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Blake Lively accused of 'embarrassing herself' by dominating young co-star from Justin Baldoni movie

The ongoing "It Ends With Us" legal drama has placed an unexpected spotlight on the film’s young co-star, Isabela Ferrer.

Ferrer played the teen version of Blake Lively’s character in the film, Lily Bloom, and the duo were paired together for multiple interviews.

Internet detectives put together a compilation of the actresses, claiming a pattern of Lively either talking over Ferrer or barely letting her get a word in for the duration.

"I’ve never heard someone say so much and nothing at the same time. It’s just so unreal," one person wrote under the TikTok video.

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"The BOTH of them are being interviewed, so Blake is embarrassing herself yet again by always hogging the spotlight and dominating the conversation, even when some questions are aimed for Isabella – Blake’s overinflated EGO has to take over. Smh [Shaking my head]. Dammit Blake, let her talk!" one person wrote in the YouTube comments of the video.

Another noted Ferrer looks all the better for her near silence, writing, "Actually in a way I feel like she won the conversation by not speaking much because now Blake is exposed for who she is. People can now see through the verbal hijacking and the glaring red flags that [were] there all along."

"Did anyone have an interview without her? I feel like she needed to speak for them so that they wouldn’t say anything they ‘shouldn’t,’" one person suggested on TikTok.

"The question isn't necessarily whether or not Blake stole the spotlight on purpose, but why it was done at all?" Kara Schmiemann of Senior Director, Red Banyan, told Fox News Digital. "The age of women seeing each other as competition and stepping on other women's toes to 'get their flowers' should be over." 

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"Women in any industry, especially in Hollywood, should be setting an example for the newcomers — setting the stage for them and making a seat at the table. Isabela may have wanted or needed a bit of mentorship–but it should never be at the expense of her moment to shine." 

Doug Eldridge of Achilles PR noted it may not have been intentional, explaining, "Lively was both the lead in the film and a more established star. There’s always a bit of jockeying for position during media sit-downs, but this was probably less sinister, and more about seniority."

Ferrer did have praise for Lively during other interviews around the time of the film’s premiere.

She told People Magazine in August that Lively was "an angel," and they shared a bond.

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"To be able to connect with the person that you're sharing a role with is huge, and she's just a really good person," the 25-year-old said.

Ferrer also told The Hollywood Reporter in a joint interview with Lively she felt supported by the star.  

"You came up to me and you were like, ‘I want you to know that this role is just as much yours as it is mine,'" she shared. "It was like the most supportive and uplifting thing to feel as a young actor coming into this, to feel like somebody like you who has such a high status and is so important in this project to also be like, ‘What do you think?’ That’s the biggest privilege and compliment."

The up-and-coming actress was further pulled into the legal drama surrounding the film last month when texts between her and her co-star and director Baldoni were revealed in legal documents.

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In the 179-page, $400 million lawsuit filed on Jan. 16 against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds and their publicist, Baldoni claims defamation and extortion over behind-the-scenes conflicts on the set of the movie.

One of the claims includes allegations that Lively "induced the other cast members to shun Baldoni, in an early attempt to give fans the impression that Baldoni had committed an egregious sin."

Ferrer was one of the film’s collaborators who reportedly unfollowed Baldoni on social media and was not photographed with him during the press run.

According to the lawsuit, "the unfollowing of Baldoni by cast members and even the author of the book," was "in stark contrast to the warm praise and appreciation cast members had until that point always showered on him."

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To that point, the filing contains screenshots of texts purportedly between Ferrer and Baldoni showing her thanking the actor and director "for an incredible experience" on her first feature film.

"I also have to say thank you SO so much for an incredible experience on my first film," Ferrer allegedly wrote. "I still can’t shake the feeling of it all because it truly was life changing for me, you are such a wonderful, smart and sincere director and you created such a comfortable, safe space for me to feel like I could fully step into this role.

"I couldn’t have asked for a more welcoming environment. It will stay with me for the rest of my life!!" she concluded.

The lawsuit highlights the point that, "Tellingly, Ferrer worked with Baldoni when Lively was not on the set; it was not until Ferrer spent substantial time with Lively during film promotions that Ferrer felt compelled to shun Baldoni in repudiation of her warm words."

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Fox News Digital reached out Ferrer, Lively, and Baldoni for comment.

Ferrer is unlikely to face any fallout from the legal drama, even as it shines an unexpected spotlight on the actress.

