“She had every right… And she didn’t”: Scarlett Johansson Reportedly Went Out of Her Way to Scorn Blake Lively in Justin Baldoni Feud

Scarlett Johansson defends Justin Baldoni’s studio amid legal drama with Blake Lively, prioritizing work over Hollywood tension.

Scarlett Johansson is no stranger to navigating the complex web of Hollywood’s ups and downs.

In the latest scenarios of Hollywood’s legal battle, Johansson has reportedly chosen to stand by Justin Baldoni’s Wayfarer Studios.

The actress amid the public feud involving Baldoni, Blake Lively, and Ryan Reynolds refused to shy away from the controversy.

Johansson reportedly praised Baldoni’s company in a recent interview.

The Avengers star, who has deep ties to both sides of this drama, could easily distance herself from the situation, but instead, she chose professionalism over personal drama amid her directorial debut, Eleanor the Great.

Scarlett Johansson reportedly stands by Justin Baldoni’s Wayfarer Studios
Scarlett Johansson in Avengers: Age of Ultron.

Speaking with Vanity Fair, Scarlett Johansson opened up about her directorial debut, Eleanor the Great (releasing in Cannes), which is being supported by Justin Baldoni‘s Wayfarer Studios.

Despite knowing the backdrop of the drama surrounding Baldoni’s ongoing legal dispute with Lively and Reynolds, Johansson didn’t hesitate to express gratitude for the studio’s backing.

Johansson said,

They were super supportive throughout the process.

But yeah, such weird timing.

A source close to the star shared with Hollywood insider Rob Shuter told (via RadarOnline):

She had every right to put Justin on the no-go list— and she didn’t.

That speaks volumes.

The source also added,

Scarlett didn’t throw him under the bus.

In fact, she went out to praise his company, even as his world burns down.

Her decision to publicly praise Baldoni’s studio surely comes as a surprise, especially as his legal battle intensifies.

Johansson could easily distance herself from the situation, avoiding any mention of Badoni or his studio.

After all, her personal history with Blake Lively, who is married to her ex-husband Ryan Reynolds, made the situation inherently complicated.

The source added that Johansson’s decision to speak shows a level of integrity, choosing the truth about the support she received rather than bowing to public pressure to avoid controversy.

The legal drama has also put Taylor Swift in the spotlight, with reports suggesting the pop star has been subpoenaed by Baldoni’s team.

Swift’s PR responded by slamming it and stating she was not involved in the movie.

Swift’s close friendship with Lively has only fueled the media frenzy.

Amid Scarlett Johansson’s support, Wayfarer is “sunsetting” the foundation

Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni are in a messy legal battle.

The timing of Johansson’s comments comes as Wayfarer Studios is also navigating its own crisis.

On May 2, Steve Sarowitz, the company’s producing partner, made the announcement that the Wayfarer Foundation, its philanthropic arm, would be winding down its operations.

The timing of this announcement, coupled with Baldoni’s legal problems, has left many questioning what’s next for the studio.

Sarowitz posted the news on a post via @wayfarerfoundation/Instagram, adding that the studio would ensure its current commitments are honored as they wind down operations.

Upon the unanimous decision of the board of directors, today we will begin the process of sunsetting the foundation.

We will honor all of our current grant commitments as we carefully wind down operations over the next several weeks...

Yet, despite the surrounding chaos, Johansson chose not to back away from her support for the studio.

Instead, she focused on the fact that Wayfarer had been crucial in helping her complete Eleanor the Great, a project she clearly values.

In the coming months, as the legal battle between Baldoni and Lively unfolds, it will be interesting to see whether Johansson continues to stand by Wayfarer or if the storm will shake her resolve.

For now, though, she’s sticking to the truth: The studio supported her movie, and she’s not backing down from that.

Eleanor the Great is set for a world premiere at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival on May 20, 2025.