In a surprising revelation from an ongoing legal dispute, actor and director Justin Baldoni has disclosed that his It Ends with Us co-star Blake Lively referred to the home office in her New York City penthouse as 'Buckingham Palace'. The nickname was reportedly coined due to the constant stream of A-list celebrities passing through the residence.
Deposition Details Celebrity Nickname
The 41-year-old Baldoni made this claim during a deposition given on October 6, 2025, as part of the contentious litigation surrounding the film It Ends with Us. The deposition was obtained by People magazine. Baldoni stated that Lively, 38, and her husband Ryan Reynolds, 49, used the regal moniker as a code for their NYC home.
"She used to call it Buckingham Palace, as she said, because so many celebrities walked through there," Baldoni testified. He further explained that the actress preferred to conduct professional business from that specific office during the film's production. "I think that was her office in her penthouse apartment, which was the place that Ms. Lively requested all of our meetings be," he added.
A Legal Battle Overshadows Box Office Success
This anecdote emerges amidst a fierce legal battle that has now lasted over a year, starkly contrasting with the film's commercial performance. It Ends with Us, based on Colleen Hoover's 2016 novel, earned $148 million domestically and $350 million globally. However, that success has been eclipsed by serious allegations between its stars.
The case is scheduled for a hearing on January 22, with a trial date set for May 18. The legal conflict began in December 2024 when Lively filed a lawsuit accusing Baldoni of sexual harassment, retaliatory conduct, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Her suit alleged body-shaming and a coordinated smear campaign.
Baldoni responded with a $400 million lawsuit in January, naming Lively, Reynolds, and her publicist, which referenced a New York Times report he claimed was defamatory. That suit was dismissed in June. All parties have denied the allegations made against them.
From Co-stars to Court Adversaries
The film's storyline, which centred on a toxic relationship between Lively's Lily Bloom and Baldoni's Ryle Kincaid, now stands in ironic contrast to the actors' real-world discord. Prior to this project, Lively was best known for Gossip Girl and films like A Simple Favor, while Baldoni gained fame on Jane the Virgin.
The revelation about 'Buckingham Palace' offers a fleeting glimpse into the high-profile world the stars once inhabited together, now a stark backdrop to their acrimonious court fight. Representatives for both Baldoni and Lively have been contacted for further comment on the story.
