Justin Baldoni has recently provided an unexpected behind-the-scenes glimpse into the premiere of It Ends With Us, revealing an unconventional and surprising setting he found himself in during the event.
The actor and director shared a series of photos from the August 2024 premiere, where he and his family were situated in a basement devoid of windows. In stark contrast, his co-star Blake Lively arrived at the event with much fanfare. The images depict Baldoni, 40, posing with his loved ones in the makeshift basement holding area, surrounded by concession stand supplies and stacks of Dasani water bottles.
This basement scene seems to support one of the claims made by Baldoni in his ongoing legal battles. On January 16, Baldoni filed a $400 million countersuit against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and publicist Leslie Sloane, accusing them of orchestrating his confinement to this windowless space. According to the lawsuit, Baldoni was deliberately kept “in a makeshift holding area” to prevent any interaction with Lively or her guests, a claim which has caught the attention of many. Court documents remarked on the irony of Baldoni being relegated to such an area on what was likely one of the most significant nights of his career.
In addition to this, Baldoni alleged that his production company, Wayfarer Studios, was compelled to organize a separate after-party after being excluded from the “official celebrity” event. This exclusion, he claims, further illustrates the efforts to sideline him during the premiere.
In response, Lively’s legal team vehemently denied Baldoni’s accusations, labeling the lawsuit as “another chapter in the abuser playbook.” They pointed to a previous sexual harassment complaint filed by Lively against Baldoni, dismissing the new claims as part of a continued smear campaign.
The ongoing legal dispute between Baldoni and Lively has become highly publicized, with a series of contentious lawsuits, including Baldoni’s $250 million libel case against The New York Times for their coverage of Lively’s harassment allegations. The escalating tension between the two former co-stars has drawn significant attention and continues to unfold.
