How Scarlett Johansson got roped into ex-husband Ryan Reynold's wife Blake Lively's lawsuit against Justin Baldoni


The Black Widow actress, who was married to the Green Lantern actor from 2008 to 2011, is the latest celebrity name dropped as part of the It Ends with Us lawsuit


Split image of Scarlett Johansson and Blake Lively© Getty Images
Beatriz Colon
Beatriz ColonNew York Writer - New York
February 5, 2026
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There's another pile of files littered with A-Listers going around.

Amid Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni's legal battle over allegations brought forward by the former about the latter's behavior on the set of It Ends with Us, communications have been uncovered that have name-dropped the likes of Taylor Swift, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Gigi Hadid, and Hugh Jackman, among others.

Among those mentioned is also none other than Scarlett Johansson, who was married to the Gossip Girl actress' husband Ryan Reynolds from 2008 to 2011.

Ryan Reynolds and Scarlett Johansson in the audience at the 64th Annual Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall on June 13, 2010 in New York City.© Getty Images
Scarlett and Ryan were married from 2008 until the end of 2010

Per Us Weekly, Scarlett was named in unearthed audio pertaining to the case, as she was mentioned by the head of Justin's production company, Wayfarer co-founder and billionaire Steve Sarowitz, which is also being sued by Blake. 

The outlet reports Steve is heard detailing his experience working with Scarlett on her recent directorial debut, Eleanor the Great, and not having as great of an experience with Blake as he did with the The Avengers actress. 

"I love this women's empowerment. We have another first-time director we supported," Steve told filmmaker Claire Ayoub, who was talking about a female-led project during their conversation.

Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds with their arms around eachother © Variety via Getty Images
Blake and Ryan tied the knot in 2012

"A woman named Scarlett Johansson? I'm so excited for her!" Claire replied, to which Steve joked back: "We're trying to give her her first big break. Maybe people will hear of her after this."

Steve reportedly went on to reflect on his experience working with Scarlett, telling the filmmaker: "She was so cool, calm, collected and confident … and nice," then noting: "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."

"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," he added.

Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni standing together © GC Images
Blake has described working on It Ends With Us as a nightmare

In many of the documents that have come out in the lead up to Blake and Justin's trial, she appears describing working on It Ends With Us and Justin, who directed the movie, as extremely difficult and a nightmare, leading her to recruit the likes of her husband, Taylor, and Ben for help, particularly on feedback for her own cut of the movie.

Colleen Hoover and Blake Lively seen at a META screening of IT ENDS WITH US at The Roxy Hotel on August 05, 2024© Getty Images
Much of the film's cast have expressed their support for Blake, including author Colleen

The dispatches have also given further insight into Justin's alleged lewd behavior on set; Blake has accused him of improvising unwanted kisses while filming, speaking frequently of a pornography addiction and sexual encounters, and entering her trailer while she was undressed and breastfeeding her infant child, among other things.

Texts from the original book's author Colleen Hoover have since also been uncovered in which she expresses her disappointment with Justin and how he has handled himself in the press, as have texts from Jenny Slate, who also worked on the film, and said it was "a really gross and disturbing shoot," and called Justin "a false ally," a "fraud," and "the biggest clown and the most intense narcissist."

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