Justin Baldoni

Last updated

Justin Baldoni
Justin Baldoni at 2015 PaleyFest.jpg
Baldoni at the 2015 PaleyFest
Born (1984-01-24) January 24, 1984 (age 40)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Education California State University, Long Beach (dropped out)
Occupations
  • Actor
  • director
Years active2004–present
Organization Wayfarer Studios
Spouse
​
(m. 2013)​
Children2

Justin Louis Baldoni (born January 24, 1984 [1] ) is an American actor and director. He is best known for playing Rafael Solano on the CW telenovela Jane the Virgin (2014–2019) and for starring in and directing the romantic drama film It Ends with Us (2024). He has also directed Five Feet Apart (2019) and Clouds (2020).

Contents

Baldoni co-founded the production company Wayfarer Studios in 2019. Through his company he has produced and co-hosted the Man Enough podcast. He has also published two books centering on male privilege and toxic masculinity. [2]

Baldoni directed and starred opposite Blake Lively in It Ends with Us, a box-office success. Its contentious filming received substantial media coverage, as both Lively and Baldoni filed lawsuits related to the production. The New York Times first reported Lively's allegations of sexual harassment and retaliation. Baldoni responded by suing The New York Times and Lively.

Early life

Baldoni was born in Los Angeles, California, and was raised in Medford, Oregon to parents Sharon (née Solomon) and Sam Baldoni. [3] [4] His mother is Jewish, born to Ashkenazi Jewish parents Blanche (née Katz) and Daniel Solomon from Cleveland in Ohio, with roots in Central and Eastern Europe. [5] [4] Baldoni is therefore considered Jewish according to halacha (Jewish law), as Orthodox Judaism practices matrilineal descent. [6] His maternal grandfather served in the Second World War and Baldoni lost relatives in the Holocaust. [6] His father, Sam is from an Italian Catholic background. [7] His paternal grandfather is Louis Baldoni, a former Indiana state senator and Italian immigrant. [8] Baldoni was raised celebrating both Christmas and Hanukkah in honour of his Jewish and Catholic grandparents. [6] [7] However, he was raised practicing Baháʼí Faith, the faith which both his parents had converted to before he was born. [6] [7] Baldoni has visited Israel several times on Baháʼí pilgrimages. [7]

Baldoni played soccer and ran track in high school, and was a radio disc jockey at a local top 40 radio station. While moving into a new apartment building, Baldoni met a manager who advised him to pursue a career in acting. [9] He attended college at California State University, Long Beach on a partial athletic scholarship, but later dropped out. [10] In December 2024, Baldoni alleged he had "experienced sexual trauma" in a previous relationship when he was attending university. He said that he "wrestled with that trauma for the rest of my life, because in my head a man can't experience sexual trauma at the hands of a woman." [11]

Career

2004–2018: Early roles and Jane the Virgin

Baldoni made his acting debut in the soap opera The Young and the Restless in 2004. In 2008, Baldoni wrote, produced, and directed his first music video that was selected and won him his first "Audience Choice Award" at Dawn Breakers International Film Festival. [12] In 2012, Baldoni created a digital documentary series, My Last Days , a show about living—as told by the dying. [13] [14] The show eventually became one of the most-watched YouTube documentary series streamed online. [15] The second season of My Last Days aired on CW and third season was released in the winter of 2018. On the heels of that success Baldoni founded Wayfarer Entertainment, a digital media studio focused on disruptive inspiration. [16] In December 2018, Baldoni spoke at the annual End Well Symposium about why he believes that thinking about our death can help us live better. [17]

From 2014 to 2019, Baldoni played Rafael Solano in the CW satirical telenovela Jane the Virgin starring opposite Gina Rodriguez. [18] In May 2016 he launched a time-lapse video app for pregnant women and new moms called Belly Bump. [19] In 2018 he played a young Barry Minkow in the crime drama Con Man , directed by Bruce Caulk.

