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<title>Justin Baldoni Claims Blake Lively Held Taylor Swift Song "Hostage"</title><img class="contentimg" referrerpolicy="no-referrer" src="https://akns-images.eonline.com/eol_images/Entire_Site/202513/rs_1200x1200-250203163924-blake-lively-taylor-swift-justin-baldoni.jpg"/><p><b>Justin Baldoni</b> is bringing <b>Taylor Swift </b>back into the narrative amid his legal battle with <b>Blake Lively</b>.</p>
<p>In court documents filed on Jan. 31 and published online by Baldoni, the <em>It Ends With Us</em> director accused Lively of leveraging her close friendship with the singer throughout the making of their film—including making a "veiled threat" through a studio executive "implying she might 'change her mind' about reaching out to Taylor Swift to secure the use of 'My Tears Ricochet' for the trailer if her demands are not met."</p>
<p>Some of Lively's alleged demands, according to the court filings, included having Baldoni's "film by" credit removed from posters, as well as Lively getting more time in the editing room with her personal editor to oversee the final cut of the <b>Colleen Hoover</b> adaptation.</p>
<p>"This maneuver felt less like a professional request and more like extortion," Baldoni's filing read, "holding the film's marketing efforts hostage to gain creative control."</p><p>This was not the first time Baldoni mentioned Swift in his lawsuit against Lively. In his initial complaint filed on Jan. 16, the <em>Jane the Virgin</em> alum said he felt pressured into allowing Lively rewrite <em>It Ends With Us</em>' iconic rooftop scene after her husband <b>Ryan Reynolds</b> and their "megacelebrity friend" joined in on a production meeting.</p>
<p>"Also was working on rooftop scene today, I really love what you did," Baldoni wrote in an alleged text to Lively, which was included in his lawsuit. "And I would have felt that way without Ryan and Taylor."</p><img class="contentimg" referrerpolicy="no-referrer" src="https://akns-images.eonline.com/eol_images/Entire_Site/202513/rs_1024x759-250203163924-blake-lively-taylor-swift-justin-baldoni-1.jpg"/><p>Ultimately, Lively's version of <em>It Ends With Us</em> was released in theaters, according to Baldoni. He alleged that he was largely cut out of the film's marketing due to Lively's "strongarm tactics," including being kept in a theater basement away from the rest of the cast during the movie's red carpet premiere.</p>
<p>Baldoni is countersuing Lively and Reynolds in response to sexual harassment allegations made by the <em>Gossip Girl</em> actress. In a lawsuit filed in late December, Lively accused Baldoni of creating a hostile work environment and launching a smear campaign against her when she spoke out.</p>
<p>In his countersuit, Baldoni denied the sexual harassment allegations and accused Lively and her husband of using their star power to collude with the press and defame him.</p><img class="contentimg" referrerpolicy="no-referrer" src="https://akns-images.eonline.com/eol_images/Entire_Site/2025021/rs_1024x759-250121153342-blake-lively-justin-baldoni-3.jpg"/><p>A trial has been set for March 2026, with both sides most recently agreeing to move forward with the discovery process in the legal proceedings, per NBC News.</p>
<p>"This case deals with serious allegations of sexual harassment and retaliation," Lively's attorneys said in a Feb. 3 statement to TopMob News. "We will hold the defendants accountable, and we are confident that once all the evidence is submitted in this matter, Ms. Lively will prevail."</p>
<p>For a complete timeline into the legal saga, keep reading.</p><img class="contentimg" referrerpolicy="no-referrer" src="https://akns-images.eonline.com/eol_images/Entire_Site/202503/rs_1024x759-250103135714-Blake_Justin_full.jpg"/><p>Four months after the film adaptation of <b>Colleen Hoover</b>'s book <em>It Ends With Us</em> debuted in theaters, <b>Blake Lively</b> filed a California Civil Rights Department (CRD) complaint against her costar <b>Justin</b> <b>Baldoni</b> and his associates on Dec. 20, according to <em>The New York Times</em>.