Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni in Legal Dispute

Blake Lively is embroiled in a legal battle with Justin Baldoni, who has filed a countersuit against her and her husband Ryan Reynolds, claiming defamation, extortion, and breach of contract following Lively's allegations of sexual harassment against him. Baldoni's lawsuit, which seeks significant damages, asserts that Lively engaged in a smear campaign and made false claims about not reading the novel on which their film 'It Ends With Us' is based. In her defense, Lively's lawyers argue that Baldoni's lawsuit is a classic case of DARVO—denying, attacking, and reversing the victim-offender dynamic—intended to discredit her allegations. The dispute traces back to Lively's December claims of harassment and retaliation, which Baldoni's legal team alleges are unfounded and a tactic to distract from the accusations against him. Lively's representatives maintain that her actions are supported by evidence and aimed at protecting herself and others, while Baldoni's team insists they have substantial proof to support their claims. The situation has garnered significant media attention, illustrating the complexities of workplace abuse allegations in Hollywood.