2019–present: Expansion to directing

Baldoni directed and produced CBS Films' Five Feet Apart , starring Cole Sprouse and Haley Lu Richardson, and based on an original script by Mikki Daughtry and Tobias Iaconis. The film was released on March 15, 2019, and chronicles the lives of two teenagers living with cystic fibrosis. [20] The film was a financial success but received mixed reviews. [21] [22] The following year he directed and produced Clouds , a film depicting the life of musician Zach Sobiech with Warner Bros. [23] [24] On May 14, 2020, it was announced Disney+ had acquired distribution rights to the film from Warner Bros., in light of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the film industry. It was released on October 16, 2020. [25]

In 2024 Baldoni directed, produced, and starred in the romantic drama It Ends with Us , based on Colleen Hoover's novel of the same name. [26] In the film, in which he acted opposite Blake Lively, Baldoni portrays a neurosurgeon who is a domestic abuser. The film became a box office hit, earning over $350 million, but it received mixed reviews from critics. [27] [28] Baldoni and Lively had a combative working relationship on the set, with Lively accusing him of sexually harassing her and creating a toxic workplace environment. Pulitzer Prize award-winning journalists Megan Twohey and Mike McIntire from The New York Times investigated the allegations and reported that Baldoni had hired a PR crisis firm in order to "bury her" through a coordinated smear campaign against her across social media platforms such as TikTok, Reddit, and X. [29]

Other ventures

Justin Baldoni at the 2017 SAMHSA award ceremony 2017 VOICE AWARDS (24072956348).jpg
Justin Baldoni at the 2017 SAMHSA award ceremony

Man Enough projects

In July 2017, Variety announced that Baldoni was developing a talk show through his media company Wayfarer Entertainment. The show, entitled Man Enough, is described as a disruptive panel series that explores what it means to be a man today. [30] Eight 25-minute episodes were to be distributed on the internet. [31] In 2021, Baldoni released a book under the same premise. [32] He began a podcast series under the same name with co-hosts Liz Plank and Jamey Heath. A children's version of the book Boys Will Be Human was released in October 2022. [33] Plank left the podcast in 2024 after The New York Times reported allegations that Baldoni sexually harassed Blake Lively. Plank wrote in a statement, "I will continue to support everyone who calls out injustice and holds the people standing in their way accountable". [34]

Wayfarer Studios

Baldoni co-founded a production company called Wayfarer Entertainment that produces television, films, and digital content. In 2019, Wayfarer sold a majority stake in the company to investment fund 4S Bay Partners, setting up a $25 million content fund, [35] [36] and was renamed Wayfarer Studios in 2020. [37] The most successful project to-date of the studio is the 2024 romance drama It Ends with Us , that Baldoni directs and stars in. The film has grossed $391 million at the box office. [38] The studios also partnered with the nonprofit No More, to provide resources and information related to the domestic abuse shown in the film. [39]

In 2014, Baldoni through Wayfarer Studios's philanthropic branch, Wayfarer Foundation started the annual Skid Row Carnival of Love in downtown Los Angeles. [40] [41] The event served between 4 and 5 thousand homeless individuals living around Skid Row providing career services such as "housing services, domestic violence services, dental and medical exams, an eye clinic, haircuts, and massages" and other festivities such as face-painting, live concerts, and children's activities. [40]

Personal life

After almost two years of dating, Baldoni married Swedish actress Emily Foxler, now known as Emily Baldoni. [42] He proposed to her in a 27-minute video which he released on his production company's YouTube channel where it went viral. He described it as "his first movie". [43] [44] [45] The couple married in July 2013 in Corona, California. [46] Together they have a daughter and a son. [47] [48]

Baldoni is a member of the Baháʼí Faith and has stated that for him it's a "daily source of inner happiness". [49] He has stated that he has ADHD. [50] [51] He has previously written and spoken about his struggles with Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). [52] [53] Baldoni is on the Board of Ambassadors of the Tahirih Justice Center, a nonprofit advocating for women, girls, and all immigrant survivors of gender-based violence. [54]

