Latest news with #ColleenHoover
News.com.au
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Justin Baldoni gains access to Taylor Swift and Blake Lively's private texts in legal victory
Taylor Swift got dragged back into Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively's It Ends With Us feud after her subpoena to appear in court was dismissed. US District Judge Lewis Liman ruled on Wednesday that Baldoni can request communications between the singer and Lively concerning the 2024 domestic violence film, according to documents obtained by Page Six. 'The requests for messages with Swift regarding the film and this action are reasonably tailored to discover information that would prove or disprove Lively's harassment and retaliation claims,' Liman claimed. The messages, however, must be about the film based on Colleen Hoover's 2016 novel of the same name, or Lively, 37, and Baldoni's ongoing legal challenge. The Gossip Girl star's lawyers attempted to bargain with Baldoni's team, saying they would hand over any documents the latter's attorneys desire, but not Swift's text messages, in return for 'all video footage related to the film and full, unredacted versions of communication' listed in Baldoni's complaint. Baldoni's lawyer denied the agreement. Reps for Swift and Lively weren't immediately available to Page Six for comment. The judge's ruling comes after Lively asked the court to protect her messages with Swift, 35, on Friday. According to court documents obtained by Page Six, the Age of Adaline star argued that the messages are 'not central' to the case, including her December lawsuit accusing Baldoni, 41, of sexual harassment and co-ordinating a smear campaign to ruin her career. Swift was dragged into the director and Lively's legal drama in January, when she was mentioned in Baldoni's $US400 million counter lawsuit, which has since been dismissed. Per the filing, Baldoni accused the actress of using the songstress and her husband Ryan Reynolds' status to get her way on the It Ends With Us set. Baldoni alleged he was invited to the A-list couple's home, where 'a famous, and famously close, friend' was also present to discuss 'script rewrites.' Baldoni's lawyer, Bryan Freedman, cited alleged text messages between his client and Lively, which stated that Swift and Reynolds, 48, were her 'dragons' and protectors. 'The message could not have been clearer. Baldoni was not just dealing with Lively. He was also facing Lively's 'dragons,' two of the most influential and wealthy celebrities in the world, who were not afraid to make things very difficult for him,' Freedman claimed. In May, Swift was subpoenaed as a witness in the March 2026 trial, though the request was later dropped. The legal drama has caused a rift between the pop icon and Lively, with an insider telling Page Six that Swift will 'forever be furious' at the actress for bringing her into the mess.
Wall Street Journal
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Wall Street Journal
Judge Tosses Justin Baldoni's Lawsuits Against Blake Lively and New York Times
A federal judge has dismissed lawsuits brought by actor and director Justin Baldoni against actress Blake Lively, her husband, Ryan Reynolds, and the New York Times NYT -0.32%decrease; red down pointing triangle, the latest wrinkle in a PR battle-turned-legal saga that has gripped Hollywood. The feud between the celebrities is centered on Baldoni and Lively's behavior during and after the filming of the movie 'It Ends With Us,' based on Colleen Hoover's bestselling novel. Baldoni and Lively co-starred in the film, which was released in August 2024, and Baldoni also directed it.
The Independent
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Judge dismisses Justin Baldoni's lawsuit against 'It Ends With Us' costar Blake Lively
A judge on Monday dismissed the lawsuit filed by actor and director Justin Baldoni against his 'It Ends With Us' costar Blake Lively after she sued him for sexual harassment and retaliation. U.S. District Court Judge Lewis Liman's decision is the latest development in the bitter legal battle surrounding the dark romantic drama that includes Lively suing Baldoni in late December. Baldoni and production company Wayfarer Studios countersued in January for $400 million, accusing Lively and her husband, 'Deadpool' actor Ryan Reynolds, of defamation and extortion. The judge ruled that Baldoni can't sue Lively for defamation over claims she made in her lawsuit, because allegations made in a lawsuit are exempt from libel claims. Liman also ruled that Baldoni's claims that Lively stole creative control of the film didn't count as extortion under California law. Baldoni's legal team can revise the lawsuit if they want to pursue different claims related to whether Lively breached a contract, the judge said. Emails seeking comment were sent to attorneys for Baldoni and Lively. 'It Ends With Us,' an adaptation of Colleen Hoover's bestselling 2016 novel that begins as a romance but takes a dark turn into domestic violence, was released in August, exceeding box office expectations with a $50 million debut. But the movie's release was shrouded by speculation over discord between Lively and Baldoni. The judge also dismissed Baldoni's defamation lawsuit against The New York Times, which had reported on Lively's sexual harassment allegations.
