A Sony Pictures Entertainment executive reportedly labeled It Ends With Us actor-director Justin Baldoni a “moron” in an internal email. The remark comes after Baldoni allegedly alluded to “raping,” while talking about the movie’s story with a news reporter.
Justin Baldoni reportedly called ‘moron’ over this It Ends With Us press remark
In a recent report published by PEOPLE, Danni Maggin, Sony Pictures Entertainment’s senior marketing executive, allegedly called Justin Baldoni a “moron” in an email within the company. As per the report, Maggin wrote, “… Justin is basically alluding to ‘raping’ Atlas out of Lily when talking to the Dallas Morning News. We cut the tape, but he is a moron.”
The interview in question refers to Baldoni’s appearance on the Dallas Morning News while promoting It Ends With Us. Blake Lively, who played Lily in the movie, is reportedly using the statement against Baldoni in their ongoing lawsuit.
According to Maggin’s email, Baldoni allegedly told the reporter, “For me what that scene was more about was Ryle feeling like he had lost all power and feeling so insecure and jealous that the only way in his mind that he could show her how much he loved her was um and I won’t say the word that we used in developing it, but what was essentially to force any love she had for Atlas out of her”
As per the email, Baldoni further went on to explain that from the perspective of the character and filmmaking, Ryle’s motivation was basically to “love Atlast out of Lily,” insinuating rape. Given the serious nature of this statement, Maggin claimed that it was deleted from the interview.
Baldoni allegedly made the statement despite the entire cast receiving instructions on what to focus on during the interviews. As a result, Lively’s lawsuit accuses Baldoni of suddenly pivoting away from the planned marketing strategy.
However, Baldoni’s legal team has argued otherwise. Their countersuit stated that it was “never the plan Baldoni ‘agreed to.” They further claimed that Bladoni wanted to “bring awareness to domestic violence,” and did not go “rogue.”
