Blake Lively is experiencing a major social media shake-up, with over 1.2 million Instagram followers vanishing in the wake of her ongoing legal battle with It Ends with Us co-star and director Justin Baldoni.
Meanwhile, Baldoni’s own follower count is surging, signaling a shift in public sentiment as new details emerge in their highly publicized feud.
The Fallout Between Lively and Baldoni
What started as distant red carpet interactions and industry whispers has evolved into a full-blown legal war. Lively and Baldoni’s tensions were first noticed during the promotional tour for It Ends with Us, where they barely acknowledged each other. The situation escalated when Lively accused Baldoni of running a smear campaign against her and filed a lawsuit alleging sexual harassment during filming. Baldoni fired back with his own lawsuits, one against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, and another against The New York Times for publishing her claims.
Social Media Shifts: Lively Loses, Baldoni Gains
According to data from QR Code Generator, Lively’s Instagram has taken a substantial hit, losing 1,218,841 followers since September 2024. The most dramatic decline happened in January 2025, after Baldoni dropped his lawsuit against her, resulting in a staggering 329,577 followers hitting the unfollow button. February followed suit with an even greater drop of 354,756, marking her steepest loss in five years.
On the other hand, Baldoni is experiencing the opposite effect. Since the public fallout, he has gained 358,086 followers, with significant spikes in January (159,644 new followers) and February (127,190 new followers). This dramatic reversal suggests that public opinion may be swaying in his favor, particularly after leaked text exchanges and resurfaced interviews painted Lively in a more complicated light.
How the Public is Reacting
The internet remains divided. Some fans have remained staunchly on Lively’s side, supporting her claims and expressing concern over the film industry’s treatment of women. Others, however, have started to reconsider, pointing to past interviews where Lively admitted to stepping on industry toes, something Baldoni has accused her of doing in her producer role on It Ends with Us.
Marc Porcar, CEO of QR Code Generator PRO S.L., noted the fickle nature of online sentiment. “The internet changes sides quickly in a public fight like this. In December, when The New York Times article was published, Lively lost relatively few followers. But once Baldoni’s lawsuits came into play, her follower count took its biggest hit in years.”
While Lively prepares for the release of Another Simple Favor in May 2025, she also faces an upcoming trial against Baldoni, scheduled for March 2026. Meanwhile, rumors of other feuds, including one with A Simple Favor co-star Anna Kendrick, have been swirling, though recent reports suggest no bad blood.
Lively may still have the larger following, but if social media trends continue, Baldoni’s recent gains could change the tide. Whether this battle plays out in the courtroom or through continued online discourse, one thing is clear: the drama is far from over.
