Justin Baldoni Fires Back After Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds’ Agent Mocks His Name Amid Legal Battle
Justin Baldoni has responded to a mocking remark made by Ari Emanuel, the powerful Hollywood agent representing Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds.
The public exchange comes as tensions continue to escalate amid the ongoing legal battle between Baldoni and Lively.
Emanuel, the CEO of Endeavor—the parent company of WME, one of Hollywood’s top talent agencies—recently spoke at a live taping of the Freakonomics podcast in Los Angeles.
During the event, he referred to Baldoni, 41, as “Bologna,” prompting a sharp response from the actor’s legal team.
Baldoni’s Lawyer Fires Back
Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, quickly addressed Emanuel’s comments in a statement to DailyMail.com.
“Mr. Ari Emanuel is notably one of the best agents, and clearly the most loyal, in Hollywood,” Freedman stated. “As I understand it, Justin hasn’t been called ‘Bologna’ since the fifth grade. Perhaps Ari’s perspective would be different if they had ever met in the half-decade they were clients of his agency.”
Baldoni was dropped from WME on December 21, the same day reports surfaced that Lively had sued him for alleged sexual harassment and retaliation. During the Freakonomics podcast, Emanuel confirmed that he had personally severed ties with Baldoni, saying, “I fired him.” He also reaffirmed his loyalty to Lively and Reynolds, stating, “I am a ride-or-die.”
The Legal Battle Between Baldoni and Lively
Emanuel’s remarks came just days after Lively intensified her legal efforts against Baldoni. The Gossip Girl actress recently subpoenaed major cell carriers, including AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon, in search of further evidence to support her claims. She is also seeking records from internet providers Cloudflare and AOL, as well as crisis consultant Jed Wallace, whom she has accused of orchestrating an online smear campaign against her on Baldoni’s behalf.
Lively alleges that Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios hired crisis PR specialist Melissa Nathan to discredit her and tarnish her reputation. Her legal team has pointed to text messages that suggest Baldoni’s team deliberately attempted to manipulate public perception against her. One exchange, reportedly between Nathan and another publicist, included messages discussing how to “bury” Lively’s reputation.
Wallace has denied involvement in any smear campaign and has since filed a $7 million defamation lawsuit against Lively.
Baldoni’s Counterclaims
Baldoni, who directed and starred in It Ends With Us alongside Lively, has vehemently denied all allegations against him. In response to Lively’s lawsuit, he filed a $400 million countersuit against her, Ryan Reynolds, and their publicist Leslie Sloane, accusing them of civil extortion, defamation, and invasion of privacy.
In an effort to clear his name, Baldoni also launched a website detailing his version of events. The site includes his amended legal complaint, a timeline of relevant incidents, and messages he claims provide additional context to refute Lively’s accusations.
Baldoni’s legal team argues that Lively’s claims of sexual harassment stem from misunderstandings about professional conversations regarding intimate scenes in It Ends With Us. He contends that an intimacy coordinator was involved in the production from the start and that any discussions about on-screen intimacy were strictly professional.
Text messages between Baldoni and Lively, which have been included in court documents, reportedly show that he hired an intimacy coordinator in April 2023 and offered to introduce Lively to her. However, Lively declined to meet with the coordinator until filming began, which Baldoni claims led to confusion regarding the implementation of intimate scenes.
Hollywood Divided
The lawsuit has sparked heated debates within Hollywood, with many in the industry taking sides. Emanuel’s unwavering support for Lively and Reynolds has fueled speculation about broader power dynamics in Hollywood, as Baldoni fights to defend his reputation.
Despite the controversy, both sides remain firm in their positions. Lively’s legal team insists they are determined to uncover the truth, while Baldoni continues to maintain his innocence.
As the legal battle plays out in court, the public remains divided. With both parties gathering evidence and issuing strong public statements, the case is set to be one of the most high-profile Hollywood legal disputes in recent years.
Baldoni, Lively, and Reynolds are expected to go to trial in New York on March 29, 2026.
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