Blake Lively Faces Controversy During It Ends With Us Production

Blake Lively on Aug. 8, 2024.
Credit:

Jeff Spicer/Getty

NEED TO KNOW

• A Sony Pictures executive admitted in a deposition to calling Blake Lively a “f—ing terrorist.”
• The remark came after Lively’s threat to quit It Ends With Us, according to testimony.
• The case is heading toward a key hearing in her lawsuit against Justin Baldoni.

A Sony Pictures executive referred to Blake Lively as a “f—ing terrorist” amid behind-the-scenes tensions on It Ends With Us, following the star’s threat to abandon the film unless her concerns were addressed, according to deposition testimony.

The comments were made by Andrea Giannetti, an executive vice president of production at Sony Pictures, during her deposition related to Lively’s ongoing legal dispute with Justin Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios.

Giannetti’s testimony was made public on January 20, shortly before a summary judgment hearing in Lively’s lawsuit against Baldoni, slated for January 22.

In the deposition conducted on September 23, Giannetti confirmed that she made the remark to producer Jamey Heath after learning that Lively had threatened to leave the project unless a list of requested changes—termed a “17-point list”—was approved without alterations.

When directly asked if she recalled calling Lively a “f—ing terrorist,” Giannetti answered affirmatively, stating, “Yes.”

Giannetti also testified that Sony had already invested approximately $28 million in the project and was facing challenges that could render the film unreleasable if production stalled.

Blake Lively; Justin Baldoni.

Mike Marsland/WireImage; James Devaney/GC Images

“There was a tremendous amount of money that had been invested and spent, and we had to finish the movie or it was unreleasable,” Giannetti remarked.

She further noted that while she did not recall specific comments from Baldoni or producer Heath that made Lively feel uncomfortable during production in mid-May 2024, she acknowledged Lively’s threat to withdraw unless her concerns were addressed.

Despite the tensions, Giannetti later sent Lively a congratulatory text after the film’s August 2024 release, commending her input.

In her message dated August 11, 2024, Giannetti wrote, “Blake, $50 million!! Your blood, sweat, tears, brilliant smarts, heart and soul in every single frame. My God, it’s incredible. Thank you 50 million times. And it’s only Saturday night.”

During her testimony, Giannetti affirmed that this message referred to the film’s successful box office performance, which she described as “gigantic” and notably strong for its genre and budget. She estimated that It Ends With Us had grossed nearly $350 million worldwide.

Additional materials released in the case include statements from actress Jenny Slate, who characterized the shoot as “disturbing,” noting she was “one of many” with similar feelings.

In a message included in the filings, Slate confirmed that both she and Lively had directly complained to Giannetti, asserting that Sony “agree[d] with us.”

Slate also criticized Baldoni, stating he was “truly a false ally,” and indicated her reluctance to support the image he was projecting as a “male feminist.” She added, “I honestly have never ever encountered anything like this dude.”

Attorney Sigrid McCawley, part of Lively’s legal team, commented on January 20, “As we head to trial, only Ms. Lively’s claims against the defendants remain. The Court dismissed Wayfarer’s retaliatory countersuit in its entirety last June.”

“The newly unsealed evidence contains never-before-seen testimony, messages, and evidence from numerous eyewitnesses backing the claims in Ms. Lively’s lawsuit,” McCawley stated. “The evidence includes Ms. Lively’s own testimony describing the harassment she faced, as well as new evidence from numerous women detailing their own disturbing experiences. The newly unsealed evidence shows that concerns raised by Ms. Lively and others were documented in real-time as early as Spring 2023, and Wayfarer understood them as ‘sexual harassment’ concerns. The evidence illustrates how Wayfarer refused to investigate but instead attempted to ‘bury’ Ms. Lively and others who spoke up through retaliation.”

A judge is anticipated to hear arguments regarding whether Lively’s claims will proceed to trial, which is currently set for May 2026.