Justin Baldoni’s Former Agency Urges Him To ‘Just Stop’ Attacking Blake Lively

The expertise company government who allegedly made the choice to take away Justin Baldoni from its roster believes the “It Ends with Us” director ought to permit the authorized “course of play out” in his ongoing dispute with Blake Lively.

Ariel Emanuel, the pinnacle of expertise company WME, confirmed that his agency dropped Baldoni as a consumer in December, shortly after Energetic filed a sexual harassment lawsuit in opposition to him and his “It Ends with Us” co-producers.

Talking throughout a dwell “Freakonomics” podcast look in Los Angeles on Thursday, February 13, Emanuel reaffirmed his help for Blake Energetic and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, amid their authorized battle with Justin Baldoni.

“Social media is a very good factor at occasions as a result of it lets stars join with their followers, however these two guys used it in an evil approach, if that’s true,” Emanuel said, seemingly referring to Baldoni and Jamey Heath, Baldoni’s co-producer and the CEO of Wayfarer Studios. Each males had been named in Energetic’s lawsuit, which accuses them of sexual harassment and orchestrating a coordinated on-line marketing campaign to tarnish her popularity.

“We simply must be cognizant that they need to now not be on the market intimidating folks, utilizing social media to attempt to harm them,” Emanuel added. “And utilizing what that they had been doing previous to it now to go in opposition to them. They need to simply cease. In the event that they assume they’re harmless, they need to let the method play itself out.”

Emanuel’s company represents each Energetic and Reynolds, making the authorized battle much more high-profile. Baldoni’s authorized workforce beforehand named Reynolds in a $400 million lawsuit filed in January, accusing the couple and their publicist, Leslie Sloane, of extortion, defamation, and different claims.

Defending Energetic and Reynolds, Emanuel remarked, “These are good individuals who have been within the enterprise for many years and have by no means had any unhealthy press about them. And all of the folks they’ve labored with like them.”

When requested immediately about Baldoni, Emanuel didn’t hesitate to substantiate, “I fired him,” including, “I’m a ride-or-die.”

The authorized dispute between Baldoni and Energetic has continued to draw public scrutiny. In late January, Baldoni’s attorneys launched a web site titled Lawsuit Info, linking to his amended criticism filed in court docket on January 31.

Presently, the web site options two key hyperlinks: The Amended Grievance, a full authorized doc filed by Baldoni and his manufacturing studio in opposition to Blake Energetic and Ryan Reynolds, which outlines his allegations of defamation, extortion, and false accusations; and The Case Timeline, a chronological breakdown of key occasions, together with when Baldoni first acquired the rights to It Ends with Us and the developments main as much as Energetic’s accusations.

Baldoni’s authorized workforce, led by famend legal professional Bryan Freedman, knowledgeable TMZ that the web site can be often up to date to current a clear and factual timeline of occasions. The target is to present the general public entry to the proof, permitting them to attract their very own conclusions.

With hundreds of thousands of {dollars}, reputations, and careers hanging within the steadiness, the authorized dispute between Justin Baldoni and Blake Energetic is much from settled. Now, the battle is unfolding not solely within the courtroom but additionally within the public eye.

Throughout a pre-trial listening to in early February, a decide urged each events to chorus from publicly litigating the case after Energetic’s authorized workforce requested a possible gag order in response to Baldoni’s website, leaked behind-the-scenes footage from “It Ends with Us,” and statements made by his attorneys.

Energetic first filed a lawsuit in opposition to Baldoni, his manufacturing firm, and others in New York in late December, alleging sexual harassment and reputational hurt whereas looking for unspecified damages. Baldoni responded with a countersuit, accusing Energetic and Reynolds of defamation and extortion. He’s looking for a minimal of $400 million in damages.

Regardless of ongoing tensions, each side seem ready to maneuver ahead with a trial. In a letter filed in New York federal court docket on February 13, attorneys for each events acknowledged that partaking in settlement talks at this level could be “inappropriate” and “untimely.”

Because it stands, Energetic and Baldoni are scheduled to face off in a civil trial starting on March 9, 2026.