The ongoing legal battle between It Ends With Us co-stars Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni has almost entirely eclipsed the film. The two actors starred opposite each other in the film adaptation of Coleen Hoover’s best-selling novel last summer and things have only gone downhill since. In fact, the situation seems to get messier and thornier on a daily basis.
While Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds and Baldoni have made their stances known – and even Hoover has deleted her Instagram account – until recently, Baldoni’s wife Emily had refrained from commenting. It is after all a complicated legal situation, and one in which her husband of 11 years faces allegations of sexual misconduct. Baldoni has denied these allegations.
A recap on the It Ends With Us drama
The short version of the It Ends With Us saga is that last August, following the release of the film, Lively suffered extensive backlash on social media. She was accused of downplaying the film’s more serious themes of domestic violence by encouraging fans to ‘grab your girls and wear your florals’ during press junkets and was criticised for launching a new alcohol brand and hair care line in tandem with the film. In December, she filed a lawsuit accusing Baldoni and his PR team of launching a ‘calculated smear campaign’ against her, which included text threads between Baldoni and the crisis management expert Melissa Nathan who allegedly said, ‘We can bury anyone.’
Lively is also accusing Baldoni of sexual harassment and claims he made inappropriate comments about her body after giving birth, brought up his past porn addiction on set and would enter her trailer without permission while she was breastfeeding.
Baldoni has since retaliated with two counter lawsuits. In one, he is suing The New York Times for up to $250 million in damages for publishing Lively’s allegedly ‘self-serving narrative’ and excluding evidence that refutes her claims. In the other, he accuses Lively and Reynolds of civil extortion, defamation and false light invasion of privacy amongst other claims. Baldoni is also attempting to gather evidence from Disney to prove that Reynolds based his Deadpool & Wolverine character Nicepool, a faux feminist with a signature man bun, off of him and claims the character was used to ‘bully’ him.
There are new twists and turns each day – with more and more allegations being brought into the public domain. Most recently, rehearsal footage of one of the scenes listed in Lively’s lawsuit was leaked online, where the two actors are seen talking and dancing. Of course, it didn’t take long before a steady stream of takes and TikTok investigations were in response.
What has Justin Baldoni’s wife said about his legal situation?
Until now, Emily Baldoni, with whom the actor shares two children, has kept relatively quiet. She has not commented on the various lawsuits directly, but last weekend Emily took a marked stance in support of her husband on social media. To celebrate his birthday, she posted a family photograph with the caption, ‘Happy birthday my love. Celebrating the man, husband, and father that you are. I’d choose you again and again.’
A seemingly innocuous post, this is the first time Emily has showed public support for Baldoni – and their relationship – since Lively filed her lawsuit in December. However, on 18 January, Baldoni briefly spoke to TMZ at Los Angeles International Airport to express his gratitude towards his family. ‘We’re grateful to be with the family, man,’ he said, about to embark on a holiday with Emily and their children. ‘We have amazing friends and family and faith.’
How long have Justin Baldoni and Emily Baldoni been married?
Baldoni and Emily have been married since 2013. Having previously enjoyed relative privacy as a couple, their relationship has come under the spotlight following Lively’s lawsuit.
In December, Baldoni’s wedding vows went viral after fans noticed his slightly unusual opening gambit. ‘I’m sorry for all my faults, my shortcomings, for my insecurities and my ego and for everything that I’ve ever done or said that’s hurt you,’ he told Emily on their wedding day. ‘But with that apology also comes a promise. Emily, for the rest of my life, I will cherish you, I will appreciate you, I will laugh with you, I will take care of you, I will honour you and I will respect you.’ One social media user shared the video with the caption, ‘This dude is going down,’ while another argued, ‘sorry I loved his vows… they were honest.’
It’s clear, regardless of what people make of Baldoni, that his personal life is coming under much greater scutiny than it was prior to It Ends With Us.
Has Emily Baldoni appeared on her husband’s podcast?
Aside from her complimentary birthday post, Emily recently appeared on Baldoni’s The Man Enough podcast where she discussed marriage, motherhood and success with her husband’s co-host Natasha Heath. Her guest appearance could be taken as another sign that she is standing by her husband.
However, it seems as though the episode was recorded before the It Ends With Us legal drama unfolded, as the show’s former co-host Liz Plank was part of the conversation. Following Lively’s allegations in December, Plank quit the podcast after three years. ‘I am writing to you today to let you know that I have had my representatives inform Wayfarer that I will no longer be co-hosting The Man Enough podcast,’ she wrote. ‘Thank you for trusting me with your hearts and stories, for holding space for mine, and for making this show what it was.’
What is Justin Baldoni’s net worth?
Baldoni has a reported net worth of $4 million, while Lively is estimated to be worth $30 million. Baldoni is currently suing Lively and Reynolds for $400 million, and the NYT for $250 million. Dates for both trials have not yet been set.
Nikki Peach is a writer at Grazia UK, working across pop culture, TV and news. She has also written for the i, i-D and the New Statesman Media Group and covers all things TV for Grazia (treating high and lowbrow shows with equal respect).