On his “The Joe Rogan Experience” podcast, the well-known podcaster recently shared his thoughts on Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds’ legal battle with Justin Baldoni, claiming that the couple “ruined their reputation” by suing him over the ongoing feud surrounding the movie It Ends With Us.
“They f–ked up,” Rogan, 57, said about Lively, 37, and Reynolds, 48, during Saturday’s episode.
Rogan added, “Ryan’s trying to back out of it now. He’s trying to get out of the lawsuit, but they’re like, ‘You’re a key part of this.’”
He went on to echo Baldoni’s claims, arguing that Lively is suing him for sexual harassment and other allegations because she and Reynolds were allegedly trying to take control of the movie.
“The whole thing’s crazy,” Rogan said. “Baldoni’s suing the New York Times, and he’s got a solid case there too.”
Agreeing with guest Brendan Schaub’s perspective, Rogan suggested that Baldoni had no choice but to fight back in court and go “hard in the paint” if he wanted to salvage his career.
Rogan noted, “Especially for a guy like him, known for being a really sweet, nice guy, and then he’s like, ‘Alright, enough.’”
He pointed out that many in Hollywood would be too “scared” to take on an A-list power couple like Lively and Reynolds.
Rogan also expressed admiration for how Baldoni, 41, has been transparent with his evidence, including text messages showing Lively inviting him into her trailer while she was “pumping”—despite Lively’s allegations that Baldoni walked in on her while she was breastfeeding without consent.
“You literally have a text exchange back and forth,” Rogan said. “They just never thought anyone would come out with the receipts.”
In addition to the texts, Baldoni has launched an entire website to showcase conversations with Lively, along with a voice note he sent her and behind-the-scenes footage he believes discredits her claims that he made her feel “uncomfortable” on set.
Baldoni is suing Lively, Reynolds, and their publicist, Leslie Sloane, in a $400 million defamation lawsuit, citing extortion, false light invasion of privacy, promissory fraud, and other allegations.
Lively, on the other hand, continues to stand by her accusations of harassment and claims Baldoni’s countersuit is simply retaliation for her speaking out.
At a recent hearing, Lively’s attorneys attempted to have the countersuit dismissed, arguing it violates a California law that protects individuals who report sexual harassment and retaliation.
Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, opposed that motion, asserting that “stringent rules are in place to protect the innocent and allow individuals to defend themselves” and argued that laws shouldn’t be “twisted and curated by privileged elites to fit their own personal agenda.”
