Lively and Reynolds Face $400 Million Lawsuit

Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds face renewed criticism over their 2012 plantation wedding amid a $400 million lawsuit filed by Justin Baldoni.

At a Glance

  • Justin Baldoni files $400 million lawsuit against Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds
  • Lawsuit involves allegations of civil extortion, defamation, and contract-related claims
  • Lively and Reynolds’ 2012 wedding at Boone Hall Plantation resurfaces in public debate
  • Couple has since apologized and made efforts to support racial equality
  • Legal battle includes accusations of sexual harassment and aggressive behavior

Lawsuit Allegations and Counter-Claims

Justin Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios, and their publicists have filed a $400 million lawsuit against Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, and publicist Leslie Sloane. The lawsuit alleges civil extortion, defamation, and contract-related claims concerning the film “It Ends With Us.” The legal action follows Lively’s previous complaint of sexual harassment by Baldoni and Wayfarer CEO Jamey Heath during the film’s production, which Baldoni denies.

Mr. Baldoni’s lawsuit accuses Lively and Reynolds of making “extortionate threats” to damage his reputation and claims they conspired against him. The suit includes allegations of Lively overstepping her role by making creative decisions and excluding Baldoni from promotional activities. Reynolds is accused of unauthorized involvement in the film’s production and allegedly pressuring a talent agency to drop Baldoni.

Legal Teams Respond

The legal teams for both parties have issued statements regarding the lawsuit. Wayfarer’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, stated, “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.”

In response, Lively’s attorneys labeled Baldoni’s lawsuit as a typical abuser tactic, using DARVO (Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim Offender). “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,” Lively’s attorneys said.

Plantation Wedding Controversy Resurfaces

Amid the legal battle, Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds are facing renewed backlash over their 2012 wedding at Boone Hall Plantation, a site with a history of slavery. The couple’s wedding was criticized for glamorizing a location where black slaves suffered, leading Reynolds to later call it a “giant f***ing mistake.”

In response to the backlash, Lively and Reynolds married again at their New York home and have donated millions to the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund.

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