William Morris Endeavor (WME) CEO Ari Emanuel has publicly supported Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds amidst their ongoing legal dispute with Justin Baldoni. Emanuel expressed his strong disapproval of Baldoni's actions during a recent "Freakonomics Radio Live" taping, calling the situation "bad" and using an expletive to describe Baldoni's behavior. He also revealed that WME had terminated its representation of Baldoni.

Lively and Reynolds, both high-profile WME clients, are embroiled in a complex legal battle with Baldoni that began with Lively filing a lawsuit alleging sexual harassment and other misconduct. Baldoni subsequently sued the New York Times and then Lively and Reynolds for defamation, seeking substantial damages. Emanuel emphasized his long-standing relationship with Lively and Reynolds, praising their character and philanthropic efforts. He stated that they are "really incredible people" who have achieved significant success in Hollywood without any history of mistreating others.

Emanuel's forceful defense of Lively and Reynolds underscores the seriousness of the allegations and the high stakes involved in the legal proceedings. He reiterated his unwavering support for the couple, describing himself as "ride or die" for them. Baldoni's attorney, Bryan Freedman, responded to Emanuel's comments by highlighting Emanuel's reputation as a loyal agent and suggesting that his perspective might differ if he had personally interacted with Baldoni during the time he was a WME client.

The legal battle continues, with both sides denying the allegations against them. Lively and Baldoni recently declined mediation, indicating the case may proceed to trial. The judge has granted their request to bypass mediation and established deadlines for filing an amended complaint and a motion to dismiss Baldoni's lawsuit.