The legal battle between It Ends With Us co-stars Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively has taken a new turn. Baldoni’s former publicist, Stephanie Jones, denies allegations that she leaked confidential text messages to Lively’s team, fueling the ongoing lawsuits between the actors. The dispute, which began with accusations of on-set misconduct and smear campaigns, now involves multiple lawsuits, leaked communications, and a bitter war of words in court filings .
Publicist Denies Wrongdoing
In recent court documents filed in New York, Jones refuted claims that she unlawfully shared private texts between Baldoni’s team and Lively’s representatives. Jones stated she complied with a subpoena issued by Lively’s lawyers in October 2024, which demanded communications related to Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds. Failure to comply could have resulted in contempt of court charges .
Jones also accused Baldoni and his current publicist, Jennifer Abel, of breaching contracts and conspiring with former client Melissa Nathan to damage her business. Her lawyer, Maaren Shah, claimed:
“They’ve planted falsehoods in the press to tarnish Ms. Jones’s business, stolen confidential documents and clients, and refused to pay Jonesworks what was fairly owed.”
Baldoni’s legal team, however, insists Jones acted maliciously by sharing Abel’s seized phone data with Lively’s publicist, Leslie Sloane, without a subpoena. They allege this led to a distorted narrative being used against Baldoni in Lively’s lawsuit .
The Origins of the Legal Feud
The conflict stems from Lively’s December 2024 lawsuit, where she accused Baldoni of sexual harassment and orchestrating a PR campaign to discredit her after she raised concerns during It Ends With Us production. Baldoni countersued for $400 million, claiming defamation and extortion by Lively and Reynolds .
Key allegations include:
Lively’s Claims: Baldoni allegedly made inappropriate comments, shared explicit videos, and pressured her during intimate scenes. She also accused his team of launching a smear campaign .
Baldoni’s Defense: He denies all misconduct, asserting Lively sought excessive creative control and later fabricated claims to justify her negative press during the film’s promotion .
Leaked Texts and PR Wars
Texts released by Baldoni’s team show Lively describing herself as a “ballbuster” and “spicy” in messages to him, which he claims disproves her harassment allegations. Meanwhile, leaked exchanges between Abel and Nathan reveal discussions about countering Lively’s PR moves, though Abel insists these were never acted upon .
Lively’s legal team argues the texts were obtained legally and support her case. Baldoni’s side maintains they were selectively edited to paint him in a negative light .
Court Battles and Industry Fallout
The lawsuits have drawn widespread media attention, with documentaries like In Dispute: Lively v. Baldoni analyzing the case. Legal experts suggest Lively has a stronger position due to California’s protections for harassment victims, while Baldoni’s team fights to dismiss her claims as defamatory .
A trial is currently set for March 2026, though the judge has warned both sides against trying the case in the press .
Meanwhile, It Ends With Us remains a focal point, with Lively refusing to promote the film alongside Baldoni. The drama has overshadowed the movie’s release, sparking debates about power dynamics in Hollywood.
