The dispute follows Lively's allegations that Baldoni sexually harassed her on the set of It Ends With Us, claims he has denied. Lively filed lawsuits citing harassment, retaliation, and emotional distress, while Baldoni has sued The New York Times for defamation over a related article.
Baldoni's attorney, Bryan Freedman, sent a legal notice to Disney CEO Bob Iger, Marvel's Kevin Feige, and director Tim Miller, requesting they safeguard materials tied to the creation of Nicepool, including evidence of any deliberate efforts to humiliate Baldoni. Freedman alleges Reynolds used the character, sporting Baldoni's signature man bun and referencing feminism and social activism, to mock him.
The controversy stems from overlapping productions of Deadpool & Wolverine and It Ends With Us, with Lively claiming Baldoni improvised intimacy scenes without an intimacy coordinator and made inappropriate remarks about her body. Baldoni counters that Lively refused to work with the intimacy coordinator and filed the complaints to damage his reputation.
During a meeting at Reynolds and Lively's home, Baldoni alleges Reynolds accused him of fat-shaming Lively in front of producers. Baldoni described the encounter as "traumatic," though sources close to Reynolds dispute the severity of his actions.
Freedman has stated Baldoni plans to sue Reynolds and Lively for defamation and interference, arguing the mockery undermines the credibility of Lively's allegations. Meanwhile, the Deadpool & Wolverine scene featuring Nicepool, a Deadpool variant, continues to spark online debate, with many connecting it to Baldoni.
It Ends With Us, based on Colleen Hoover's novel, premiered in August, earning $350 million globally. However, the legal fallout has overshadowed its success, with lawsuits and accusations fueling a heated public feud between the parties involved.