"Isabela's performance was incredibly strong, and being named in the drama is a footnote, at best," Schmiemann said. "Her image should remain intact. Her communications with Justin Baldoni were nothing but kind, grateful, and magnanimous. Most people who are looking at this situation unfold are not holding Isabela accountable for what is currently at play. With some time and carefully chosen next steps and projects, she should have a plethora of opportunities ahead of her."

Schmiemann also felt for Ferrer and her scene partner, Alex Neustaedter, who played young Atlas, that the "situation may have shone a spotlight on their name in a way that would not have occurred without the long-term news cycle that has been focused on this film. As long as any potential future statements and legal testimony continues to follow the current trajectory, the cast, as a whole, is unlikely to be impacted in the long run."

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She also noted that Brandon Sklenar, who played Atlas, and Jenny Slate, who played Baldoni’s sister in the film, "both have noteworthy credits to their names, with upcoming projects, and there is no reason to anticipate they would be harmed by this issue."

There is some risk though, according to Eldridge.

"If it is proven — through discovery, depositions, or actual cross-examination — that she or any other cast members had a more active role in the overarching dispute, then that stigma will certainly attach to some degree. But otherwise, a ‘guilt by association’ just for being part of the same cast and crew is far less likely."

"Hollywood, almost by definition, is a town based on drama and discord; this type of situation is not unprecedented — but the media coverage and eye-popping damages being sought might be," he added.

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As more of the legal drama unfolds, the unexpected scrutiny of Ferrer’s relationship to the movie and its battling stars is likely to fade.

"One or both parties will likely try to pull her to their respective side as this case progresses. But Isabela might want to take the ‘Switzerland’ approach: a permanent neutral state; no sides and no standoffs," Eldridge advised.

Ferrer is also unlikely to see either Lively or Baldoni defend her from public scrutiny, primarily for legal reasons.

"The Blake Lively legal camp likely isn't happy that this exchange exists, but then again, the actress did subtly align herself with Blake during the premiere — knowingly or not. As professionals, both camps are likely to be cautious not to continue to directly embroil Isabela into this saga."

Justin Baldoni tears up talking about 'intense year,' 'anxiety' in new interview

Justin Baldoni isn't holding back.

In an interview he did with "Gent's Talk" podcast, originally recorded in November 2024, Baldoni can be seen getting emotional as he discussed some issues he'd had over the past year.

"I had a intense year," he explained in a sneak peek for the interview that was shared to Instagram. "This morning I sent a text message."

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It's unclear what text message he's referring to in his comment.

"I had anxiety," he told the podcast host. When he was asked why, Baldoni said, "I haven't talked about this yet…."

The preview clip then cuts to a shot of Baldoni wiping his eyes and sniffling.

While promoting the episode on social media, the podcast explained that the interview was conducted in November as part of the "It Ends with Us" press tour. A description of the episode details that Baldoni talks about "the film, domestic violence, his relationship with his father, mental health, marriage and masculinity."

His interview is set to air in full on Monday at 2 pm ET.

While Baldoni doesn't explicitly mention Blake Lively or "It Ends with Us" during the clip, the interview was conducted just a month before Lively filed her complaint against him with the California Civil Rights Department. Shortly after, she filed her lawsuit against him in federal court.

In her complaint, Lively detailed allegations of sexual harassment, retaliation, intentional affliction of emotional distress, negligence and more against Baldoni and film producer Jamey Heath.

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Some of the issues allegedly addressed at an "all-hands" meeting at one point during the filming of "It Ends with Us" included no more showing nude videos or images of women to Lively, no more mention of Baldoni’s previous "pornography addiction," no more discussions about personal experiences with sex, no more descriptions of their own genitalia, no more adding sex scenes outside what was in the original script, no more discussions about Lively’s weight or deceased father and more.

However, Baldoni insisted in his own lawsuit filed in January that Lively "falsely" accused him in an attempt to repair her reputation following the fallout around the movie's press tour after the actress took control of the film.

"Lively could not tolerate her publicly tainted image for even a moment, and further could not accept that it was entirely of her own making," the lawsuit said. "She needed a scapegoat. And rather than admit and take accountability for her own mishaps, she chose to blame Plaintiffs, in a malicious and unforgivably public manner.

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"When she and [Ryan] Reynolds could not force Baldoni and Wayfarer to read a statement she and her representatives prepared, extorting them to ‘take accountability’ in defense of Lively’s actions, she lay in wait for months, preparing to publicly attack Baldoni by falsely claiming that he had sexually harassed her," the lawsuit alleged.

