Prior to her drawn out legal battle with Justin Baldoni, Blake Lively pleaded with the Producers Guild of America to acknowledge her work as a producer.
In a lengthy January 25, 2024 email to the guild obtained by the Daily Mail — and used to determine that most of her claims against Baldoni could not proceed — The “Gossip Girl” alum wrote to “bare her heart” in asking them to read it, as her “off camera” work in “It Ends With Us” means “more to [her] than anything [she’s] done” in her “twenty year career.”
“Just a few days ago, I was officially granted the title of Producer, after a year and a half of asking, and working tirelessly to prove the validity of that title,” she continued in the 5-page email.
“I’ve produced every moment of this film, from pre-production, through production, into post, and now into worldwide marketing and release.”
Lively noted that she was “grateful” her contract was “revised to reflect the immense work that I put in” and asked the guild for the “great honor” of receiving a PGA tag.
She added that in her household — which includes husband Ryan Reynolds — the PGA tag is “the highest honor in film.”
Lively also confessed that she was aware of the “gravity” of her request, that it had been late in getting to the guild, and that it was “absurd” of her to ask. However, she explained, “Without the official title of Producer, [her] hands” had previously been tied in the matter.
Lively went on to note that she had the support of peers who had gained PGA tags, and proceeded to list 77 bullet points in support of her request.
The admittedly “dense” list included a claim that she “rewrote the script to improve the role of Jennie Bloom after 3 actresses turned in down,” that she “called in favors with fashion contacts” to get clothing “loaned, discounted, or gifted” to lower production costs, and that she “identified and onboarded freelance team members for the cast members.”
Lively seemingly did obtain the PGA tag for the film, some but fans are said to have pushed back and called for it to be rescinded with an online petition.
Reps for Lively and Baldoni did not immediately return Page Six’s request for comment on Saturday.
The New York City judge said that “not only did [Lively] reserve substantial contractual control over her participation in the film, but she exercised that control” and cited bullet points from her letter to the DGA.
She could not be considered an employee of Baldoni or Wayfarer Studios, which backed the film, and was instead an “independent contractor,” — a distinction which, according to the judge, disallowed her from continuing with her sexual harassment claims against Baldoni.
The claims of retaliation, aiding and abetting in retaliation and breach of contract, have been allowed to proceed. A trial is set for May 18.
Following the devastating ruling, Lively’s legal team indicated she “looks forward to testifying at trial and continuing to shine a light on this vicious form of online retaliation so that it becomes easier to detect and fight.”
Baldoni’s team, meanwhile, noted in a statement to Page Six, “These were very serious allegations, and we are grateful to the Court for its careful review of the facts, law and voluminous evidence that was provided.”
Lawyers for the “It Ends With Us” co-stars are expected to call in to US Magistrate Judge Sarah Cave on Monday to divulge “their client’s updated settlement position” in separate meetings.
The “Simple Favor” actress, 38, sued the Wayfarer Studios co-founder in December 2024 after initially filing a complaint against him earlier that month.
She claimed the Wayfarer Studios co-founder owed her monetary damages of at least $161 million over what she labelled a smear campaign as the movie was being promoted.
Baldoni vehemently denied the actress’s claims and lashed out with a $400 million countersuit against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds — though a judge tossed Baldoni’s lawsuit on June 25.
The co-stars met in a Manhattan court on February 11, an effort Baldoni’s lead attorney, Bryan Freedman, called “unsuccessful” in comments to Deadline.
Lively poured out her heart to fans over Thursday’s developments via Facebook Stories on Friday, calling them “unfathomably painful” and saying it’s “a privilege to be able to stand up” that she won’t “waste.”
