Isabela Ferrer got a big break when she was cast as Young Lily in “It Ends With Us,” playing the younger version of Blake Lively‘s character.
But a year after her film debut, Ferrer finds herself trapped in a bitter legal feud between Lively and the film’s director, Justin Baldoni, both of whom have subpoenaed her.
On Sunday, Ferrer’s lawyer alleged that Baldoni is “harassing” her and trying to use his financial leverage over her to control how she responds to Lively’s subpoena — when what she really wants is not to be dragged further into the dispute.
Lively is suing Baldoni for sexual harassment and alleges that Baldoni launched a secret campaign to smear her reputation after she complained.
Her lawsuit includes an allegation that Baldoni added a scene to the film in which Young Lily loses her virginity. After the scene was filmed, she alleges that Baldoni approached the young actors and said, “I know I’m not supposed to say this, but that was hot.”
In response, Baldoni’s lawyers released text messages from Ferrer in which she called him a “great director” and said he was “wonderful to work with.” His lawyers have argued that as the feud developed with Lively during the subsequent promotion of the film, Ferrer felt compelled to shun him.
Lively’s lawyers subpoenaed Ferrer in February, seeking any communications between her and the other parties in the case. That required Ferrer to hire a lawyer and to seek a guarantee that Baldoni’s team, as her employer, would cover her legal bills.
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That, in turn, led to a protracted dispute. Ferrer’s lawyer, Sanford Michelman, claimed that Baldoni was seeking to condition the financial guarantee on retaining control over Ferrer’s response to the subpoena, or at least control over her legal representation. According to Michelman, the producers’ lawyer cited a fake case, which he believed to be an AI hallucination, in support of the argument that the producers had such leverage.
Michelman also alleged that Baldoni’s team had contorted the facts surrounding Ferrer’s involvement in the dispute.
While an agreement was being worked out, Baldoni’s team asked if Michelman would accept service of a subpoena on her behalf. He refused.
Baldoni’s lawyers want Ferrer to produce documents and messages. According to them, a process server has tried to catch her at addresses in Brooklyn and Sag Harbor, but has been unable to track her down.
Baldoni’s lawyers are asking a judge to approve “alternative service,” essentially forcing Michelman to accept service of the subpoena on Ferrer’s behalf. Michelman is opposed, arguing they have failed to show that Ferrer is ducking the subpoena.
Ferrer’s legal team says Baldoni’s motion, as well as the dispute over the Lively subpoena, exhibits a “broader pattern of conduct by Baldoni to bully Ms. Ferrer.”
“While Ms. Ferrer will faithfully comply with her legal obligations under any subpoena, summons or court order, she obviously will not be intimidated or extorted by any party to otherwise participate in the proceedings,” Michelman wrote.
As part of the new filing, Ferrer asks the court to “deny the Motion in its entirety and impose appropriate sanctions against Baldoni.”
Baldoni’s team declined Variety‘s request for comment.
The trial is scheduled for March.
From Variety US