The legal fight between actress Blake Lively and It Ends With Us director Justin Baldoni has intensified, with Lively’s legal team now issuing subpoenas to Scooter Braun, CEO of Hybe America, and the company itself.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the subpoenas are tied to crisis public relations veteran Melissa Nathan, who was brought in to represent Baldoni amid allegations Lively made of workplace misconduct. Lively’s lawsuit claims that Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios, retaliated against her by using social media to discredit her after she came forward with sexual harassment concerns.
Braun’s involvement in the case stems from Hybe Corp.’s investment in The Agency Group (TAG), the firm founded by Nathan. Braun and Baldoni have a documented personal and professional relationship, having previously appeared together on a podcast discussing the #MeToo movement. Lively’s legal team is reportedly investigating whether there are deeper ties between Braun, Hybe, and Nathan’s crisis management work for Baldoni.
The subpoenas come just two days after a federal judge dismissed Baldoni’s $400 million countersuit against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and several others. The countersuit, which alleged defamation and interference with contracts, was largely thrown out by the court.
Following the ruling, Lively’s team declared it a “total victory,” though the judge did allow for the possibility of an amended complaint related to limited contractual issues. Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, emphasized this point in a statement:
“While the Court dismissed the defamation-related claims, the Court has invited us to amend four out of the seven claims against Ms. Lively, which will showcase additional evidence and refined allegations.”
The case has even drawn in pop icon Taylor Swift, a longtime friend of Lively’s, who reportedly allowed one of her songs to be used in the film’s final cut. Swift had been expected to testify about her involvement in the project and her support for script changes made by Lively, though her appearance remains uncertain given the court’s recent ruling.
The dispute has attracted widespread media attention, both for its high-profile names and its broader implications about Hollywood power dynamics, retaliation, and the role of PR firms in crisis management. With subpoenas now reaching as far as Scooter Braun and Hybe America, it’s clear Lively’s legal team is pursuing every possible lead in building their case — and the courtroom drama surrounding It Ends With Us is far from over.