<br/><br/>In the complaint obtained by TopMob News, Baldoni, his production company Wayfarer Studios (Wayfarer), its CEO <b>Jamey</b> <b>Heath</b>, its cofounder <b>Steve Sarowitz</b>, Baldoni's publicist <b>Jennifer Abel</b>, her company RWA Communications, crisis communications specialist <b>Melissa</b> <b>Nathan</b>, her company The Agency Group PR LLC (TAG), contractor <b>Jed Wallace</b> and his company Street Relations Inc. were listed as defendants.<br/><br/>Lively alleged in her complaint that Baldoni and his Wayfarer associates "embarked on a sophisticated press and digital plan in retaliation" for her voicing her concerns about purported misconduct on set—with her saying she and other cast and crew members "experienced invasive, unwelcome, unprofessional and sexually inappropriate behavior" by Baldoni and Heath.<br/><br/>The actress added the alleged campaign against her caused "substantial harm" to her personally and professionally. <br/><br/>The accusations listed in the complaint include sexual harassment; retaliation; failure to investigate, prevent and/or remedy harassment; aiding and abetting harassment and retaliation; breach of contract; intentional infliction of emotional distress; negligence; false light invasion of privacy and interference with prospective economic advantage.</p><img class="contentimg" referrerpolicy="no-referrer" src="https://akns-images.eonline.com/eol_images/Entire_Site/202509/rs_1024x635-250109053721-GettyImages-946954046.jpg"/><p>The next day, <em>The New York Times</em> published a report about a retaliatory smear campaign Baldoni and his associates allegedly waged against Lively—citing her CRD complaint. In its article, the outlet quoted messages sent from Baldoni and his team—including publicist Abel and crisis communications specialist Nathan—that were part of her complaint. Readers could also scroll through the court documents on <em>The New York Times</em>' website.<br/><br/> “I hope that my legal action helps pull back the curtain on these sinister retaliatory tactics to harm people who speak up about misconduct," Lively told the outlet, "and helps protect others who may be targeted.”</p><img class="contentimg" referrerpolicy="no-referrer" src="https://akns-images.eonline.com/eol_images/Entire_Site/202503/rs_1024x759-250103062111-justinblakefull.png"/><p>After news of Lively’s complaint broke, <b>Bryan Freedman</b>—the attorney for Baldoni, Wayfarer and its representatives—slammed Lively’s allegations.<br/><br/>“It is shameful that Ms. Lively and her representatives would make such serious and categorically false accusations against Mr. Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios and its representatives, as yet another desperate attempt to ‘fix’ her negative reputation which was garnered from her own remarks and actions during the campaign for the film; interviews and press activities that were observed publicly, in real time and unedited, which allowed for the internet to generate their own views and opinions,” he said in a statement on <em>The New York Times</em> website. “These claims are completely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious with an intent to publicly hurt and rehash a narrative in the media.”<br/><br/>Freedman also defended Wayfarer’s decision to hire a crisis manager, saying this was done before the marketing campaign of the movie.<br/><br/>"The representatives of Wayfarer Studios still did nothing proactive nor retaliated, and only responded to incoming media inquiries to ensure balanced and factual reporting and monitored social activity,” he later added. “What is pointedly missing from the cherry-picked correspondence is the evidence that there were no proactive measures taken with media or otherwise; just internal scenario planning and private correspondence to strategize which is standard operating procedure with public relations professionals.”</p><img class="contentimg" referrerpolicy="no-referrer" src="https://akns-images.eonline.com/eol_images/Entire_Site/202501/rs_1024x683-250101072551-GettyImages-2165985617.jpg"/><p>Talent agency William Morris Endeavor (WME) dropped Baldoni after <em>The New York Times</em>’ article was published on Dec. 21, <b>Ari Emanuel</b>, CEO of the agency’s parent company Endeavor, confirmed to the outlet.