The Hidden Audio Leak in the It Ends With Us Saga: How Blake Lively May Have Been Caught Hiding Evidence That Clears Justin Baldoni

By Sunny Tran

When a major Hollywood star accuses a film’s director and co-star of misconduct, the headlines follow fast. But what happens when leaked audio surfaces that appears to challenge those accusations? That very scenario has erupted in the legal battle surrounding the film It Ends With Us, raising explosive questions about credibility, secrecy and power in the entertainment world.

The initial narrative: Blake Lively alleged that Justin Baldoni, director and co-star, created a hostile work environment, engaged in unwanted behaviour on set, and used his influence at Wayfarer Studios to retaliate when she spoke up. Baldoni’s camp has denied the allegations. Over the past year, the litigation has grown into one of Hollywood’s most scrutinised conflicts — involving lawsuits, countersuits, leaked footage, secret recordings and a scheduled federal trial in March 2026. Wikipedia+4EW.com+4Vox+4

Now, the latest twist: an audio recording allegedly from a meeting between Wayfarer co-founder Steve Sarowitz and a film producer-witness (Claire Ayoub) has been revealed. In that recording, Sarowitz reportedly describes the entire dispute as “manufactured on purpose” to “take Justin down,” and makes a chilling threat: “There will be two dead bodies when I’m done”. Business Insider+1

If genuine and admissible, that recording has the potential to reshape the narrative. It raises several urgent questions: Did Blake Lively’s team suppress evidence? Did Baldoni’s camp leak it strategically? Is this about truth, power or public image?

Here is a breakdown of the major developments, the leak and its implications, and what lies ahead.

The Background: Lively vs. Baldoni

In December 2024, Blake Lively filed a complaint with California’s Civil Rights Commission and later in federal court, claiming that the set of It Ends With Us became a hostile environment. She alleged unwanted touching, invasions of her privacy (including when she was breastfeeding), and a retaliatory smear campaign engineered by Baldoni and Wayfarer. Wikipedia+1

Baldoni denied the claims and responded with a countersuit alleging defamation, coercion and extortion, at one point seeking as much as $400 million in damages. That countersuit was dismissed in June 2025. Wikipedia+1

Legal observers noted the sheer complexity and high stakes: celebrity reputations, serious allegations of harassment, and a film’s premiere hanging in the balance. The scheduled trial for March 9, 2026 has kept the spotlight on every new disclosure. People.com+1

The Audio Leak

In October 2025, TMZ published that an audio recording obtained by Baldoni’s team revealed Sarowitz telling Ayoub that the harassment and retaliation allegations were “made up” in order to damage Baldoni’s career and the film’s production. Among the most alarming quotes: “There will be 2 dead bodies when I’m done… Not dead, but dead to me — that kind of dead.” TMZ

Ayoub reportedly recorded the call because she felt pressured by Sarowitz, believing her witness status and project involvement would be jeopardised otherwise. That recording, she says, underscores the hostile environment she experienced under Baldoni’s and Wayfarer’s oversight of Empire Waist. TMZ

Because the recording remains under seal (particularly the identity of the witness), both camps are disputing how much of its content will be allowed into court and public record. Baldoni’s team is pushing for full unsealing, claiming that the audio decimates Lively’s narrative of victimisation. Lively’s team argues that the entire recording exposes the retaliatory culture they allege existed. Business Insider+1

What the Leak Could Mean

Whether it is fatal to one side’s case or simply an explosive weapon in the arsenal, the leak changes several game-dynamics:

1. Credibility at Stake.
If Sarowitz truly described the allegations as “manufactured,” then Lively’s claim of systemic retaliation becomes far more vulnerable. Witness credibility, timing of disclosure and motives will all be scrutinised.

2. Deposition Secrecy vs. Public Narrative.
Both sides have accused the other of media manipulation. For Lively’s camp, leaked audio and footage raise concerns about eroding the confidentiality necessary for a fair trial. For Baldoni’s side, public perception is a tool — and the leak could pivot the narrative. Marie Claire UK

3. Legal Strategy Shifts.
With potentially probative evidence pointing toward internal admissions, Baldoni’s legal team could push for early motions to dismiss or summary judgement. Lively’s team may respond by broadening claims of conspiracy, retaliation and smear campaign.

4. Public Opinion and Pre-trial Pressures.
In high-profile cases like this, public image often forces adjustments in how parties negotiate or settle. The audio leak makes public perception even more volatile.

5. The Film’s Reputation and Business Stakes.
For Wayfarer Studios, Baldoni and Lively, the film It Ends With Us is not just a creative project — it is a financial venture. Allegations of misconduct and internal sabotage threaten box office, financing, career relationships and brand alignment with Hollywood’s anti-harassment culture.

Open Questions

Despite the sensational nature of the leak, many questions remain unanswered:

What portion of the audio is admissible in court?

Who exactly recorded the call and what was their relationship to the production?

Why was the audio not surfaced earlier? Did either side withhold it intentionally?

What other evidence (text messages, set footage, witness testimony) corroborates or contradicts what Sarowitz allegedly said?

Could the leak itself be strategic — either by Baldoni’s camp to force Lively’s hand, or by Lively’s team to create a media narrative?

Is the threat of “dead bodies” simply rhetorical, or does it evidence real retaliatory intent?

What will the jury or judge make of simultaneous allegations of harassment and simultaneous admissions of “manufacturing” such claims?

What Comes Next

The next twelve months are likely to determine how this saga ends — whether in settlement, trial verdict or public resolution. Key anticipated developments include:

Discovery filings: Both sides will continue to exchange internal communications, witness statements, set footage and recordings.

Motions to dismiss or for summary judgment: If the audio is admitted and proves damaging, Lively’s case may be weakened enough for a dismissal effort.

Public relation maneuvers: Either side may attempt to shape pre-trial narrative via selective disclosure, controlled leaks or campaign statements.

Trial scheduled for March 9, 2026: Unless settlement is reached, this date looms as a dramatic showdown in federal court.

Impact on careers: Regardless of verdict, the reputations of Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios hang in the balance. How the public, industry and media treat each party after will be telling.

The Bigger Picture

Beyond the individuals involved, this case highlights larger issues in Hollywood and beyond: the power dynamics on film sets, how allegations get handled in the era of press readiness, how corporations manage crises, and how public perception can shape legal strategy. If misconduct occurred, this could be a milestone case for accountability. If the claims were manufactured, it could prompt backlash against false allegations and raise questions about the cost of fame.

Either way, the leak of audio that appears to cast doubt on Blake Lively’s narrative will be a landmark development — not just for the parties, but for how Hollywood litigates and how justice is perceived in the court of public opinion.

In the end, this is not simply a movie set dispute. It is a clash of power, integrity, narrative and ambition. The secret audio may be nothing less than the smoking gun — or perhaps the decoy in a high-stakes game of influence.

Final Thoughts

Leaks don’t win trials, but they change trajectories. The recording allegedly by Sarowitz, calling the harassment claim “manufactured,” elevates the threat to credibility from a whisper into a headline. For Blake Lively, it means facing a legal narrative complicated by hidden evidence. For Justin Baldoni, it may offer a path to vindication. For the public, it is a reminder that behind every glamorous film release there may lie unseen conflicts, strategic recordings and reputations in flux.

The truth, however, remains under seal — locked in discovery boxes and the hands of a judge waiting to open the courtroom door in March 2026. Until then, the audio leak may be the soundtrack of this drama — but the verdict is still unwritten.