Actor and director Justin Baldoni has released a statement revealing that Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds allegedly drafted a statement for him to take “accountability” for the negative press surrounding It Ends with Us. According to Baldoni’s legal team, the couple urged him to publicly acknowledge the film’s “troubled production” in order to shield Lively from further criticism. However, Baldoni chose to reject their request, escalating an already tense legal battle.
In an amended complaint shared on his newly launched website, Baldoni outlined his claims, presenting text messages and email exchanges from the start of the film’s production. The statement, dated August 2024, was reportedly drafted by Lively and Reynolds, frustrated with how Lively was being portrayed in the film’s promotion.
The statement that Baldoni rejected
The drafted statement, which Baldoni claims he was pressured to release, reads:
“It Ends with Us was a troubled production which we take full accountability for. We are very sorry to everyone we caused upset to privately and publicly.”
The statement goes on to defend Lively and the cast:
“Blake Lively, Colleen Hoover, the entire cast and crew led with professionalism every step of the way. Any negativity aimed at them is ours to own.”
It continues, acknowledging the decision to promote the film separately:
“We mutually agreed that the cast would be promoting the film separately and understood why.”
“…We hold ourselves accountable, it’s not anyone’s job but ours, and that’s part of being ‘man enough.’ We will practice what we preach. We are learning and growing from the experience and we thank everyone for their patience as we find a better way to proceed…”
Baldoni’s rejection and legal backlash
Baldoni and his legal team rejected the statement, arguing that it implied guilt without addressing the specific concerns at hand. They further allege that Lively and Reynolds threatened consequences if he refused to comply, claiming “the gloves will come off.”
This revelation comes amid Lively’s December 2024 lawsuit against Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios, accusing him of sexual harassment and orchestrating a smear campaign. Baldoni has denied these allegations and countersued Lively, Reynolds, and their publicist, Leslie Sloane, for defamation and extortion.
As the legal battle between the two parties intensifies, fans and industry observers will be watching closely to see how this drama unfolds.