Actor Justin Baldoni is preparing to sue Blake Lively, aiming to counter her sexual harassment accusations and expose what his legal representative describes as a fabricated narrative. Baldoni's lawyer, Bryan Freedman, told People magazine that the forthcoming legal action isn't a countersuit but rather a quest for truth, intending to reveal the inaccuracies in Lively's claims related to their work on the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover's novel, "It Ends With Us."

Freedman asserts that a "trusted media publication" propagated a false narrative based on unreliable sources and insufficient fact-checking, particularly regarding certain text messages. He claims to possess substantial authentic evidence, including timelines and communications, that contradicts the narrative presented in a December 21, 2024, New York Times article, which he alleges contains doctored information.

Lively's complaint, filed on December 20 with the California Civil Rights department, details allegations of sexual harassment, retaliation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and negligence. She reportedly held a meeting on January 4, 2024, with Baldoni, producer Jamey Heath, and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, to address concerns about their alleged misconduct, not only towards her but also towards other female cast and crew members.

The complaint outlines several behaviors Lively requested to cease, including the display of nude images or videos of women, discussions of personal sexual experiences or genitalia, additions of sex scenes beyond the script, and comments about her weight or deceased father. While an agreement was reportedly reached, Lively contends that Baldoni subsequently engaged in a smear campaign to damage her career and reputation.

In a statement to The New York Times, Lively expressed hope that her legal action would expose such retaliatory tactics and protect others from similar situations. Baldoni's lawyer, however, denied the allegations to the same outlet, labeling them as false, outrageous, and intentionally harmful.