In the latest chapter of the unfolding drama surrounding the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s best-selling novel, “It Ends With Us,” Blake Lively finds herself at the center of yet another legal uproar. A Texas-based crisis communications specialist, Jed Wallace, has filed a $7 million defamation lawsuit against the renowned actress, intensifying the contentious atmosphere surrounding the production.
Wallace, through his firm Street Relations, brought the suit to federal court in Texas, claiming that Lively falsely implicated him in her legal skirmish with co-star and director Justin Baldoni. The lawsuit marks a significant twist in the saga, highlighting unresolved tensions between key players involved in bringing the romantic, yet dark narrative to the big screen.
According to Wallace’s allegations, he and his company were unwarrantedly dragged into Lively’s broader legal battle, which accuses Baldoni and his collaborators of engaging in a campaign to besmirch her reputation. Notably, Wallace is not a defendant in the ongoing lawsuit in California where Lively alleges harassment and defamation against Baldoni, his production team, and their publicists.
Lively's camp has issued a robust response, refuting the idea that Wallace’s lawsuit is merely a maneuver for publicity. A statement from her legal representatives reads, “This lawsuit goes beyond mere retaliation. It is a coordinated pushback against the serious allegations Lively filed concerning harassment and retaliation.”
Amid these revelations, Lively’s legal team is pursuing further discovery efforts in Hays County, Texas, suggesting that Wallace may have been leveraged by Baldoni-affiliated publicists to spread seemingly organic disparaging content across the digital landscape. These efforts include efforts to acquire a deposition from Wallace that could potentially reveal deeper involvement.
This legal conflict is rooted in complex allegations and counterclaims. Not only has Lively faced accusations from Wallace, but she also contends with a retaliatory lawsuit from Baldoni himself. In a dramatic escalation, Baldoni has sued both Lively and her husband, actor Ryan Reynolds, for defamation and extortion, seeking a staggering $400 million in damages. His lawsuit follows an earlier defamation claim against The New York Times over its coverage of these disputes.
Interestingly, on the other side of this complicated web, a former publicist of Baldoni’s has submitted a lawsuit in support of Lively’s claims. This adds yet another layer to the intricate legal narrative surrounding this film, which paradoxically has found substantial success at the box office with an impressive $150 million in domestic earnings.
Despite the commercial success, “It Ends With Us” remains shrouded in controversy. The film’s journey from a beloved novel about romance and domestic upheaval to a cinematic success has been far from smooth, with legal challenges that seem to mirror its suspenseful storyline.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the industry watches closely, as these high-profile disputes may have broader implications on how future productions handle internal conflicts and public narratives. For Blake Lively and those embroiled in this entangled legal web, the resolution remains uncertain, with the potential for further twists ahead.
