The off-screen drama surrounding the hit film It Ends With Us is heating up as actress Isabela Ferrer, who portrayed the younger version of Blake Lively’s character, has filed a strong legal rebuttal against director and co-star Justin Baldoni.
The dispute stems from Baldoni’s repeated attempts to subpoena Ferrer in connection with Blake Lively’s ongoing federal lawsuit against him.
Baldoni, 41, claimed that Ferrer—who is 24 and notably the granddaughter of Hollywood legends Rosemary Clooney and José Ferrer—has been “unreachable” despite multiple attempts to serve her.
Justin Baldoni Pushes for Alternative Service
According to legal filings, Baldoni’s team argued that Ferrer was evading service at known addresses in Brooklyn and Sag Harbor. His lawyers asked Judge Lewis J. Liman to approve “alternative service” methods after failed attempts.
However, Ferrer’s attorney, Sanford Michelman, blasted the move, accusing Baldoni’s camp of harassment and claiming they improperly listed addresses that “could have been Ms. Ferrer’s home.”
Ferrer’s Fiery Legal Response
In court documents obtained by People, Ferrer’s lawyers accused Baldoni of engaging in “bad faith tactics” with the intent to pressure and harass her.
Ferrer previously responded to Blake Lively’s subpoena back in February by invoking an indemnification clause in her It Ends With Us contract with Wayfarer Studios, the production company behind the film. This clause required Wayfarer to cover her legal fees.
However, Ferrer’s team alleged that Wayfarer agreed only on the strict condition that she “surrender control” of her response—a demand she refused, instead hiring private counsel. Her attorneys argue that Baldoni’s subpoena is unnecessary and duplicative, stating:
“Baldoni made no effort to tailor the subpoena towards the production of new or different materials, demonstrating that the real aim…is to harass Ms. Ferrer.”
Michelman asked Judge Liman to not only deny Baldoni’s motion but also to impose sanctions against him.
Wayfarer Studios Fires Back
Meanwhile, attorneys representing Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios submitted their own filings, denying any harassment.
Their documents, obtained by Daily Mail, claim Ferrer had already been subpoenaed by Blake Lively’s team, and therefore Baldoni’s attempts were legitimate. They argued:
“Ms. Lively should not be permitted to obtain discovery from Ms. Ferrer, while Ms. Ferrer and her counsel frustrate all effort by the Wayfarer Parties to obtain the discovery critical to the preparation of their defense.”
Wayfarer’s lawyer, Kevin Fritz, also suggested a potential compromise: excluding Ferrer entirely as a witness and prohibiting the use of any communications to or from her in the lawsuit, thereby removing her from further involvement.
The Legal Battle Continues
As tensions rise, the It Ends With Us lawsuit continues to unfold, with Ferrer caught in the middle of the high-profile dispute between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni.
While Baldoni maintains that his actions are necessary for his defense, Ferrer’s legal team insists that the subpoenas are nothing more than a harassment tactic.
Judge Lewis J. Liman has yet to issue a ruling on whether Baldoni can move forward with his request for alternative service or whether sanctions will be imposed.