On December 20, 2024, actress Blake Lively filed a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department against Baldoni for sexual harassment and retaliation on the set of It Ends with Us (2024). [55] According to documents reviewed by The New York Times , after Lively raised concerns, Baldoni and producer Jamey Heath hired crisis management experts who allegedly coordinated efforts to "destroy" Lively's reputation through social media campaigns and strategic media placement. [29] Baldoni has denied the accusations, and his lawyer, Bryan Freedman, produced a statement describing Lively's claims as "completely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious." [56]

On December 21, 2024, the talent agency WME, shared with Lively and also her partner Reynolds, dropped Baldoni as a client. [55] [57] [58] Colleen Hoover, the author of the novel on which the film is based, released a personal statement supporting Lively. [59] Baldoni, who had recently received the Voices of Solidarity Award, had it rescinded by its sponsor, Vital Voices. [60] Baldoni's Man Enough co-host Liz Plank resigned from their podcast. [61] Sony Pictures released a statement standing by Lively, adding, "[W]e strongly condemn any reputational attacks on her. Any such attacks have no place in our business or in a civil society." [62]

In response to their reporting on the allegations by Lively, Justin Baldoni filed a libel lawsuit for $250 million against The New York Times for pushing an "unverified and self-serving narrative" using "cherry-picked and altered communications stripped of necessary context," and allegedly ignoring evidence disputing her claims. [63] Baldoni's lawyer stated, "In this vicious smear campaign fully orchestrated by Blake Lively and her team, the New York Times cowered to the wants and whims of two powerful ‘untouchable’ Hollywood elites, disregarding journalistic practices and ethics once befitting of the revered publication by using doctored and manipulated texts and intentionally omitting texts which dispute their chosen PR narrative." [63]

The New York Times has defended itself, saying, "The role of an independent news organization is to follow the facts where they lead. Our story was meticulously and responsibly reported. It was based on a review of thousands of pages of original documents, including the text messages and emails that we quote accurately and at length in the article. To date, Wayfarer Studios, Mr. Baldoni, the other subjects of the article and their representatives have not pointed to a single error. We published their full statement in response to the allegations in the article as well. We plan to vigorously defend against the lawsuit." [64]

On December 31, 2024, Lively filed a lawsuit against Baldoni, alleging that he and his public relations team had marshaled a sophisticated, multi-tiered plan to undermine her reputation in retaliation for speaking up about sexual misconduct on the set of the film. The complaint names Baldoni; his film studio, Wayfarer; and the two public relations representatives, Melissa Nathan and Jennifer Abel. Lively's attorneys issued a statement claiming that "Wayfarer and its associates have violated federal and California state law by retaliating against her for reporting sexual harassment and workplace safety concerns." [65]

On 16 January 2025, Baldoni's attorney filed a $400 million lawsuit against Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, and their publicist Leslie Sloan for civil extortion, defamation, and invasion of privacy. [58] The 170-page complaint, filed in the Southern District of New York, claims that Lively attempted to hijack control of the movie with demands and threats, and despite getting most of what she wanted, decided to accuse Baldoni of a smear campaign, "to deflect attention and blame for Lively's disastrous misjudgments... Lively would recast herself as the long-suffering martyr by portraying Baldoni and Wayfarer as her persecutors," according to the complaint. [58] Baldoni claims that the smear campaign alleged by Lively did not exist. [58]

