In a legal drama so spicy it could be a Netflix original, Justin Baldoni has filed a $250 million lawsuit against The New York Times. Why? Because according to him, their latest blockbuster article was less “journalism” and more “creative writing with a vendetta.”
The Times’ pièce de résistance? A story claiming Baldoni and his squad orchestrated a smear campaign against It Ends with Us co-star Blake Lively. Oh, and they threw in a side of sexual harassment allegations for good measure, courtesy of Lively. Naturally, Baldoni was like, “Not today, Satan—or The Times.”
The Lawsuit Plot Thickens
Per Baldoni’s legal complaint (and probably his diary), he’s accusing the paper of everything short of global warming: libel, invasion of privacy, fraud, and what he calls “cherry-picking” details to craft a narrative juicier than a Bravo reality show reunion.
But Baldoni isn’t riding solo into battle. He’s flanked by nine co-plaintiffs, including publicists Melissa Nathan and Jennifer Abel. According to this dream team, the Times story painted Lively as the damsel in distress while casting Baldoni as the Big Bad Wolf. Plot twist—they claim she was the one plotting like a soap opera villain, orchestrating a smear campaign to seize control of the movie.
The Accusations Go Nuclear
Among the more dramatic claims, Baldoni alleges Lively deployed false harassment accusations as her power move. Meanwhile, Ryan Reynolds, a.k.a. Deadpool himself, allegedly jumped into the fray, confronting Baldoni at the Deadpool & Wolverine premiere over supposed “fat-shaming” comments. (Seriously, someone call Shonda Rhimes—this story writes itself.)
Reynolds allegedly even pressured Baldoni’s agent to ghost him faster than a bad Tinder date. Baldoni’s team says this all happened before the headlines hit, which is Hollywood-level premeditation if true.
The Smoking Gun?
According to court docs, Baldoni claims the Times channeled their inner fan-fiction writer, lifting Lively’s “unverified and self-serving narrative” word-for-word. Meanwhile, they supposedly ignored a treasure trove of receipts that would expose Lively’s alleged secret agenda. (Somewhere, Regina George is whispering, “Amateur.”)
Baldoni also says Lively’s PR team sprinkled stories critical of him across the media like confetti at a New Year’s Eve party—and The Times conveniently ignored the glittery trail.
Lawyer Wars: Battle of the Statements
Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, isn’t holding back either. In a statement that’s practically a manifesto, he accused The New York Times of bowing to “two powerful, untouchable Hollywood elites.” He also promised to expose Lively’s alleged “self-induced floundering public image” (ouch) and let the public decide who’s guilty in this drama.
Meanwhile, The New York Times clapped back with their own mic drop, saying their story was “meticulously and responsibly reported.” According to their spokesperson, they’re ready to “vigorously defend” their Pulitzer-worthy tea-spilling against Baldoni and Co.
Where’s the Popcorn?
As of now, reps for Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds are staying quieter than a celebrity on the wrong end of a TikTok scandal. But if this saga keeps unfolding, we might need a courtroom live stream—and maybe even a “Director’s Cut” edition.
Stay tuned, because this Hollywood drama has everything: allegations, lawsuits, and the kind of chaos that makes Twitter erupt like a volcano. Who needs movies when real life is this entertaining?