New court documents shed light on what some Sony executives allegedly think of what’s going on End With Us legal drama
According to unsealed court documents obtained by Us Weekly On Wednesday, January 21, several Sony executives privately noted that the negative publicity around Blake Lively it may have been the result of his own conduct.
Court documents allege that Sony’s president Sanford Panitch wrote in August 2024 that “selling hair at the same time was epically stupid,” referring to Lively’s Blake Brown line.
“She doesn’t want to listen. She knows better,” Panitch allegedly continued. “She did it to herself. If only she’d let it (Justin Baldoni) came to the premiere or didn’t have the entire cast unfollow him or cut him out of the movie and do what everyone in show business has ever done for time and commemoration, which is protect “the show,” then nothing would have happened from the investigation.”
The legal battle between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni continues with 181 pages of documents unsealed on Tuesday, January 20. In the documents, obtained by Us Weekly, several members of the cast of It Ends With Us – including Jenny Slate and Isabela Ferrer – were dismissed and hit Baldoni during his testimony. Communications between Lively (…)
On a separate note, Sony CEO Tom Rothman allegedly observed that while Lively, 38, didn’t “deserve” the backlash she was getting on social media, she “took it all by refusing to listen to advice … and selling her products.”
Lively cast Blake Brown in Instagram while in the End With Us press turns Weekly entertainment it was previously reported that the release was never meant to coincide with the End With Us premiere The film, however, was delayed by several months, just days before Lively’s planned debut in hair care.
On another note, Tahra Grant — Sony’s executive vice president and chief communications officer — allegedly wrote in August 2024 that Lively “orchestrated this whole drama in a totally unintelligent and amateurish way (and basically threatened … Sony) and is now mad that it backfired on her.”
Others at Sony, however, seemed impressed with Lively and the success of End With Us.
Blake Lively
Nicole Rivelli / Sony Pictures Releasing / Courtesy of the Everett CollectionIn an open statement on Tuesday, January 20, chairman of Sony’s film group Josh Greenstein he said he believed the End With Us edit Lively worked was “a stronger cut”.
“All he cared about was greatness,” Greenstein allegedly said. “I was incredibly impressed that, especially seeing everything she was doing in terms of cutting the film and marketing the film, that she, her creativity, took a good campaign and elevated it.”
Court documents also revealed alleged text messages between Lively and the Sony executive Angel Giannetti on August 11, 2024, days after the film’s release.
“Blake 50 million dollars!! Your blood sweat tears heart and soul shining in every frame,” Giannetti wrote as he celebrated the box office numbers. “Oh my god. This is amazing. Thank you 50m times and it’s only Saturday night.”
Lively starred alongside Baldoni, 41, in the 2024 film End With Usbased on the author Colleen Hooverthe book of the same name.
Months after the film’s release, Lively filed a complaint against Baldoni, who was also the film’s director, with the California Department of Civil Rights. The Gossip Girl Later, alum sued Baldoni for allegations of sexual harassment, which he has continued to deny.
Baldoni countersued Lively in late 2024, however his claim was dismissed in June 2025. A civil trial is scheduled to begin in May of this year.
Before a trial begins, unsealed evidence continues to emerge, offering insight into what allegedly went on behind the scenes of End With Us.
Blake Lively’s legal team is expanding as her lawsuit against Justin Baldoni nears trial. Us Weekly can confirm that Lively, 38, has hired attorney Sigrid McCawley, who is a longtime advocate for Jeffrey Epstein’s victims, including Virginia Giuffre. “It is a privilege to work with Blake Lively’s world-class legal team on a (…)
according to separate court documents obtained by we On Tuesday, Hoover, 46, sent an email to Sony on July 14, 2024, expressing doubts about attending the End With Us premiere
Hoover allegedly said she was “used to being neutral” and doesn’t like to “grind people or pick sides.”
In his email to Sony, however, Hoover could not promise to attend the premiere if Baldoni’s team was going to be present.
“I went back and forth every day between continuing to appear in this movie or going into hiding because it’s all causing me anxiety and bringing attention I’m not ready/used to,” she wrote. “Of course, in a perfect world, we’d put it all aside and everyone could smile for the cameras, but feelings have been hurt and boundaries have been crossed. I can see where Blake is coming from if he chooses not to attend, because if I were in his shoes, I’m not so sure I could handle seeing someone else take what should be a great effort and a great effort to share his great effort and recognition. It’s a moment of celebration with people you can’t celebrate with.”
Blake Lively’s alleged feud with director and co-star Justin Baldoni on the set of It Ends With Us erupted into multiple lawsuits in 2025. The former Gossip Girl star began the legal battle by filing a complaint with the California Department of Civil Rights and later suing Baldoni over allegations of sexual harassment. Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan (…)
On August 6, 2024, Lively, Hoover, and Baldoni attended the New York premiere of End With Us.
In response to unsealed court documents, Sigrid McCawley said a member of Lively’s legal team we in a statement that evidence shows that “the Sony/Lively cut was chosen for release and was an unprecedented success, earning more than $80 million in its opening weekend and more than $351 million at the worldwide box office.”
“The evidence shows that Ms. Lively worked closely with author Colleen Hoover on the cut. Sony supported this cut, Ms. Hoover expressed her preference for this cut, Wayfarer approved it, and the book’s most devoted fans reacted to the Sony/Lively cut with tremendous enthusiasm at Ms. Hoover’s Book Bonanza charity event,” the statement continues. “Sony/Lively cut netted Sony and Wayfarer hundreds of millions of dollars.”