<br/><br/>However, WME denied that Lively's husband <b>Ryan Reynolds</b> was to blame for the agency's parting of ways with Baldoni, which the <em>It Ends With Us</em> director later allege in his lawsuit filed against <em>The New York Times</em> (more on that below).  <br/><br/>"In Baldoni’s filing there is a claim that Reynolds pressured Baldoni’s agent at the <em>Deadpool &amp; Wolverine</em> premiere. This is not true,” WME—which also represents Reynolds and Lively—said in a statement to <em>The Hollywood Reporter</em> Jan. 1. "Baldoni’s former representative was not at the <em>Deadpool &amp; Wolverine</em> premiere nor was there any pressure from Reynolds or Lively at any time to drop Baldoni as a client."</p><img class="contentimg" referrerpolicy="no-referrer" src="https://akns-images.eonline.com/eol_images/Entire_Site/20241124/rs_634x1024-241224042834-blake-lively-jenny-slate-2.jpg"/><p>In the days following Lively's CRD filing and <em>The New York Times</em> article, several famous figures shared their reactions to her allegations against Baldoni—including <em>It Ends With Us</em> author Hoover.<br/><br/>"@blakelively, you have been nothing but honest, kind, supportive and patient since the day we met," she wrote on Instagram Stories Dec. 21, linking out to <em>The New York Times</em>. "Thank you for being exactly the human that you are. Never change. Never wilt."<br/><br/><b>Jenny Slate</b>, who played the sister of Baldoni's character Ryle, also noted she stood with Lively.<br/><br/>“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 in a Dec. 23 statement to <em>Today</em>. “Blake is a leader, loyal friend and a trusted source of emotional support for me and so many who know and love her.”<br/><br/>“What has been revealed about the attack on Blake is terribly dark, disturbing, and wholly threatening," she added. "I commend my friend, I admire her bravery, and I stand by her side.”<br/><br/>In addition, <b>Brandon Sklenar</b>—a love interest for Lively's character Lily Bloom—shared a screenshot of the complaint published to <em>The New York Times</em>' website and linked out to the outlet writing, "For the love of God read this."<br/><br/>Plus, Lively's<em> Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants </em>costars<em> </em><b>America Ferrera</b>, <b>Alexis Bledel</b> and <b>Amber Tamblyn</b> wrote they "stand with her in solidarity."</p><img class="contentimg" referrerpolicy="no-referrer" src="https://akns-images.eonline.com/eol_images/Entire_Site/202509/rs_1024x683-250109071227-GettyImages-2172715801.jpg"/><p><b>Liz Plank</b> also announced her departure from <em>The Man Enough Podcast</em>, which she cohosted with Baldoni and Heath, on Dec. 23.<br/><br/>"I'm writing to you today to let you know that I have had my representatives inform Wayfarer that I will no longer be co-hosting <em>The Man Enough </em>podcast," she wrote on Instagram at the time. "Thank you for trusting me with your hearts and stories, for holding space for mine, and for making this show what it was. I will miss you, the listeners, so much. I love what this community created together with every fiber of my being, and that's because of you."<br/><br/>While Plank did not give a reason for her exit from the podcast, it came days after Lively's complaint against Baldoni and his Wayfarer associates.<br/><br/>"As this chapter closed for me, I remain committed to the values we've built together," the author continued in her message to her followers. "Thank you for being here, for trusting me, and for being by my side for the last four years. We all deserve better, and I know that together, we can create it."<br/><br/>She added, "I will have more to share soon as I continue to process everything that has happened. In the meantime, I will continue to support everyone who calls out injustice and holds the people standing in their way accountable."<br/><br/></p><img class="contentimg" referrerpolicy="no-referrer" src="https://akns-images.eonline.com/eol_images/Entire_Site/20241121/rs_634x1024-241221161753-634-justin-baldoni-2018-cjh-122124.jpg"/><p>Baldoni's former publicist <b>Stephanie Jones</b> and her agency Jonesworks LLC filed a lawsuit against him, his company Wayfarer, his current publicist Abel and crisis communications specialist Nathan in New York Dec. 24.