Newly revealed court documents show that Justin Baldoni’s former agent once described Blake Lively’s behavior as “extortion” during the making of It Ends With Us, highlighting the deep tensions that emerged behind the scenes of the film’s production.
According to People magazine, the comments came from a deposition transcript involving Danny Greenberg, a WME agent who represented Baldoni, 41, at the time. Greenberg used the term in July 2024 while discussing conflicts between Baldoni, who directed and co-starred in the film, and Lively, 38, his leading actress.
The documents indicate that Greenberg helped Baldoni draft emails to Sony Pictures referring to Lively’s “continued extortion and effort to gain control of the film.” However, Greenberg later clarified that his use of the word “extortion” was not intended to suggest criminal activity.
“My use of the word extortion there was referencing just cumulative behavior that both the studio and [production company Wayfarer Studios] and Justin were having to manage,” Greenberg testified. Greenberg also said that Lively had made certain “threats” tied to the film’s August 2024 premiere and that he had discussed her alleged behavior with Sony production executive Ange Giannetti.
Tensions between the two stars became public months later, in December 2024, after the release of It Ends With Us. Lively filed a sexual harassment complaint against Baldoni, accusing him of inappropriate conduct during production and of orchestrating a retaliatory smear campaign following the dispute. Baldoni has denied all allegations.
In response, Baldoni filed counterclaims against Lively and her husband, actor Ryan Reynolds, accusing them of extortion and defamation. Those claims, however, were dismissed by a judge in June 2025. His legal team chose not to refile. Despite the dismissal of Baldoni’s counterclaims, Lively’s original lawsuit remains active.
Her sexual harassment and retaliation case is scheduled to go to trial on March 9, 2026. The controversy has cast a long shadow over the romantic drama, which was adapted from Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel. While the movie found commercial success upon its release, the ongoing legal battle between its two leads continues to dominate headlines.
As both sides prepare for trial, Greenberg’s deposition adds another layer to the complex legal and personal fallout from the film’s production. His testimony underscores how strained relationships and behind-the-scenes conflicts can spill far beyond Hollywood’s soundstages and into the courtroom.