Scarlett Johansson Named in Blake Lively’s Legal Battle with Justin Baldoni

The legal battle surrounding Blake Lively’s film, 2024’s “It Ends With Us,” has taken another unexpected turn, drawing in actress Scarlett Johansson. Newly surfaced audio from the case reveals discussions comparing Johansson’s demeanor on set to Lively’s, adding another layer to the ongoing dispute between Lively and director Justin Baldoni.

The audio, obtained by “Extra” and filed by Lively’s legal team, features Steve Sarowitz, co-founder of Wayfarer Studios, discussing his experiences working with both Johansson and Lively. Sarowitz was speaking with filmmaker Claire Ayoub when he contrasted his experience directing Johansson’s 2025 directorial debut, “Eleanor the Great,” with Lively’s performance on “It Ends With Us.”

According to the recording, Sarowitz described Johansson as “so cool, calm, collected and confident… and nice.” He then contrasted this with his experience with Lively, stating, “It’s so interesting, because you work with so many people. Almost everybody is nice and then there’s Blake — she is totally different than everyone else. Not to say anything bad about her, but she’s different.”

Sarowitz further elaborated, noting, “I think for the most part most people see what we are doing see we’re nice and they’re nice back. Even if they weren’t perfectly nice. I just think some people forgot to learn how to be nice.” This comment, while seemingly innocuous, has become part of the legal record as Lively pursues her lawsuit against Baldoni, alleging misconduct and violations of her personal boundaries during the production of “It Ends With Us.”

The origins of the legal drama stem from Lively’s initial lawsuit against Wayfarer Studios, which then prompted a defamation countersuit from Baldoni. While Baldoni’s countersuit has since been dismissed, a trial date is currently set for May 18, 2026.

The inclusion of Johansson’s name in the case is particularly noteworthy given her past relationship with Ryan Reynolds, Lively’s husband. Reynolds and Johansson were married from 2008 to 2011, before Reynolds married Lively in 2012.

Sarowitz also used the audio to express his desire to move past the “It Ends With Us” controversy, stating, “The ‘It Ends with Us’ drama is simply a drama. I’m done with it. Let the chips fall where they may.” He went on to defend Baldoni, claiming that the allegations against him were “all made up” and “manufactured on purpose to take Justin down.”

Sarowitz indicated a willingness to invest significantly in defending the studio, stating, “I will protect the studio like Israel protected itself from Hamas.” He added, “I’m going to spend a lot of money to make sure the studio is protected,” suggesting Wayfarer Studios had legal and public relations resources prepared in anticipation of a court battle.

The audio also reveals a shift in the relationship between Sarowitz and filmmaker Claire Ayoub, who worked with both Wayfarer and Baldoni on the 2024 film “Empire Waist.” Ayoub submitted a declaration in September 2025 detailing “repeated, negative interactions” with Baldoni, alleging “verbal abuse” and requesting that he be kept off set during much of the production.

The surfacing of this audio adds another dimension to the complex legal proceedings. While the specific implications of Sarowitz’s comments regarding Johansson and Lively remain to be seen, it underscores the tense atmosphere surrounding the production of “It Ends With Us” and the high stakes involved in the ongoing legal battle. Lively continues to pursue her claims of sexual harassment and defamation against Baldoni, with the trial scheduled to begin later this year.