s mother.

“It was startling and a bit terrifying,” Laura Gargano, who has lived around the corner from Nancy, 84, for over a decade, told CNN on Wednesday, February 11. “But I immediately went to assess the physique of this person. I [looked at] the shape of the head, the size of the legs and the approximate weight to see if he looked familiar.”

Gargano quickly rallied other people in the area to see if they could recognize the person after the footage was released. “I assumed it was a male and I immediately started to run through the people I have worked with here,” she said. “A lot of times people share service people in the area.”

She continued: “I just immediately looked to see if the shape looked familiar to me. I did that more than being fearful — but also hopeful because now we have an image to go by. Momentarily I pulled out some hope.”

Related: Everything to Know About the Ongoing Search for Nancy Guthrie

Questions still remain after Today show host Savannah Guthrie‘s mother, Nancy Guthrie, was reported missing. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department confirmed the news on February 1, sharing a missing person report via X. Nancy was described as a “vulnerable adult” who was last seen “at her residence” within Arizona’s Catalina Foothills area on the evening […]

Elsewhere in the interview, Gargano revealed she suggested Nancy’s roof and septic tank as possible places where evidence could have been left behind, which prompted the FBI to conduct a search.

Nancy has been missing from the Arizona area since February 1. Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos exclusively told Us Weekly earlier this month that evidence at Nancy’s home appeared suspicious.

“Something unusual at that house occurred that made us go, ‘Wow, something’s wrong here. Something doesn’t fit,’” he explained. “We’re gonna pull all the stops and go at all angles. We really do hope it’s a search-and-rescue mission and we find her and she’s safe and sound. But it would be unjust if we didn’t look at what’s in front of us and go, ‘We need to act.’”

Savannah, 54, and her siblings have since taken to social media several times to appeal to the person who potentially took Nancy from her home.

“We received your message and we understand,” Savannah said in a February 7 video following reports of ransom notes being sent to local news stations. “We beg you now to return our mother to us so that we can celebrate with her. This is the only way we will have peace. This is very valuable to us and we will pay.”

A deadline was reportedly set for 5 p.m. MST on Monday, February 9. Hours before, Savannah shared her belief that Nancy was “still out there,” adding in another Instagram video, “We are in an hour of desperation.”

Days later, TMZ claimed a new note was received demanding 1 Bitcoin for information on Nancy’s possible captor.

FBI director Kash Patel, meanwhile, is hopeful that releasing photos and video of the masked individual outside of Nancy’s home will help the investigation.

“[We went] into their systems and actually excavated material that people would think would normally be deleted and no one would look for,” he shared with Fox News on Tuesday, February 10. “And basically — without getting into too many of the details — that’s how the FBI worked with our private sector partners to pull out the material that people thought didn’t even exist because of the specific type of subscription service on the ring doorbell. But thanks to this brilliant partnership, we were able to get it out, sharpen it with our technical capabilities at the FBI and put it out for the world.”

A man named Carlos Palazuelos was detained during a traffic stop after the images were released and questioned by police. He has since denied having any involvement in Nancy’s disappearance.

RFK Jr.
I Used to Snort Cocaine Off Toilet Seats!!!

Published
February 12, 2026
10:44 AM PST