Justin Baldoni has initiated a $250 million libel lawsuit against The New York Times, filed in the Los Angeles Superior Court, and has named actor Ryan Reynolds in the legal dispute. The case centers around allegations that Reynolds “aggressively berated” Baldoni over remarks regarding Blake Lively’s weight during the filming of It Ends With Us. Baldoni, who directed the film, claimed the comments were related to safety concerns due to his back problems and were not intended as fat-shaming.

The lawsuit accuses the newspaper of relying solely on Lively’s account of the incident, leading to widespread misinterpretation. Baldoni described the confrontation with Reynolds as intense, stating he repeatedly apologized for the misunderstanding. Following the dispute, Lively reportedly refused to perform a lift scene, even after rehearsing it with a stunt double.

Baldoni’s legal team criticized The New York Times for its December 21 article titled “We Can Bury Anyone: Inside a Hollywood Smear Machine”, a 4,000-word piece they claim unfairly amplified harassment allegations against him without proper investigation. The lawsuit argues that the article promoted a one-sided narrative that has harmed Baldoni’s reputation.

In response, a spokesperson for The New York Times defended the article, describing their reporting as thorough and responsible. They stated the publication is prepared to contest the lawsuit.

Meanwhile, Blake Lively has filed a separate lawsuit against Baldoni, accusing him of sexual harassment and orchestrating a smear campaign. Baldoni’s attorney has strongly denied these accusations, calling them baseless and outrageous.