Justin Baldoni Accused of Script Theft: Lawyer Once Represented Writer in ‘Five Feet Apart’ Lawsuit

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During the production of ‘It Ends With Us,’ Blake Lively alleged that Justin Baldoni behaved inappropriately, body-shamed her, made her feel uneasy with romantic scenes, and tarnished her professional reputation. Following the movie’s premiere, there was initially no public response from Lively, but later, she filed a formal complaint which ultimately led to a federal court case.

Justin Baldoni took legal action by submitting a lawsuit against Lively, Ryan Reynolds, The Times, and others linked to the case. Filed at a federal court in New York, Baldoni’s lawsuit contains allegations of extortion, defamation, breach of contract, among other charges. The lawsuit seeks $400 million in compensation.

If you haven’t been following along, let me catch you up. Baldoni presented what he called evidence suggesting that no harassment occurred, but Lively’s legal team countered by arguing that this evidence actually bolsters their case. For more on a different matter, check out this article.

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There have been recent disclosures about Baldoni’s background in the entertainment industry, and it appears that it may not be as pristine as one might initially believe.

Currently, Justin Baldoni is being legally advised by Bryan Freedman, who in the past represented a person accusing Baldoni of script theft. In 2021, screenwriter Travis Flores alleged that Baldoni utilized Flores’ script ‘Three Feet Distance,’ which was inspired by Flores’ life with cystic fibrosis, to produce the film ‘Five Feet Apart.’

Flores claimed that Baldoni reviewed his script, a project under development with a Universal-linked company, prior to creating a similar narrative through his production house, Wayfarer Entertainment. The court case asserted that the concept for Baldoni’s movie was derived from Flores’ personal account.

As per the court case, back in 2016, Justin Baldoni asked Travis Flores to be a part of his series ‘My Last Days’, which highlighted the narratives of young individuals battling terminal illnesses. Unfortunately, Flores, who passed away in 2024 at the age of 33, took part in this documentary. In the legal claim, Flores asserted that the movie “Five Feet Apart” not only borrowed its title and main storyline but also specific aspects such as characters having deceased sisters and the central theme of “living for the present“.

2021’s legal dispute alleged that “the resemblances between the two pieces span beyond the instances cited earlier,” pointing out minor details like “the initial appearance of the main character in a V-neck tee” and more substantial ones that influenced the works’ progression. Justin Baldoni has yet to comment on these allegations, and the case was dismissed in 2022 when Freedman filed a motion to dismiss. The Hollywood Reporter confirmed that the lawsuit was settled privately.

In a January 7th interview, Freedman, who now represents Baldoni in his legal dispute with Blake Lively, outlined his strategy: “The case will hinge on evidence. It won’t just be a lawsuit; it will be a thoroughly documented and admitted lawsuit.

Baldoni’s legal representatives have pledged to establish a public website, where all relevant evidence – including private communications – can be accessed by everyone.

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2025-01-23 12:13