<br/><br/>"Defendants Abel and Nathan secretly conspired for months to publicly and privately attack Jones and Jonesworks, to breach multiple contracts and induce contractual breaches, and to steal clients and business prospects," the lawsuit obtained by NBC New reads. "Behind Jones’s back, they secretly coordinated with Baldoni and Wayfarer to implement an aggressive media smear campaign against Baldoni’s film co-star, and then used the crisis as an opportunity to drive a wedge between Jones and Baldoni, and to publicly pin blame for this smear campaign on Jones—when Jones had no knowledge or involvement in it."<br/><br/>Per Abel's LinkedIn profile, she worked at Jonesworks until last summer. The lawsuit alleges Abel and Nathan "continue to point the finger falsely at Jones now that their own misconduct is coming to light," and "defame and attack" her in the industry.<br/><br/>As for Baldoni and Wayfarer, who are no longer Jonesworks clients, the suit alleges they "repudiated their contractual obligations with Jonesworks and rebuffed Jones’s efforts to settle this dispute privately in arbitration."<br/><br/>TopMob News reached out to the defendants for comment.</p><img class="contentimg" referrerpolicy="no-referrer" src="https://akns-images.eonline.com/eol_images/Entire_Site/2025010/rs_683x1024-250110154415-GettyImages-1493330217.jpg"/><p>Lively's attorneys told <em>Variety</em> in a Dec. 23 piece that they obtained the texts featured in <em>The New York Times </em>article via a subpoena to Jonesworks. Freedman—who represents Nathan and Abel in addition to Baldoni and his Wayfarer associates—added to the outlet none of his clients were subpoenaed over this topic and that he intends to sue Jones for releasing messages from Abel’s phone to Lively’s attorneys.</p><img class="contentimg" referrerpolicy="no-referrer" src="https://akns-images.eonline.com/eol_images/Entire_Site/202503/rs_1024x1024-250103122817-GettyImages-2188318497.jpg"/><p>Baldoni, Wayfarer, Heath, Sarowitz, Nathan, TAG, Abel, RWA Communications, Wallace and Street Relations filed a lawsuit against <em>The New York Times</em> Dec. 31. <br/><br/>In the lawsuit obtained by TopMob News, <em>The New York Times</em> is accused of libel, false light invasion of privacy, promissory fraud and breach of implied-in-fact contract for its article about a retaliatory smear campaign the plaintiffs allegedly conducted against Lively after she voiced concerns about purported misconduct on set. <br/><br/>Saying the report was "false" and based on Lively’s CRD complaint, the plaintiffs denied the accusations and alleged messages cited in the article and complaint were taken out of context. <br/><br/>“Despite its claim to have 'reviewed these along with other documents[,]' the <em>Times</em> relied almost entirely on Lively’s unverified and self-serving narrative," the lawsuit says, "lifting it nearly verbatim while disregarding an abundance of evidence that contradicted her claims and exposed her true motives."<br/><br/>They also allege "it was Lively, not Plaintiffs, who engaged in a calculated smear campaign." She has denied this.<br/><br/><em>The New York Times</em> said it plans to "vigorously defend against the lawsuit."<br/><br/>“The role of an independent news organization is to follow the facts where they lead,” it stated to TopMob. “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."</p><img class="contentimg" referrerpolicy="no-referrer" src="https://akns-images.eonline.com/eol_images/Entire_Site/20241121/rs_634x1024-241221105856-634-blake-lively-it-starts-with-us-uk-gala-cjh-080824.jpg"/><p>That same day, Lively filed a lawsuit against Baldoni, Wayfarer, Heath, Sarowitz, production entity It Ends With Us Movie LLC, Nathan, Nathan's company TAG and Abel in New York.<br/><br/>According to the court documents obtained by TopMob News, she is suing the defendants for sexual harassment; retaliation; failure to investigate, prevent and/or remedy harassment; aiding and abetting harassment and retaliation; breach of contract, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence infliction of emotional distress and false light invasion of privacy.<br/><br/>The allegations in the lawsuit were first detailed in the CRD complaint Lively filed earlier that month.