‘They are quickly turning into power couple villains’: Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively Have No Part in Derailing Justin Baldoni but Fans Disagree
- Blake Lively accusations against Justin Baldoni involved high-profile publications and agencies like The New York Times and WME.
- WME ended its tie with Baldoni after allegations, and the director-actor reportedly accused Reynolds and Lively of pressuring the agency.
- Despite WME denying Baldoni's reported accusations, public skepticism persists about the couple’s power and influence in Hollywood.
The controversy surrounding It Ends With Us has gotten complex with severe allegations from stars Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni from either side. Lively had accused Baldoni of sexual harassment and alleged that the director-actor had directed a smear campaign against her.
These allegations resulted in legal battles that have involved big publications like The New York Times and talent agency WME. While many love Ryan Reynolds and Lively as Hollywood’s power couple, Baldoni’s counter accusations have made some question their influence.
Netizens question Ryan Reynolds-Blake Lively’s influence as WME responds to Justin Baldoni
The animosity between Lively and Baldoni started while shooting It Ends With Us. According to The New York Times, Lively accused Baldoni of misconduct, which included s*xual harassment, unapproved physical intimacy and disturbing comments, and coordinated smear campaigns.
This was escalated when WME, the agency that represents Justin Baldoni, along with Lively and Reynolds, fired the director. Baldoni later filed a lawsuit against The New York Times, arguing that the publication worked with Lively’s PR team to promote an unconfirmed story. According to Variety, his team accused the Times saying that while the publication relied on “cherry-picked” information, it dismissed opposing facts.
Baldoni’s lawsuit states that he found out that Ryan Reynolds went to his WME agent during the Deadpool & Wolverine premiere and pressured the rep not to work with Baldoni again. The lawsuit stated, “The wielding of power and influence became undeniable,” implying that Baldoni’s production company, Wayfarer, became concerned with what Lively and Reynolds were capable of.
The talent agency WME has come out to dismiss Baldoni’s claims. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the agency stated,
Baldoni’s former representative was not at the Deadpool & Wolverine premiere, nor was there any pressure from Reynolds or Lively at any time to drop Baldoni as a client.
However, even after WME’s clarification, some netizens have begun to wonder about Lively and Reynolds’ influence in Baldoni’s dropping and WME’s stance.
They are quickly turning into power couple villains.
— Writer Grl 🐊🇺🇸 (@JustAWriter71) January 2, 2025
We do not believe in it. There is no good side in this story. Blake is over.
— NatureX (@Valeria08794867) January 2, 2025
They didn't have to. Who brings in the most money? Easy choice.
— Kathy Harter ☮🇺🇦 🌊 (@kathy_harter) January 2, 2025
Sure WME … will you drop Blake lively if it proven she lied?
— Doglover 🧙♀️ (@maygirlygirl) January 1, 2025
Of course they did. Give me a break.
— Kristen (@mskrst3n) January 1, 2025
WME broke ties with Baldoni as a client just after Lively’s accusations came to public attention. The quick move added more fuel to the fire regarding the influence of Reynolds and Lively in Hollywood, even after WME’s denying they had any involvement in the decision.
Justin Baldoni takes legal action against The New York Times
Justin Baldoni has now initiated a big counterattack. The director filed a lawsuit against The New York Times for $250 million for libel, fraud, and breach of contract. As per Variety, the lawsuit accuses the publication of working along with Blake Lively‘s PR team to promote her narrative that Baldoni’s legal team calls an “unverified and self-serving narrative.”
Baldoni’s legal team reportedly countered Lively’s accusations about the director entering her makeup trailer, stating that the actress has willingly invited him many times. The team reportedly provided text messages to back their claims.
The lawsuit further claims that Lively’s initial decision not to file a formal lawsuit was strategic, suggesting it “would have derailed her true objective: an orchestrated campaign to rehabilitate her public image.”
The New York Times came to its defense, arguing that the story was “meticulously and responsibly reported” and “was based on a review of thousands of pages of original documents.” A spokesperson from the publication stated,
To date, Wayfarer Studios, Mr. Baldoni, the other subjects of the article and their representatives have not pointed to a single error. We published their full statement in response to the allegations in the article as well. We plan to vigorously defend against the lawsuit.
Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, has promised other lawsuits against “those individuals who have abused their power to try and destroy the lives of my clients,” which is an indicator that this is not the end. The attorney said that proof of communications supporting Baldoni’s claims would be provided.
