“It Ends With Us” Director Sues For $400M
Justin Baldoni is suing Blake Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds, alleging that the Hollywood couple sought to ‘destroy’ him and his career according to CNN. The lawsuit marks the latest escalation in an ongoing legal battle stemming from the film “It Ends With Us” that Baldoni directed and co-starred in with Lively. The lawsuit […] The post “It Ends With Us” Director Sues For $400M appeared first on Dark Horizons.
Justin Baldoni is suing Blake Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds, alleging that the Hollywood couple sought to ‘destroy’ him and his career according to CNN. The lawsuit marks the latest escalation in an ongoing legal battle stemming from the film “It Ends With Us” that Baldoni directed and co-starred in with Lively.
The lawsuit states: “This is not a case about celebrities sniping at each other in the press. This is a case about two of the most powerful stars in the world deploying their enormous power to steal an entire film right out of the hands of its director and production studio.”
The 179-page complaint adds that Lively: “set out to destroy Plaintiffs’ livelihoods and businesses if they did not bend to her incessant demands, and when they refused to give way, she did exactly that, accusing them of foul and reprehensible sexual misconduct.”
Baldoni is seeking $400 million and demanding a jury trial. The lawsuit was filed in the Southern District of New York on behalf of Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios, producing partner Jamey Heath, crisis manager Melissa Nathan, publicist Jennifer Abel and the It Ends With Us LLC.
The defendants are reportedly accused of civil extortion, defamation and invasion of privacy. The legal saga began in December when Lively first filed a civil rights complaint, claiming that she was sexually harassed by Baldoni during production of the film and then was retaliated against for speaking up about her alleged mistreatment.
Baldoni immediately denied Lively’s claims and sued The New York Times for $250 million over the story. Lively escalated her civil rights complaint, officially filing a lawsuit against Baldoni a few weeks ago.
She alleged that after being sexually harassed with inappropriate comments and behavior on set, Baldoni’s team then orchestrated a smear campaign against her to ruin her reputation in the public sphere. Baldoni’s suit offers a different take, accusing Lively of being the one behind a smear campaign against Baldoni and Wayfarer.
Any talk of a sequel to “It Ends With Us” seems to be out the window at this point.
The post “It Ends With Us” Director Sues For $400M appeared first on Dark Horizons.
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