<br/><br/>In response to the lawsuit Baldoni and his associates filed against <em>The New York Times</em>—which does not list Lively as a defendant—her attorneys noted in a statement to TopMob that "nothing in this lawsuit changes anything about the claims" in her CRD and federal complaints.<br/><br/>"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,'" they continued. "As demonstrated by the federal complaint filed by Ms. Lively earlier today, that frame of reference for the Wayfarer lawsuit is false."</p><img class="contentimg" referrerpolicy="no-referrer" src="https://akns-images.eonline.com/eol_images/Entire_Site/2025010/rs_823x1024-250110153238-GettyImages-1928881520.jpg"/><p>In Baldoni and his associates' lawsuit against <em>The New York Times</em>, the plaintiffs expressed that they “are not done.”<br/><br/>"There are other bad actors involved," the court documents state, "and make no mistake—this will not be the last lawsuit."<br/><br/>In a Jan. 2 interview with NBC News, Baldoni and Wayfarer's attorney Freedman said they "absolutely" plan to sue Lively.</p><img class="contentimg" referrerpolicy="no-referrer" src="https://akns-images.eonline.com/eol_images/Entire_Site/2025014/rs_1024x759-250114183500-baldonii.jpg"/><p>The headlines about Baldoni and Lively haven't stopped there. <br/><br/>For instance, social media users have speculated that her husband Reynolds trolled Baldoni in his movie <em>Deadpool &amp; Wolverine</em> through the character Nicepool.<br/><br/>Reynolds has not publicly commented on the rumors; however, Baldoni's lawyer Freedman shared his reaction.<br/><br/>"What I make of that is that if your wife is sexually harassed, you don't make fun of Justin Baldoni," Freedman said during an interview on <em>The Megyn Kelly Show</em> posted to YouTube Jan 7. "You don't make fun of the situation. You take it very seriously. You file HR complaints. You raise the issue and you follow a legal process. What you don't do is mock the person and turn it into a joke."</p><img class="contentimg" referrerpolicy="no-referrer" src="https://akns-images.eonline.com/eol_images/Entire_Site/202509/rs_683x1024-250109141908-GettyImages-2165829108.jpg"/><p>Meanwhile, Lively's attorneys say there have been more "attacks" against her since her lawsuit.<br/><br/>"Ms. Lively’s federal litigation before the Southern District of New York involves serious claims of sexual harassment and retaliation, backed by concrete facts," her lawyers said in a Jan. 7 statement to TopMob News. "This is not a 'feud' arising from 'creative differences' or a 'he said/she said' situation. As alleged in Ms. Lively’s complaint, and as we will prove in litigation, Wayfarer 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."<br/><br/>"While we go through the legal process, we urge everyone to remember that sexual harassment and retaliation are illegal in every workplace and in every industry," they added. "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."<br/><br/>Lively's lawyers said "these concepts normalize and trivialize allegations of serious misconduct." They also noted "media statements are not a defense" to her claims and that they'll prosecute her claims in court.</p><img class="contentimg" referrerpolicy="no-referrer" src="https://akns-images.eonline.com/eol_images/Entire_Site/202509/rs_1024x684-250109142923-GettyImages-2165117678.jpg"/>
 <img class="contentimg" referrerpolicy="no-referrer" src="https://akns-images.eonline.com/eol_images/Entire_Site/20241121/rs_1024x759-241221123955-1024-blake-lively-justin-baldoni-cjh-122124.jpg"/><p>Baldoni, Heath, Wayfarer, publicist Abel, crisis communication specialist Nathan and production entity It Ends With Us Movie LLC filed a lawsuit against Lively, Reynolds, her publicist <b>Leslie Sloane</b> and Sloane's firm Vision PR in New York Jan. 16.<br/><br/>According to the suit obtained by TopMob News, the plaintiffs accused all the defendants of civil extortion, defamation and false light invasion of privacy. As for Lively and Reynolds specifically, she is accused of breach of implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, and they're both accused of intentional interference with contractual relations and economic advantage as well as negligent interference with prospective economic advantage.<br/><br/>In the suit, the plaintiffs denied Lively's allegations of sexual harassment and a retaliatory smear campaign against her. They also accused her of seizing control of <em>It Ends With Us</em> and working with Reynolds, Sloane, Jones and others to "tar and feather Plaintiffs in the press" after she received backlash for her marketing of the film. (Lively said in her filings she promoted the movie in accordance with Sony's marketing plan.)</p>