Baldoni contends that Lively, along with Reynolds and Sloan, engaged in a coordinated effort to tarnish his reputation, derail his career, and obscure the film’s original purpose of highlighting domestic violence awareness. [66] The suit also claims that Lively weaponized her influence and media connections to create a false narrative, causing significant financial and emotional harm to Baldoni and his collaborators. [67]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
2005Yesterday's DreamPat
The Helix...LoadedJason
2008 The House Bunny Waiter
2009 After Dusk They Come Peter
Alpha Males ExperimentGavin
2010UnrequitedTodd Brown
2011Royal ReunionNickyShort film
Intervention: CinderellaAladdin
2013IsolatedAmbassador for Peace
Not TodayEli Hill
The ProposalJustinShort film
2014A Fine StepMarzo Bolivar
2018 Con Man Young Barry Minkow [68]
2019 Five Feet Apart —Director; also executive producer
2020 Clouds —Director
2023 The Senior —Producer
2024 The Garfield Movie —Executive producer [69]
Ezra —Executive producer [70] [71]
It Ends with Us Ryle KincaidAlso director and executive producer
Will & Harper —Executive producer [72]

Television

YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
2004 The Young and the Restless Ben3 episodes
Wedding Daze Guillermo ValerioTelevision film
2005 JAG AzzamEpisode: "Bridging the Gulf"
Spring Break Shark Attack J.T.Television film
Charmed SalkoEpisode: "Something Wicca This Way Goes"
2005–2006 Everwood Reid Bardem15 episodes
2007 CSI: Miami Damon ArgentoEpisode: "Cyber-Lebrity"
2008 The Suite Life of Zack & Cody DiegoEpisode: "Foiled Again"
2009 Heroes Alex WoolseyEpisodes: "Building 26" and "Exposed"
2010 The Bold and the Beautiful Graham Darros10 episodes
CSI: NY Heath KirkfieldEpisode: "Out of the Sky"
2011–2012 Single Ladies Derek4 episodes
2012BlackoutJosh MartinTV miniseries
Shadow of FearBobbyTelevision film
Undercover BridesmaidJake
2013 Happy Endings MarcusEpisode: "Fowl Play/Date"
2014–2019 Jane the Virgin Rafael SolanoMain role; 99 episodes
2017 Madam Secretary Kevin Park2 episodes

