Deposition transcripts from Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively’s talent agents have revealed new details about conflicts on the set of It Ends With Us, the Colleen Hoover adaptation. Baldoni’s former WME agent, Danny Greenberg, described Lively’s actions during filming as “extortion,” though he later clarified he did not mean criminal extortion.

Greenberg testified that he referred to Lively’s “cumulative behavior” in July 2024 communications with Baldoni, helping draft emails to Sony executives regarding Lively’s “continued extortion and effort to gain control of the film.”

“My use of the word extortion there was referencing just cumulative behavior that both the studio and [production company Wayfarer Studios] and Justin was having to manage,” Greenberg explained.

Greenberg also testified that Lively allegedly made threats concerning the film’s August 2024 premiere, which he discussed with Sony production executive Ange Giannetti.

Context of the Legal Dispute

The tensions between Baldoni, 41, and Lively, 38, began in December 2024, after Lively filed a sexual harassment complaint against Baldoni, alleging misconduct during filming and a retaliatory smear campaign, which he has denied.

Baldoni had filed counterclaims against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, alleging extortion and defamation, but these claims were dismissed by a judge in June 2025. His legal team chose not to refile amended versions.

Lively’s Response

A spokesperson for Lively called the deposition excerpt “a recycled distraction” unrelated to the ongoing sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit, stating:

“The court already dismissed their so-called ‘taking over a movie’ claim, and this cherry-picked deposition quote from Baldoni’s prior agent before he was dropped from WME adds nothing new… This is just a recycled distraction that has nothing to do with the actual sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit Baldoni and the Wayfarer Defendants are facing.”

Additionally, Lively’s agent, Warren Zavala, testified that he was unaware of any incidents on set that made Lively uncomfortable, though he noted she reported some issues during post-production.

Next Steps

Discovery in the case concluded on October 10, 2025, with the next status hearing scheduled for October 21 in the Southern District of New York. The trial, Lively v. Wayfarer Studios et al., is set for March 2026, with both Lively and Baldoni expected to testify.

In June, Lively reaffirmed her stance on Instagram:

“I feel more resolved than ever to continue to stand for every woman’s right to have a voice in protecting themselves, including their safety, their integrity, their dignity and their story.”