Earlier this month, a pre-trial hearing was held where Lively and Baldoni's lawyers were ordered to follow the New York Rules of Professional Conduct, which limit speaking to the press. Neither party will be allowed to make statements to the press that have a "substantial likelihood" of prejudicing a jury. However, the legal teams will be allowed to defend their clients in the media against publicity not created by either side.

The trial date remains set for March 2026.

Fox News Digital's Lauryn Overhultz contributed to this report.

Justin Baldoni launches new website with amended lawsuit, 'timeline of relevant events' in Blake Lively feud

Justin Baldoni's team has launched a new website amid his ongoing legal battle with "It Ends With Us" co-star Blake Lively.

The website, thelawsuitinfo.com, which was published Saturday, featured a landing page with links to two PDF files, including a copy of a newly amended complaint that the 41-year-old actor filed against the 37-year-old actress and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, and another document with a 168-page "timeline of relevant events" that showcased new emails and texts related to the case. 

Both documents were filed Friday in New York federal court ahead of the case's first hearing, which is scheduled for Monday.

Lively has claimed she was sexually harassed on the set of "It Ends With Us" and filed a lawsuit against Baldoni, his Wayfarer studio and former PR representatives in December. The same day Lively filed her suit, Baldoni filed a $250 million suit against The New York Times for a December article about Lively's lawsuit and the alleged smear campaign Baldoni attempted to run against his co-star.

Weeks later, Baldoni then named Lively and Reynolds in a separate $400 million defamation lawsuit in which he accused the Hollywood power couple of attempting to hijack "It Ends With Us" and create their own narrative. 

Baldoni's amended complaint alleged Lively had been working with The New York Times weeks before the article was published in December. 

The documents stated that metadata embedded within The New York Times article indicated the outlet "had already begun building its defamatory Article no later than October 31, 2024." 

The lawsuit claimed that "careful observers reported that viewing the HTML source code for the Article revealed references to a 'message-embed-generator' that referred [to a] date of ‘2024-10-31.’" 

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According to the documents, The New York Times created a tool to display Lively's texts in the article Oct. 31, which Baldoni's legal team suggested was evidence the story was first generated on or before that date.

"It may seem unsurprising and even respectable that a news organization should work for weeks or months before publishing a purported investigative report," the documents say. 

"But the significance of the timing of these elements of the defamatory Article is that they strip away the legal shields that Lively, the Times, and the other Lively Parties were likely relying on to protect their malicious acts of defamation, such as the litigation privilege and the fair reporting privilege."

In a statement to Fox News Digital, Baldoni's lawyer, Bryan Freedman, addressed the amended complaint. 

"The decision to amend our lawsuit was a logical next step due to the overwhelming amount of new proof that has come to light," Freedman said.

"This fresh evidence corroborates what we knew all along, that due to a blind pursuit of power, Ms. Lively and her entire team colluded for months to destroy reputations through a complex web of lies, false accusations and the manipulation of illicitly received communications.

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"The ongoing public interest in this case online has ironically shed light on the undeniable facts pertaining to The New York Times and how heavily Ms. Lively and her representatives were not only deeply involved in the attempted takedown and smear campaign of Mr. Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios and their teams but that they themselves initiated it."

In a statement to Fox News Digital, The New York Times Company's representative, Danielle Rhoades Ha, pushed back against claims made in the amended lawsuit.

"The Baldoni/Wayfarer legal filings are rife with inaccuracies about The New York Times, including, for example, the bogus claim that The Times had early access to Ms. Lively's state civil rights complaint," she said.

"Mr. Baldoni's lawyers base their erroneous claim on postings by amateur internet sleuths, who, not surprisingly, are wrong. The sleuths have noted that a version of the Lively state complaint published by The Times carries the date 'December 10' even though the complaint wasn't filed until more than a week later. The problem: that date is generated by Google software and is unrelated to the date when The Times received it and posted it."

Representatives for Lively did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.

Fox News Digital's Tracy Wright contributed to this report.

Blake Lively's brother-in-law apologizes if he's said anything 'unkind' as her Justin Baldoni drama escalates

Blake Lively’s brother-in-law this week "sincerely apologized" if he has said something that's "unkind" as the "It Ends With Us" actress continues her legal back and forth with former co-star Justin Baldoni. 

"Anytime I’ve said anything unkind about someone I’ve regretted it," Bart Johnson, a "Landman" actor, who is married to Robyn Lively, Blake’s older half-sister, wrote on X on Tuesday. "Fortunately that’s almost never and definitely not when I’m at my best."

He continued, "Regardless if it’s true or not, if it’s my opinion, even if I’m trying to speak truth or stand up for someone, it’s never good. Even in times where it might ‘feel’ justified and doing the right thing, it makes no difference. There’s a better way."

