In a dramatic turn of events, Justin Baldoni has filed a $250 million lawsuit against the New York Times after the publication reported on accusations made by Blake Lively, which claim Baldoni sexually harassed her on the set of It Ends With Us. As part of the legal filing, Baldoni also makes serious allegations against Lively’s husband, actor Ryan Reynolds, accusing him of “aggressively berating” him during a meeting at their New York penthouse.

According to the lawsuit, Baldoni was subjected to intense criticism from Reynolds, who allegedly accused him of fat-shaming Lively. The legal documents describe the meeting as “inappropriate and humiliating,” with the berating occurring while other celebrity friends were reportedly coming in and out of the penthouse.

The core of Baldoni’s defense involves a conversation about Lively’s weight, which he claims was based on genuine safety concerns. Baldoni, who suffers from back issues and multiple bulging discs, states that he asked about Lively’s weight to ensure he could safely perform a lift scene without causing injury. However, Lively interpreted this inquiry as criticism of her body after she gave birth to her and Reynolds’ fourth child, son Olen, in early 2023.

Lively, in her own lawsuit filed in December 2023, claims Baldoni secretly contacted her fitness trainer before filming began, allegedly implying that she needed to lose weight within two weeks. Lively states that Baldoni’s actions were based on his concerns over a lift scene in the movie, although she asserts that no such scene was ever planned.

In response to Baldoni’s legal action, the New York Times has stated that it stands by its reporting. A spokesperson for the publication said, “The role of an independent news organization is to follow the facts wherever they lead. Our story was meticulously and responsibly reported, based on a review of thousands of pages of original documents, including text messages and emails, which we accurately quoted and referenced in the article.”