After being dropped by WME and sued by Blake Lively for sexual harassment and an alleged online smear campaign, Justin Baldoni has now made it clear that he never wanted to work on a Disney project.
That's certainly the tone and potential immediate impact of a January 7 letter sent to Marvel CEO Bob Iger and Marvel president Kevin Feige. And it ends with us The co-star/director team is demanding that Disney “preserve evidence” related to last year's massive hit Deadpool Wolverine.
The letter said the correspondence was sent in anticipation of “the commencement of litigation against” Merck's same-sex company, Ryan Reynolds and Lively.
This is not the first time Reynolds has been mentioned in files or conversations about the increasingly bitter dispute between Lively and Baldoni over what happened during and after the making of the film. And it ends with usA film about domestic violence based on Colleen Hoover's 2016 novel. The A-list leading man, Reynolds has done plenty of appearances in almost every suit, but now, in a classic distraction tactic, he's the star attraction.
We're looking forward to collecting everything and anything starring Reynolds and Hugh Jackman Deadpool Wolverinewhich saw a convincing cameo by Lively in the role of Ladypool, the five-page correspondence from Baldoni's boxing lawyer, Bryan Freedman, wants no stone, smartphone, necklace, Blackberry, paper or floppy disk left unturned.
Not a lawsuit but certainly a sign of one to come, the cross letter, a copy of which was obtained by Deadline, also throws a grenade into the already explosive, multi-lawsuit situation.
Rounding out among the Disney/Marvel demands on Baldoni's part is a request for “all documents and communications relating to complaints of sexual or other harassment against Ryan Reynolds by any person.”
What nonsense?
Although Lively cites numerous instances of alleged sexual harassment, body shaming and more by Baldoni during the 2023 production of And it ends with us In her legal action, there was no indication of any such behavior by her highly successful husband – and this insinuating letter offers nothing to substantiate such accusations. There's also hope for director Tim Miller, who directed the first film dead pool The film reportedly had friction with Reynolds in the expanding Lively vs Baldoni saga.
Clickbait aside, the real guts of the obviously not-so-nice message revolve around the character of Nicepool, the tall, bisexual, sympathetic version of Deadpool who appears about halfway through the superhero film, which has grossed $1.34 billion so far at the box office in All over the world.
Among the detailed demands in the letter to Iger (who is currently managing Disney's response to the L.A. wildfires and the toll on employees outside a hotel evacuated, I've heard) and Feige, there are some clear words about how harshly Baldoni feels he's been treated by Reynolds. In the third half dead pool flick.
“I don't even say,” Deadpool says to Nesball Reynolds at one point in the film, after the latter comments on how “cool” Ladypool had a baby too, and you can “I'm not even saying.” Without an ounce of self-awareness, Nesball quips, “It's okay, I consider myself… Feminist activist.
In addition, the letter asks Disney to maintain a potential lawsuit:
- Any and all documents related to the development of the “Nicepool” character in Deadpool Wolverineincluding but not limited to all documents and communications relating to the development, writing and filming of storylines and scenes involving “Nicepool”.
- Any and all documents relating to or reflecting any intentional attempt to associate the “Nicepool” character with Justin Baldoni
- Any and all documents relating to or reflecting a deliberate attempt to ridicule, harass, ridicule, intimidate or bully Baldoni through the persona “Nicepool”“
“There's no doubt it's about Justin,” Friedman told his friend and client Megyn Kelly earlier this month. “I mean, anyone who saw that hair bun — if someone is being subjected to serious sexual harassment, don't make fun of it. It's a serious matter.”
Justin Baldoni's lawyer says Ryan Reynolds, left, attacked Baldoni via Deadpool Wolverine Niceball
Disney/Arnold Turner/Getty Images for Wayfarer Studios
Now, with most of Hollywood shut down by the wildfires, which left Friedman's home in ashes among thousands of others in Palisades and elsewhere in Los Angeles County, there has been no legal action against Lively or Reynolds brought by Baldoni, the public relations team of Melissa Nathan and Jennifer Appel, or others named in Lively's December 20 complaint to the California Department of Civil Rights that filed the unclassified order. And it ends with us tension to the surface.
Of course, Lively launched a formal sexual harassment and retaliation suit against Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios, Nathan, Abel and others on New Year's Eve. That was the same day Baldoni and his gang went after him New York Times For $250 million with accusations that the text chosen by the Gray Lady appears to be an insulting message and more so to Jane the Virgin Crisis alum's PR team in a well-researched article on December 21 about Lively's CRD filing.
As a sideshow of sorts, there's also the defamation and breach of contract suit filed in New York state court by Stephanie Jones, head of Baldoni's old PR firm, against Baldoni, his Wayfarer Studios, and publicists Nathan and Appel.
So far, no one is really talking about this latest message. Friedman received a release for his loss from the fires, and Lively's team did not respond to a request for comment on the letter to Disney when contacted by Deadline. The folks at Disney and Marvel were also not found on this matter when we sought to contact them.
If Disney or Lively representatives respond, this post will be updated.
In the meantime, be safe, the wind is expected to pick up again in the next day or so – and play nice.
diverse He was the first to report news of the letter to Disney.