Johnson added that making cheap remarks is "below the standard I have for myself and I regret it. I do sincerely apologize to anyone I’ve hurt or let down by saying something that sounds mean. I’ll do better."

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He said that any of his followers would be "hard pressed" to find more than one time when he’s criticized someone on social media. 

"You can easily find a million times I’ve uplifted, support, encourage and uplifted my family, friends, followers & strangers," he wrote. "That’s what I’m committed to and where I find my happiness. We all have flaws and I’m definitely a work in progress and doing my best to grow and be better. Sending ALL my love to ALL of you." 

Johnson didn’t give any specifics in the lengthy post, but it comes a month after he appeared to call Baldoni a "fraud" in a since-deleted post, according to USA Today

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"He’s a fraud. He puts on the 'costume' of a hero, man bun and all. Used all of the trendy catchphrases & buzz words for his podcasts. None of it’s genuine," Johnson reportedly wrote on X in late December. "It’s all theater. And everyone fell for it. For years." 

Baldoni hosts the "Man Enough" podcast, which "explores what it means to be a man today and how rigid gender roles have affected all people," according to the website. "The show creates a safe environment for a range of perspectives to meet and stay at the table, exploring how the messages of masculinity show up in relationships, body image, privilege, fatherhood, sex, success, mental health and so much more. Instead of polarizing and demonizing men and masculinity, it invites all humans to participate and thrive in the world."

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Lively filed a sexual harassment suit in December against Baldoni, his Wayfarer studio and former PR reps that also alleged he had orchestrated a smear campaign against her. The same day Lively filed her suit, Baldoni filed a $250 million suit against the New York Times for a December article about the alleged smear campaign. 

Weeks later, Baldoni then named Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, in a separate $400 million defamation lawsuit in which he accused the Hollywood power couple of attempting to hijack "It Ends With Us" and attempt to smear him with their own narrative. 

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Both Lively and Reynolds were producers on "It Ends With Us."

Fox News Digtial's Tracy Wright contributed to this report.  

Justin Baldoni fires back at Blake Lively's gag order attempt, calling it 'tactical gamesmanship'

Justin Baldoni's legal team is not letting Blake Lively's gag order request go quietly.

Earlier this week, the actress demanded a gag order be enforced against Baldoni's lawyer, Bryan Freedman, after Freedman released unedited footage from the "It Ends With Us" set. 

In a court filing Tuesday, Lively's team slammed Freedman for making multiple statements to the media that could taint a jury should the actress's sexual harassment complaints against Baldoni make it to a courtroom.

On Jan. 23, Baldoni's lawyers filed a response, calling Lively's gag order attempt an "intimidation tactic" and "tactical gamesmanship."

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"Having publicly made ruinous allegations that the Wayfarer Parties can prove are false, the Lively Parties now invoke attorney disciplinary rules as an intimidation tactic," Baldoni's legal team wrote.

"The Lively Parties’ desire to force the Wayfarer Parties to defend themselves privately against allegations made publicly is not a proper basis for a gag order. It is tactical gamesmanship, and it is outrageous."

The filing states that, after a "bombshell" New York Times article included Lively's allegations of sexual harassment against Baldoni, releasing the unedited "This Ends With Us" footage has been vital to protecting their client.

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They called the backlash from the article "utterly calamitous," adding that Baldoni and his team have been "exiled from polite society" because of it. The letter also said Baldoni has suffered damages "totaling hundreds of millions of dollars due to Ms. Lively’s scorched-earth media campaign."

Representatives for Lively did not respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.

The unedited "This Ends With Us" video, shared by Baldoni's attorney and obtained by Fox News Digital, allegedly addresses the actress's claims about a slow-dance scene.

WATCH: JUSTIN BALDONI RELEASES UNEDITED 'IT ENDS WITH US' FOOTAGE FEATURING BLAKE LIVELY

Lively claimed Baldoni "leaned forward and slowly dragged his lips from her ear and down her neck as he said, ‘It smells so good,'" while filming a slow dance montage scene, according to her Dec. 20 sexual harassment lawsuit obtained by Fox News Digital. 

"When Ms. Lively later objected to this behavior, Mr. Baldoni’s response was, ‘I’m not even attracted to you.’"

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However, Baldoni insisted the comment was made in regard to Lively's own admission about her spray tan. Throughout the video, nearly 10 minutes of raw footage, Baldoni is directing the scene while Lively engages him in conversation because she states that it's "more romantic" than just staring at each other. 