Bibliography

Notes

  1. ↑ Rose 2023.
  2. ↑ "Justin Baldoni books". Amazon. Retrieved January 13, 2025.
  3. ↑ Justin Baldoni TV Guide.
  4. 1 2 Spevack 2006.
  5. ↑ JP Staff 2024.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Gillott, Hannah (15 August 2024) How Jewish is Justin Baldoni? The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved on 31 December 2024
  7. 1 2 3 4 Karpen, Elizabeth (11 September 2024). Is Justin Baldoni Jewish? Unpacking the ‘It Ends With Us’ star’s heritage and connection to Israel Jewish Unpacked. Retrieved on 31 December 2024
  8. ↑ @justinbaldoni (February 11, 2017). "This is my grandpa Louis – he would be 113 today. In 1908 his dad ( my great grandfather) left his family in Pitigliano Italy, and crossed the Atlantic Ocean in search of the American dream" – via Instagram.
  9. ↑ "Justin Baldoni as Reid Bardem". FanBolt Entertainment. Archived from the original on June 18, 2019. Retrieved July 8, 2008.
  10. ↑ Baldoni, Justin (2021). Man Enough: Undefining my Masculinity. New York, United States: HarperCollins. p. 63. ISBN   9780063055599.
  11. ↑ Vanhoose, Benjamin (4 December 2024) Justin Baldoni Reveals He Was Sexually Traumatized by an Ex-Girlfriend When He Was 'Hoping to Save Myself for Marriage' People. Retrieved on 31 December 2024
  12. ↑ "DBIFF '08/Take II: Phoenix, Arizona". Archived from the original on November 16, 2010. Retrieved October 21, 2010.
  13. ↑ "Three-Part Documentary Event 'My Last Days' returns May 25th!". CBS Pittsburgh . May 21, 2018. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
  14. ↑ Gavilanes, Grace (August 16, 2016). "Justin Baldoni Talks My Last Days Docu-Series, Interview". People. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
  15. ↑ "CW Press | The CW | My Last Days | About". www.cwtvpr.com. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
  16. ↑ Wagmeister 2016.
  17. ↑ Purtill, Corinne (December 7, 2018). "The question actor Justin Baldoni asked himself to put his career and life back on track". Quartz. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
  18. ↑ Banks, Emma (August 1, 2024). "Before 'It Ends With Us," Justin Baldoni Starred in Jane the Virgin and Had a Viral Proposal Video". InStyle. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
  19. ↑ "Meet the Three Celeb Guys (Yes, Guys) Behind a New Pregnancy App". Fit Pregnancy and Baby. May 17, 2016. Archived from the original on May 19, 2016. Retrieved October 7, 2017.
  20. ↑ Busch, Anita (January 26, 2017). "CBS Films Buys Untitled Justin Baldoni Pitch In Vein Of 'The Fault In Our Stars'". Deadline. Retrieved January 21, 2020.
  21. ↑ "Five Feet Apart". Rotten Tomatoes . Retrieved December 21, 2024.
  22. ↑ "Boxofficemojo" . Retrieved December 21, 2024.
  23. ↑ "Disney+ To Premiere Inspirational Drama 'Clouds'". Disney Plus Press. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
  24. ↑ Kit, Borys (May 14, 2020). "Disney+ Picks Up Justin Baldoni's Teen Drama 'Clouds' From Warner Bros". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
  25. ↑ McNary, Dave (February 2, 2016). "Warner Bros. Developing Zach Sobiech 'Fly a Little Higher' Movie". Variety. Retrieved October 6, 2017.
  26. ↑ McNary, Dave (July 16, 2019). "Justin Baldoni Developing 'It Ends With Us' Romance Movie". Variety. Retrieved January 21, 2020.
  27. ↑ "It Ends With Us". Rotten Tomatoes . Retrieved December 21, 2024.
  28. ↑ "It Ends with Us". BoxOfficeMojo . Retrieved December 21, 2024.
  29. 1 2 Twohey, Megan; McIntire, Mike; Tate, Julie (December 21, 2024). "'We Can Bury Anyone': Inside a Hollywood Smear Machine". The New York Times . Archived from the original on December 22, 2024. Retrieved December 22, 2024.
  30. ↑ Wagmeister 2017.
  31. ↑ Stanhope, Kate (October 18, 2017). "Justin Baldoni's 'Man Enough' Talk Show Sets Talent, Premiere Date". Hollywood Reporter.
  32. ↑ "Man Enough - Justin Baldoni". HarperOne. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
  33. ↑ "Actor Justin Baldoni talks modern masculinity, life lessons for boys". TODAY.com.
  34. ↑ "Justin Baldoni's 'Man Enough' Co-Host Liz Plank Quits In Wake Of Blake Lively Allegations". Deadline Hollywood . December 24, 2024. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  35. ↑ Littleton, Cynthia (January 30, 2019). "Justin Baldoni's Wayfarer Entertainment Sells Majority Stake, Sets $25 Million Production Fund". Variety. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  36. ↑ Hayes, Dade (January 30, 2019). "Justin Baldoni's Wayfarer Entertainment Sells Majority Stake, Sets Up $25M Content Fund". Deadline. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  37. ↑ Conway, Jeff (August 8, 2024). "Meet the Wayfarer Studios Team Bringing 'It Ends with Us' to Theaters". Forbes .
  38. ↑ It Ends with Us (2024) Box Office Mojo. Retrieved on 1 January 2025
  39. ↑ Stephan, Katcy (14 August 2024) ‘It Ends With Us’: Justin Baldoni’s Wayfarer Studios Partners With Nonprofit No More to Provide Resources for Survivors of Abuse (EXCLUSIVE) Variety. Retrieved on 1 January 2025
  40. 1 2 Pener, Degen (11 July 2019) ‘Jane the Virgin’s’ Justin Baldoni Expanding Skid Row Carnival of Love The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved on 1 January 2025
