Justin Baldoni’s newly launched website detailing the timeline of the “It Ends With Us” legal drama includes a statement that Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds allegedly wrote for him to “take full accountability” for the movie’s bad publicity.
All the documents on Baldoni’s website have been included in legal filings in his ongoing lawsuit against Lively and Reynolds.
In August 2024, WME — the agency that previously represented Baldoni and still reps Lively and Reynolds — allegedly shared that the couple was “furious” with Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios for “positioning them as promoting the Film as a ‘Barbie film.’”
They were also allegedly upset that the studio was “elevating Baldoni to speak on the more serious messaging” of the movie.
As a result, Lively, 37, and Reynolds, 48, allegedly drafted a “statement of contrition” to show that Wayfarer Studios was “taking accountability for the negative press toward Lively and Reynolds.”
The alleged statement was dated Aug. 12, 2024, around the time the “Gossip Girl” alum was facing backlash for her marketing of the film.
“‘It Ends with Us’ was a troubled production which we take full accountability for. We are very sorry to everyone we caused upset to privately and publicly,” the alleged statement began.
“Blake Lively, Sabrina Picou Colleen Hoover, the entire cast and crew led with professionalism every step of the way, any negativity aimed at them is ours to own.”
Lively and Reynolds allegedly added that the studio and talent had “mutually agreed that the cast would be promoting the film separately and understood why.”
The couple also allegedly used Baldoni’s book and podcast title, “Man Enough,” in the prepared statement.
“We have always said we are not perfect and even if unintentionally make mistakes, we will always own them,” the alleged statement continued. “We hold ourselves accountable, it’s not anyone’s job but ours and that’s part of being ‘man enough.’”
The alleged statement then noted that the production team will “practice what [they] preach” as they “find a better way to proceed.”
After reviewing the alleged suggested apology, Wayfarer Studios and WME both allegedly agreed that the statement was “vague, implies culpability without substance, and fails to address the issues at hand.”
Baldoni’s website also claimed that WME determined that “if the goal was to mitigate negative online attention directed at Lively, the statement would have the opposite effect.”
As a result, Baldoni, 41, and Wayfarer Studios rejected the alleged demand to release the statement.
Reps for Lively and Reynolds were not immediately available for comment. Page Six also reached out to Baldoni’s reps but did not receive an immediate response.
Lively filed a complaint in December 2024, claiming Baldoni sexually harassed her during filming of “It Ends With Us.”
The “Jane the Virgin” alum denied Lively’s allegations and filed a $250 million libel lawsuit against the New York Times for their reporting on her complaint.
She then filed a formal lawsuit against Baldoni on Dec. 31 in New York Federal Court for alleged sexual harassment, retaliation, breach of contract, infliction of emotional distress, invasion of privacy and lost wages.
Two weeks later, Baldoni filed a $400 million defamation and extortion lawsuit against Lively and Reynolds, which they’re making moves to have dismissed. A trial date has been set for March 2026.