While Baldoni snuggled into Lively's neck, the actor jokingly asked, "Am I getting beard on you today?" She laughed and said, "I'm probably getting spray tan on you."

Baldoni then stated, "It smells good," to which Lively responded, "Well, it's not that. It's my body makeup."

The videos "captured on May 23, 2023, clearly refute Ms. Lively's characterization of his behavior," a statement shared at the beginning of the clip stated. "The scene in question was designed to show the two characters falling in love and longing to be close to one another. Both actors are clearly behaving well within the scope of the scene and with mutual respect and professionalism. These are all three takes filmed of the sequence."

Lively's legal team claimed the unedited video is "damning evidence" and "corroborates" her allegations of sexual harassment.

"Justin Baldoni and his lawyer may hope that this latest stunt will get ahead of the damaging evidence against him, but the video itself is damning. Every frame of the released footage corroborates, to the letter, what Ms. Lively described in Paragraph 48 of her complaint," Lively's legal team said in a statement provided to Fox News Digital. 

"The video shows Mr. Baldoni repeatedly leaning in toward Ms. Lively, attempting to kiss her, kissing her forehead, rubbing his face and mouth against her neck, flicking her lip with his thumb, caressing her, telling her how good she smells, and talking with her out of character.

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"Every moment of this was improvised by Mr. Baldoni with no discussion or consent in advance and no intimacy coordinator present. Mr. Baldoni was not only Ms. Lively’s co-star, but the director, the head of studio and Ms. Lively’s boss.

"The video shows Ms. Lively leaning away and repeatedly asking for the characters to just talk. Any woman who has been inappropriately touched in the workplace will recognize Ms. Lively’s discomfort. They will recognize her attempts at levity to try to deflect the unwanted touching. No woman should have to take defensive measures to avoid being touched by their employer without their consent."

Last week, Baldoni filed a $400 million lawsuit against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds. 

Fox News Digital's Lauryn Overhultz contributed to this report.

Justin Baldoni calls Blake Lively's claims 'false and destructive,' lawyer says new lawsuit will expose truth

Justin Baldoni plans to "expose" what his lawyer calls a "false" narrative created by Blake Lively's legal complaint against the actor.

The actor's impending lawsuit will share the "truth" after Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment leading up to filming the Colleen Hoover-adapted movie, "It Ends With Us."

"This is not a response or countersuit – it’s a deliberate pursuit of truth," Baldoni's lawyer, Bryan Freedman, told People magazine.

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"This lawsuit will uncover and expose the false and destructive narrative that was intentionally engineered by a trusted media publication who relied upon nefarious sources and neglected a thorough fact-checking process to confirm the validity of these texts," Baldoni's lawyer said.

"There is an insurmountable collection of authentic evidence, including timelines and communications, which have not been doctored or spliced without context, unlike the altered ['New York Times'] story that ran on Saturday, December 21st 2024," the statement continued.

Fox News Digital reached out to Freedman for additional comment.

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Lively detailed allegations of sexual harassment, retaliation, intentional affliction of emotional distress, negligence and more in a complaint filed Dec. 20 with the California Civil Rights department.

The actress reportedly convened an "all hands" meeting on Jan. 4, 2024 regarding the alleged behavior of Baldoni and film producer Jamey Heath in which her husband, Ryan Reynolds, attended.

"Ms. Lively was forced to address concerns about Mr. Baldoni and Mr. Heath's misconduct with them directly, and began doing so months before filming began," the complaint, obtained by Fox News Digital, read. "The concerns she raised were not only for herself, but for the other female cast and crew, some of whom had also spoken up."

Some of the alleged behavior discussed included no more showing nude videos or images of women to Lively, no more mention of Baldoni’s or Heath's previous "pornography addiction," no more discussions about personal experiences with sex, no more descriptions of their own genitalia, no more adding sex scenes outside what was in the original script, no more discussions about Blake’s weight or deceased father, and more.

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At the time, all parties agreed that the outlined conduct would cease. Despite the agreement, Lively claims in the complaint that Baldoni executed and participated in a "social manipulation" campaign to "destroy" her career and reputation. 

"I hope that my legal action helps pull back the curtain on these sinister retaliatory tactics to harm people who speak up about misconduct and helps protect others who may be targeted," Lively told The New York Times in a statement.

Baldoni's lawyer denied the allegations to the outlet, saying: "These claims are completely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious with an intent to publicly hurt and rehash a narrative in the media."

Fox News Digital's Christina Dugan Ramirez contributed to this report.

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