  41. ↑ Reneau, Annie (February 14, 2020). "Justin Baldoni's 'Carnival of Love' brings a day of joy and services to 4,000 people experiencing homelessness". Upworthy. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
  42. ↑ Tak, Michelle (February 12, 2015). "Jane the Virgin Star Justin Baldoni and Wife Are Expecting a Baby! See Co-Star Gina Rodriguez's Cute Reaction". E! News. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  43. ↑ "Justin Baldoni Made a Viral Short to Propose to His Wife". LiveKellyandMark. December 10, 2024. Retrieved January 1, 2025.
  44. ↑ "Cole Sprouse & Haley Lu Richardson's Reaction To Justin Baldoni's Proposal Video Is Everything!". March 7, 2019. Retrieved January 1, 2025– via YouTube.
  45. ↑ "Justin Baldoni's 27-minute proposal video resurfaces amid co-star Blake Lively's lawsuit". The Independent . December 28, 2024. Retrieved January 1, 2025.
  46. ↑ Tak, Michelle (February 12, 2015). "Jane the Virgin Star Justin Baldoni and Wife Are Expecting a Baby! See Co-Star Gina Rodriguez's Cute Reaction". E! News. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  47. ↑ Leon, Anya (June 30, 2015). "Justin Baldoni Welcomes Daughter Maiya Grace". People. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  48. ↑ Juneau, Jen (October 22, 2017). "Justin Baldoni Welcomes Son Maxwell Roland-Samuel". People. Retrieved October 22, 2017.
  49. ↑ "How Justin Baldoni is opening his 'spiritual toolbox' to his kids during pandemic". Today. April 20, 2020. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  50. ↑ "Are you Man Enough? Justin Baldoni on Undefining Masculinity – MENTOR360" . Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  51. ↑ Rice, Nicolas (December 21, 2024). "Blake Lively Sues It Ends with Us Costar Justin Baldoni for Sexual Harassment, Claims He Caused Her 'Severe Emotional Distress'". People. Retrieved December 21, 2024.
  52. ↑ Reneau, Annie (30 April 2021) Justin Baldoni opens up about body dysmorphia and his struggles to be 'man enough' Upworthy. Retrieved on 31 December 2024
  53. ↑ 'Jane the Virgin's' Justin Baldoni on His Body Dysmorphia: 'I Never Feel Like I'm Strong Enough' People. 26 April 2018
  54. ↑ Board of Ambassadors Tahirih Justice Center. Retrieved on 1 January 2025
  55. 1 2 Patten, Dominic; Andreeva, Nellie (December 21, 2024). "Justin Baldoni Dropped By WME Following Blake Lively's Sexual Harassment Complaint". Deadline. Retrieved December 22, 2024.
  56. ↑ "Blake Lively Sues 'It Ends With Us' Co-Star Justin Baldoni for Sexual Harassment; His Lawyer Slams 'Shameful' Lawsuit Full of 'False Accusations'". Variety . December 21, 2024. Retrieved December 22, 2024.
  57. ↑ Richards, Bailey (December 21, 2024). "Justin Baldoni Dropped by His Talent Agency as Blake Lively Sues Him for Sexual Harassment". People. Retrieved December 22, 2024.
  58. 1 2 3 4 Wagmeister 2025b.
  59. ↑ Garner, Glenn; Patten, Dominic (December 22, 2024). "Colleen Hoover Supports Blake Lively Amid Justin Baldoni Lawsuit: "Never Wilt"". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved December 22, 2024.
  60. ↑ "Statement by Vital Voices on Decision to Rescind Voices of Solidarity Award". Vital Voices . Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  61. ↑ "Justin Baldoni's Podcast Co-Host Resigns After Blake Lively's Allegations: 'I Will Continue to Support Everyone Who Calls Out Injustice'". Variety. December 23, 2024. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  62. ↑ "Sony Condemns "Any Reputational Attacks" On Blake Lively From Justin Baldoni's Alleged Smear Campaign Against 'It Ends With Us' Co-Star". Deadline Hollywood . December 24, 2024. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  63. 1 2 Cho, Winston (January 1, 2025). "Justin Baldoni Files Libel Lawsuit Against New York Times Over Blake Lively Story". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  64. ↑ Siegel, Tatiana (December 31, 2024). "Justin Baldoni Files $250 Million Lawsuit Against New York Times Over Blake Lively Story: It Relied on Her 'Self-Serving Narrative' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  65. ↑ "Blake Lively Sues 'It Ends With Us' Co-Star and Director Justin Baldoni for Sexual Harassment". The Hollywood Reporter . January 2025. Retrieved January 1, 2025.
  66. ↑ (16 January 2025), Text .
  67. ↑ (16 January 2025), Text .
  68. ↑ Wilson, Lori (February 24, 2010). "The Bold and the Beautiful Interview: Justin Baldoni". Soaps.com. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  69. ↑ Chuba, Kirsten (May 19, 2024). "Justin Baldoni Explains Decision to Age Up Characters in 'It Ends With Us,' Credits Blake Lively for Getting Taylor Swift Song in Trailer". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
  70. ↑ Grobar, Matt (November 6, 2023). "Tony Goldwyn's 'Ezra' Secures U.S. Distribution With Bleecker Street Following TIFF Premiere". Deadline. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
  71. ↑ Vlessing, Etan (November 6, 2023). "Bobby Cannavale's 'Ezra' Lands at Bleecker Street". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
  72. ↑ "Will & Harper - Doc NYC". DocNYC. Retrieved December 21, 2024.

