Unsealed court materials reportedly included private messages from Sanford Panitch, president of Sony Pictures Entertainment’s Motion Picture Group, criticizing Blake Lively’s publicity choices around It Ends with Us. Those reported comments are not court findings, and Panitch is not Sony’s corporate CEO.
Who is the Sony president named in the documents?
Sanford Panitch leads Sony Pictures Entertainment’s Motion Picture Group. The title refers to him—not Sony CEO Tom Rothman. Sony co-financed and released It Ends with Us, the 2024 adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s novel, connecting the studio to the film’s publicity discussions. Variety reported on the unsealed exhibits and identified the executives whose messages or remarks appeared in them.
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What did the reported messages say?
Variety reported that an August 2024 message attributed to Panitch criticized the timing of Lively’s hair-care product promotion and said her decisions had worsened the publicity situation. The outlet quoted him as writing: “The hair sell at the same time was epic level stupid. She wouldn’t listen. She knows better,”
Variety also attributed a separate August 2024 message to Tahra Grant, Sony Pictures Entertainment’s executive vice president and chief communications officer. Grant wrote of Lively: “She orchestrated all this drama in a totally unsavvy and amateur way (and basically threatened…Sony) and now is mad it backfired on her.” These are reported excerpts from private communications, not statements Sony issued as a corporate position.
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Us Weekly reported further comments attributed to Sony CEO Tom Rothman and testimony attributed to Sony Motion Picture Group president Josh Greenstein. The speakers and communication types matter: the reported remarks should not be merged into a single view held by Sony or treated as findings by the court.
What was the dispute between Lively and Baldoni?
As the Associated Press reported, Lively alleged that she experienced harassment during production and that Baldoni and others coordinated efforts to damage her reputation after she complained. Baldoni denied harassing her or orchestrating a smear campaign. Those are the parties’ respective positions, not established facts merely because related messages appeared in court materials.
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Baldoni and production company Wayfarer’s countersuit was dismissed in June 2025, according to the Associated Press. That dismissal is distinct from a decision resolving the truth of Lively’s allegations.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Where do the cases stand?
In its June 2026 account, the Associated Press reported that the principal claims between Lively and Baldoni had settled before trial. The financial terms were not publicly announced in that report. Lively’s request for attorneys’ fees and penalties remained in dispute, so the settlement did not mean every related court matter had ended.
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What do the unsealed documents establish—and what don’t they?
- They show reported private communications: Variety’s account attributes critical comments about Lively and the publicity situation to specific Sony executives.
- They establish Sony’s connection to the film: Sony co-financed and released It Ends with Us.
- They do not turn private opinions into judicial findings: The reported messages are not a court’s conclusion about the parties’ allegations or conduct.
- They do not resolve disputed claims by themselves: Lively’s allegations, Baldoni’s denials, the dismissed countersuit, and the later settlement are separate parts of the case record.
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