It Ends With…The CIA? Blake Lively’s Legal Battle With Justin Baldoni Just Took Another Wild Turn
Blake Lively has enlisted the services of Nick Shapiro—a man with a résumé straight out of a shady spy novel—to navigate the turbulent waters of her escalating legal battle with director and co-star Justin Baldoni.
Shapiro, who once served as the CIA's deputy chief of staff and senior advisor to former director John Brennan, is now stepping into the spotlight as Lively's crisis PR manager.
The drama began unfolding in December 2024 during the production of It Ends With Us when Lively filed a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department, alleging that Baldoni had created a hostile work environment through inappropriate comments and actions. The allegations didn't stop there; Lively claimed that after she confronted Baldoni about his behavior, he orchestrated a smear campaign to tarnish her reputation, utilizing public relations tactics that seemed more suited to a covert operation than a film set.
In response, Baldoni has vehemently denied the allegations, labeling them as "completely false" and "outrageous." Not one to back down, he countered with a $400 million lawsuit against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and their publicist Leslie Sloane, accusing them of defamation and civil extortion.
Enter Nick Shapiro, who transitioned from the clandestine corridors of the CIA to Hollywood's limelight. Before leaving the government to work in public relations, Shapiro served as the CIA's Deputy Chief of Staff and was a Senior Advisor to former Director John Brennan, roles that placed him at the heart of critical national responses, including the H1N1 pandemic, the Boston Marathon bombing, the Fukushima nuclear disaster, and the Sandy Hook school shooting.
After leaving government service, Shapiro briefly held the position of Vice President of Global Security and Communications at Visa. He then led crisis management efforts at Airbnb for three years. In 2015, he founded 10th Avenue Consulting, a public relations firm specializing in high-profile crisis management for celebrities and corporations.
Shapiro's transition into crisis PR has not been without controversy. In 2020, he was among 51 former intelligence officials who signed an open letter suggesting that reports about Hunter Biden's laptop had "all the classic earmarks of a Russian information operation." This letter faced significant backlash for lacking evidence and allowing the Biden family to hide their crimes and corruption.
Shapiro's involvement aside, the legal skirmish has already seen its share of courtroom drama. A federal judge recently deemed Lively's subpoena for Baldoni's phone records "overly intrusive," a decision that underscores the contentious nature of the proceedings. Both parties have opted out of mediation, setting the stage for a trial slated for March 2026.
As the plot thickens, the supporting cast has begun to choose sides. Brandon Sklenar, who also stars in It Ends With Us, publicly expressed his support for Lively, acknowledging the "tough situation" and emphasizing the importance of supporting women through challenging times. Similarly, author Colleen Hoover, whose novel serves as the film's source material, has voiced her support for Lively as well.
The courtroom showdown promises to be a blockbuster event in its own right, with allegations of sexual harassment, defamation, and retaliatory smear campaigns all vying for the spotlight.
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