JUSTIN BALDONI'S 179-PAGE LAWSUIT GOES VIRAL AS ONLINE SLEUTHS MOBILIZE
- Melissa Fleur Afshar
- Jan 26
- 6 min read
Updated: Mar 2
Newsweek Exclusive Feature
Justin Baldoni's $400M lawsuit against Blake Lively has sparked online frenzy as fans run to dissect the Hollywood feud.
Social media has taken center stage in the unfolding legal battle between Hollywood stars Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively.
Social media users, armed with curiosity and an appetite for drama, have been busy dissecting every detail of Baldoni's most recent $400 million lawsuit against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and her publicist, Leslie Sloane. The suit alleges civil extortion, defamation, and a host of other claims in what Baldoni describes as a campaign of reputational sabotage.
The lawsuit is the latest escalation in a feud that began during the production of the film It Ends With Us, which Baldoni produced and co-starred in alongside Lively—best known for starring in Gossip Girl.
What started as workplace tensions quickly snowballed into a public relations war, capturing the attention of millions online. Darija Grobova, a public relations team lead at Omnisend, told Newsweek that the public fascination with the clash stems from the case's blend of high-stakes Hollywood drama and strategic messaging.
"This case exposes how strategic messaging—by both sides—shapes public perception before the legal system even has its say," Grobova told Newsweek.
Newsweek had reached out to Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni's representatives for comment before publication, including Lively's publicist, Leslie Sloane.
Internet sleuths, particularly on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube, have been busy combing through the details of the legal filings, sharing their interpretations with their large followings.
One creator, @bee.better.company, posted a nine-minute video summarizing Baldoni's 179-page lawsuit, which also includes allegations against Reynolds for production interference during the filming of It Ends With Us.
The TikTok user, who has 1.1 million followers, revealed they spent nine hours combing through the documents, ultimately gaining 1.3 million likes for their candid take on the case.
"Unless Lively has a big smoking gun, like a video of Baldoni harassing her, then I am terrified for her and Ryan Reynolds' reputation," the creator told viewers online, adding that the court battle could have devastating career implications for the couple if Baldoni's allegations hold up.
This sentiment reflects a broader tension in online discussions, where viewers weigh the credibility of claims on both sides.
Lively and Reynolds have been in the spotlight since December, when Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment and organizing a "social manipulation" campaign against her.
Baldoni has categorically denied the allegations, calling them "false and defamatory" while initiating his own legal actions.
His latest lawsuit against Lively follows his $250 million defamation suit against The New York Times, which he claims published damaging and misleading information about him.
The allegations detailed in Baldoni's lawsuit have become fodder for this latest wave of online speculation. Creators have pointed to the now-public text messages and accounts of Baldoni and Lively spending time together on set and in each other's homes, which some believe could have caused friction in Lively's marriage.
"It seems, from transcripts and accounts, that one of them developed feelings," @bee.better.company speculated, suggesting that Reynolds' alleged jealousy may have fueled the conflict and his clash with Baldoni.
The Canadian-American actor, best known for Deadpool, had met Lively on the set of Green Lantern while in a relationship. The creator said to viewers online that it is not unlikely for Reynolds to feel worried about his wife developing feelings for another actor at work, as that is how they met and fell in love.
Other creators have scrutinized claims about the film's production environment.
While Lively alleged there was no intimacy coordinator on set, Baldoni's legal team has provided evidence to the contrary. These revelations have raised questions about the accuracy of Lively's claims, further fueling online debates.
Two TikTok creators, @getjodi and @notoriousraven, took to the platform on January 22 to point out the stark contrast in how Lively appeared around Baldoni in newly-released footage with the claims she had made about him sexually harassing her.
The creators broke down how Lively appeared to initiate intimacy with Baldoni by pulling him in for kisses while appearing comfortable, content and perhaps even a little flirtatious during private conversations while filming.
The behind-the-scenes footage had been released by Baldoni's team.
"Right now as it stands, my video has 2.4 million views, which is astounding to me," Jodi Rollins, an event producer who posts under @getjodi, told Newsweek. "When the situation with Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively started gaining popularity I found it to be a very interesting and tragic story.
"I do not give my opinion or put people down, I just share my observations and opinions...I am also someone that believes that two things can be true at the same time, for example, maybe Justin Baldoni is not as squeaky clean as people seem, and maybe Blake Lively is not either."
The 54-year-old creator, who is based in New England, says that she steers away from presenting herself as "Team Justin" or "Team Blake" in her content, and simply enjoys storytelling and summing up trending topics for her digital audience.
Rollins, who used to host the podcast Big Time Small Talk, says that she feels people seem keen to discuss "more frivolous" topics like celebrity news and the drama between Lively and Baldoni, due to the "state of the world" and the more serious world issues at play.
What Happens Next?
The legal dispute has not only captivated viewers online but also underscored the complex power dynamics in Hollywood.
Grobova said that both parties have mishandled the situation by letting it spiral into what she describes as a "PR war."
She told Newsweek: "When big and personal lawsuits become public, they take on a life of their own. Every new detail fuels more speculation, and social media makes it impossible for the story to stay contained.
"People feel invested and want to form their own opinions of who is right or wrong," the public relations expert added.
Public opinion appears divided, with some viewers sympathetic to Lively's allegations while others express skepticism about her motives.
The case has also ignited conversations about the reliability of allegations in the post #MeToo era, as some social media users argue that false claims can undermine the movement's progress and the safe space it endeavored to create to help victims come forward.
The public relations team lead added that the internet's role in amplifying the drama cannot be understated. Platforms like TikTok and
Instagram have become battlegrounds where users analyze celebrity court documents, scrutinize past interviews, and debate the authenticity of both sides' narratives.
Grobova emphasized that once a story like this gains momentum online, it becomes almost impossible to control.
"In today's media landscape, no scandal lasts forever," she said, adding that both parties could still rehabilitate their reputations if they navigate the aftermath strategically.
"Baldoni could position himself as someone who fought against media bias, tapping into the growing backlash against cancel culture," she said. "Lively, on the other hand, could focus on moving forward with new projects and staying silent until the dust settles.
"In Hollywood, comebacks happen all the time."
For now, the public is left to watch as the legal proceedings unfold. With Baldoni and Lively both vying to control the narrative online, the outcome of their lawsuits will likely have lasting implications—not just for their careers but for the broader conversation about power, privilege, and accountability in Hollywood.
Creator, @bee.better.company summed up the stakes: "If this goes to court, it could be the end of them forever."
"Blake Lively is cooked, her career will never recover from this," another, @getjodi, told her digital audience. "You cannot recover from this kind of stuff in today's modern era.
"Once the public turns against you, you're done."
Newsweek reached out to @bee.better.company, @getjodi and @notoriousraven for more information via TikTok and email.
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