Blake Lively Admits To Hijacking Films In Newly Resurfaced Video
A 2022 Forbes interview with Blake Lively is gaining traction online as her legal battle with It Ends With Us director and co-star, Justin Baldoni, intensifies. In the nearly three-year-old conversation, Lively openly discussed her desire for creative input beyond acting, an approach that has now been linked to allegations that she undermined Baldoni’s authority on set.
During the Forbes Power Women Summit, Blake Lively admitted that merely taking direction as an actress wasn’t fulfilling for her, explaining that she felt the need to have a say in aspects like costume design and writing. “I actually need to have authorship in order to feel fulfilled,” she stated, acknowledging that she often plays along in meetings to land roles before revealing her deeper involvement.
Without specifying any particular project — this interview occurred before she signed on to It Ends With Us — Lively noted that some directors and producers welcomed her input, while others resented what they saw as overstepping. Now, as her dispute with Baldoni unfolds, these comments are being scrutinized in a new light.
The Legal Dispute Between Lively and Baldoni
The resurfaced interview comes as Baldoni pursues a $400 million lawsuit against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, alleging they used their Hollywood influence to take over his role as director. According to Baldoni, Reynolds secretly altered the script without authorization, while Lively allegedly interfered in the editing process, even creating her own director’s cut. Baldoni claims she then pressured the studio to release her version by threatening to withhold promotion of the film.
Lively has countered these claims with a civil rights complaint, accusing Baldoni of invading her privacy, pressuring her to lose weight just months after giving birth, and orchestrating a PR campaign designed to damage her reputation. The lawsuit led to immediate fallout for Baldoni, who was dropped by his talent agency and lost an award for his advocacy work in women’s empowerment.
In response, Baldoni countersued, claiming Blake Lively falsely accused him of sexual harassment as part of a smear campaign. His lawsuit includes hundreds of text messages and outtakes from the film’s production, which he argues clear his name. The escalating legal drama is set for trial in March 2026.
Key Quotes from the Forbes Interview
In the resurfaced interview, Blake Lively acknowledged the fine line between advocating for her vision and being seen as difficult in the workplace. “It’s just as important to say ‘OK, I believe in this, and that’s why I’m standing up for it’ and there are other moments to go, ‘Am I the asshole in the room? What is happening here?’” she said. “It’s always important to check yourself.”
She further emphasized the importance of collaboration, stating, “It’s important to stand up for what you believe in and it’s also important to surround yourself with people who feel like they have a voice.”
Unanswered Questions
While the 2022 interview does not explicitly reference It Ends With Us, the timing has fueled speculation. Baldoni’s Wayfarer Studios secured the film rights in 2019, but Lively didn’t officially join the cast until 2023. Whether her past comments apply to this project remains unclear, but the legal battle suggests creative differences ran deep between the two.
Tension Over Film Production and Promotion
Baldoni’s countersuit details how Lively’s involvement extended far beyond acting. During the film’s press tour, he initially praised her as a “powerhouse of a creative and a wonderful collaborator.” However, his lawsuit tells a different story, alleging she actively sidelined him from the filmmaking process.
Baldoni claims he first learned of Reynolds’ script changes during an interview Lively gave, in which she credited her husband with writing one of the film’s key scenes. He alleges that he was pressured to accept the unauthorized revisions, with Lively enlisting a close friend — singer Taylor Swift — to influence the production team.
Further, Baldoni asserts that Lively pushed to have his image removed from promotional materials and tried to bar him from the film’s premiere. He ultimately attended but described the experience as “humiliating.”
As the legal battle continues, both sides remain locked in a high-stakes fight over creative control, reputations, and the future of It Ends With Us.
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Olivia Davis is a Staff Writer at All About The Tea. Olivia’s hobbies include binging Netflix series, and watching Housewives on Bravo. She graduated from San Francisco State University with a degree in History.