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It Starts with Us is a romance novel by Colleen Hoover, published by Atria Books on October 18, 2022. It is the sequel to her 2016 best-selling novel It Ends with Us. The novel continues from where It Ends with Us ended and centers on the relationship between Lily and Atlas. It alternates chapters between the first-person narration of Lily and Atlas. The sequel was first announced in February 2022. It became Simon & Schuster's most pre-ordered book of all time. Hoover wrote the novel as a "thank you" to fans of the first novel.

<i>It Ends with Us</i> (film) 2024 film by Justin Baldoni

It Ends with Us is a 2024 American romantic drama film directed by Justin Baldoni from a screenplay by Christy Hall, based on the 2016 novel by Colleen Hoover. The film stars Blake Lively alongside Baldoni, Brandon Sklenar, Jenny Slate, and Hasan Minhaj. The story follows florist Lily Bloom (Lively), whose troubled relationship with neurosurgeon Ryle Kincaid (Baldoni) is compounded when her ex-boyfriend Atlas Corrigan (Sklenar) re-enters her life.

<i>Daddio</i> (film) 2023 film by Christy Hall

Daddio is a 2023 American drama film produced, written and directed by Christy Hall. It stars Dakota Johnson as a young woman returning home to Midtown Manhattan from JFK International Airport by cab after a trip, who unexpectedly ends up conversing with her taxi driver.

Kjersti Flaa is a Norwegian journalist and entertainment reporter. She is known for her resurfaced interviews which have gone viral on social media with celebrities such as Claudia Kim, Anne Hathaway, and Blake Lively. Flaa was mentioned in The New York Times reporting detailing Justin Baldoni's alleged coordination with a crisis management team to smear Blake Lively following filming on It Ends with Us (2024). Flaa has denied any involvement in the smear campaign against Lively.

Between December 20, 2024 and January 21, 2025, a number of lawsuits were filed concerning various issues on the set of the 2024 film It Ends with Us. Director Justin Baldoni filed a libel lawsuit for $250 million against The New York Times. He also filed a $400 million civil suit against lead actress Blake Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and their publicist Leslie Sloan for extortion, defamation, and invasion of privacy. Lively counter-sued Baldoni for sexual misconduct, and sued Baldoni's production company Wayfarer Studios. Lively additionally sued two of Baldoni's public relations representatives, Melissa Nathan and Jennifer Abel, for violat[ing] federal and California state law by retaliating against her for reporting sexual harassment and workplace safety concerns.

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