<p>Plaintiffs allege in the lawsuit the defendants worked with <em>The</em> <em>New York Times</em> "to put out a blockbuster news report as devastating as it was false.” The outlet stands by its report.<br/><br/>In part of a statement to TopMob, Freedman said, "Blake Lively was either severely misled by her team or intentionally and knowingly misrepresented the truth." <br/><br/></p><img class="contentimg" referrerpolicy="no-referrer" src="https://akns-images.eonline.com/eol_images/Entire_Site/2025014/rs_1024x716-250114183711-GettyImages-1925904554.jpg"/><p>Lively's legal team called his lawsuit "another chapter in the abuser playbook," saying in a statement to TopMob News, "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. "</p>
<p>She further accused him of retaliating once she made allegations against him, saying Baldoni is trying to shift the narrative that Lively "seized creative control and alienated the cast from Mr. Baldoni."</p>
<p>"The evidence will show," it continued, "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."</p>
<p>Her team went on to slam Baldoni's reaction to her allegations of harassment.</p>
<p>"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," her lawyers added. "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.”</p><img class="contentimg" referrerpolicy="no-referrer" src="https://akns-images.eonline.com/eol_images/Entire_Site/2025021/rs_1024x818-250121165131-GettyImages-1928450962.jpg"/><p>Baldoni's legal counsel released behind-the-scenes footage from the filming of <em>It Ends With Us</em>, saying that the actor's actions in the video "clearly refute Ms. Lively’s characterization" of him.</p>
<p>"The scene in question was designed to show the two characters falling in love and longing to be close to one another," Baldoni's attorneys said in a statement. "Both actors are clearly behaving well within the scope of the scene and with mutual respect and professionalism."</p>
<p>However, Lively's legal team believes the video "corroborates, to the letter, what Ms. Lively described" in her lawsuit and that "every moment of this was improvised by Mr. Baldoni with no discussion or consent in advance."</p>
<p>"The video shows Ms. Lively leaning away and repeatedly asking for the characters to just talk," they told TopMob News in a statement. "Any woman who has been inappropriately touched in the workplace will recognize Ms. Lively’s discomfort."</p>
 <img class="contentimg" referrerpolicy="no-referrer" src="https://akns-images.eonline.com/eol_images/Entire_Site/202502/rs_1024x759-250102070541-JBRGallery.jpg"/><p>The couple issued a letter to the judge overseeing their case, requesting that Freedman—the head of Baldoni's counsel—be placed under a gag order amid their legal proceedings to "avoid improper conduct."</p><img class="contentimg" referrerpolicy="no-referrer" src="https://akns-images.eonline.com/eol_images/Entire_Site/2025022/rs_682x1024-250122185337-shutterstock_editorial_14256823dz.jpg"/><p>A seven-minute voice memo Baldoni allegedly sent to Lively during <em>It Ends With Us</em>' production was published online. In it, the director appeared to reference the movie's rooftop scene Lively had rewrote and how the changes were presented to him during an alleged meeting with Reynolds and their pal <b>Taylor Swift</b>.</p>
<p>"We should all have friends like that aside from the fact that they're two of the most creative people on the planet," he told Lively. "The three of you guys together, it's unbelievable."</p>
<p>In the recording, Baldoni also seemingly apologized to the actress for his lukewarm reception to her script, saying, "I f--ked up. One thing you should know about me is that I will admit and apologize when I fail."</p>