Associated Press
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Judge dismisses Justin Baldoni's lawsuit against 'It Ends With Us' costar Blake Lively
NEW YORK (AP) — A judge on Monday dismissed the lawsuit filed by actor and director Justin Baldoni against his 'It Ends With Us' costar Blake Lively after she sued him for sexual harassment and retaliation. U.S. District Court Judge Lewis Liman's decision is the latest development in the bitter legal battle surrounding the dark romantic drama that includes Lively suing Baldoni in late December. Baldoni and production company Wayfarer Studios countersued in January for $400 million, accusing Lively and her husband, 'Deadpool' actor Ryan Reynolds, of defamation and extortion. The judge ruled that Baldoni can't sue Lively for defamation over claims she made in her lawsuit, because allegations made in a lawsuit are exempt from libel claims. Liman also ruled that Baldoni's claims that Lively stole creative control of the film didn't count as extortion under California law. Baldoni's legal team can revise the lawsuit if they want to pursue different claims related to whether Lively breached a contract, the judge said. Emails seeking comment were sent to attorneys for Baldoni and Lively. 'It Ends With Us,' an adaptation of Colleen Hoover's bestselling 2016 novel that begins as a romance but takes a dark turn into domestic violence, was released in August, exceeding box office expectations with a $50 million debut. But the movie's release was shrouded by speculation over discord between Lively and Baldoni. The judge also dismissed Baldoni's defamation lawsuit against The New York Times, which had reported on Lively's sexual harassment allegations.
The Guardian
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Blake Lively moves to drop two claims about Justin Baldoni
Blake Lively has made moves to withdraw two of the claims she made about the actor and director Justin Baldoni, who worked with her on the 2024 romantic drama It Ends With Us. The two actors have been engaged in a legal dispute since Lively sued Baldoni in December 2024 following the release of the film based on the best-selling novel by Colleen Hoover. Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment and a public smear campaign. Baldoni's legal team reportedly asked Lively to release her medical records, including therapy notes, as part of its defence against her claims she suffered 'she suffered 'severe emotional distress and pain, humiliation, embarrassment, belittlement, frustration and mental anguish', according to Variety. In January, it was reported that Baldoni planned to sue his co-star and her husband, the actor Ryan Reynolds, following the accusations on claims of civil extortion, defamation and invasion of privacy. Lively is now attempting to drop the claims of intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligent infliction of emotional distress. Though the actress is withdrawing the claims, she is refusing to withdraw the claims with prejudice as Baldoni's legal team had requested, Variety reported. According to legal filings by Baldoni's team, Lively is only willing to withdraw her claims without prejudice. 'Ms Lively wants to simultaneously: (a) refuse to disclose the information and documents needed to disprove that she suffered any emotional distress and/or that the Wayfarer Parties were the cause; and (b) maintain the right to re-file her IED Claims at an unknown time in this or some other court after the discovery window has closed,' Variety reported a Monday filing to say. The court will ultimately decide if the claims will be dismissed or if Lively will be compelled to disclose the records related to her mental health. Esra Hudson and Mike Gottlieb, two of Lively's lawyers, called the filing from Baldoni's team 'a press stunt'. They added: 'The Baldoni-Wayfarer strategy of filing retaliatory claims has exposed them to expansive new damages claims under California law, rendering certain of Ms Lively's original claims no longer necessary. Ms Lively continues to allege emotional distress, as part of numerous other claims in her lawsuit, such as sexual harassment and retaliation, and massive additional compensatory damages on all of her claims,' in a statement to the magazine.' In December 2024, the New York Times published an article entitled: ''We Can Bury Anyone': Inside a Hollywood Smear Machine,' that served as an exposé of how Baldoni allegedly utilized his publicists and the media to publicly drag Lively's reputation. Baldoni, publicist Melissa Nathan, and eight other plaintiffs accused the Times of 'cherrypicking' facts and filed a $250m libel lawsuit against the paper.
