Sony Brands Blake Lively a 'Terrorist' In Legal Filings — Slammed Over 'Epic-Level Stupid' 17-Point Demand

Explosive court filings unsealed this month have pulled back the curtain on how senior Sony Pictures executives privately talked about Blake Lively during the unravelling of It Ends With Us, and the language is drawing as much scrutiny as the lawsuit itself.

In sworn deposition testimony and internal emails now part of the public record, one Sony executive allegedly admitted to calling Lively a 'f---ing terrorist,' while another labelled her business decisions during the film's promotional crisis 'epic-level stupid.'

The remarks, first made behind closed doors, are now reshaping public perception of a case already defined by sharp accusations on both sides.

Where the 'Terrorist' Remark Came From

The most jarring language appears in a 23 September 2025 deposition from Andrea 'Ange' Giannetti, Sony's Executive Vice President of Production and Senior Creative.

In testimony unsealed in late January, Giannetti acknowledged that she referred to Lively as a 'f---ing terrorist' in a private conversation with producer Jamey Heath.

The trigger, according to the deposition, was a 17-point document Lively presented in November 2023 titled 'Protections for Return to Production.' The list arrived as It Ends With Us attempted to restart filming following the SAG-AFTRA strike.

Executives testified that Lively insisted the document be accepted without revisions before she would return to set and warned she could walk away or withhold promotional support if it wasn't. By that point, Sony had already invested more than $28 million in the film, raising fears internally that the entire project could collapse.

Giannetti described a tense, hours-long meeting where the demands were presented as non-negotiable. While the phrasing she used privately has since drawn condemnation, the testimony makes clear that executives viewed the moment as an existential threat to the production.

The 17-Point List at the Centre of the Fight

The contents of Lively's list have not been fully released, but court filings and reporting describe it as a mix of creative safeguards, workplace protections, and measures meant to prevent retaliation or harassment, issues that later became central to her lawsuit against co-star and director Justin Baldoni.

Sony executives, however, framed the document less as protection and more as leverage. In internal communications, they described feeling pressured, boxed in, and blindsided by the timing of the demands.

Those competing interpretations now sit at the heart of the legal battle.

'Epic-Level Stupid': The Haircare Fallout

The unsealed documents also reveal how deeply frustrated Sony leadership became during the film's promotional rollout in 2024.

In a 21 August 2024 internal email, Sanford Panitch — President of Sony Pictures' Motion Picture Group — criticised Lively's decision to launch her Blake Brown haircare brand while the film was already facing negative press.

'The hair sell at the same time was epic level stupid,' Panitch wrote, adding that Lively 'wouldn't listen' to advice and 'did it to herself.'

Other executives echoed similar sentiments. Sony's chief communications officer described the situation as 'orchestrated... in a totally unsavvy and amateur way,' while CEO Tom Rothman wrote that Lively 'brought it all on herself by refusing to listen to advice.'

Those messages now stand in stark contrast to the studio's public posture at the time. Sony continued to promote the film aggressively and privately congratulated Lively after its strong opening weekend, which topped $50 million domestically (approximately £37.8 million).

How This Fits Into the Lawsuit

Lively filed her lawsuit against Baldoni and his production company in December 2024, alleging sexual harassment, retaliation, and a coordinated smear campaign. Baldoni has denied the claims, and his legal team argues the newly unsealed documents undermine her narrative.

His attorney, Bryan Freedman, has pointed to the emails and deposition testimony as evidence that internal conflict — not misconduct — drove the breakdown on set.

What has shocked many industry watchers isn't just the disagreement, it's the tone.

Calling a lead actress a 'terrorist,' even privately, has ignited conversations about Hollywood power dynamics. Crucially, Sony has not disputed the authenticity of the quotes.