As Philadelphia Eagle fans face national scrutiny following a viral video of one verbally assaulting a woman, star running back Saquon Barkley has come to their defense. 

With the Eagles set to face the Los Angeles Rams in a divisional playoff game on Sunday, Rams player Jared Verse expressed his hatred for Eagles fans in an interview with the Los Angeles Times. Verse's comments came days after Eagles fan Ryan Caldwell was fired from his job when the video of him insulting a female Green Bay Packers fan at a playoff game last Sunday went viral. 

"I hate Eagles fans," Verse said. "They’re so annoying. I hate Eagles fans."

Barkley was asked by reporters about Verse's comments ahead of the game, and suggested that the Rams rookie's decision to say those things was "not smart." 

"Probably not the smartest thing to say if you're coming to Philadelphia," Barkley told reporters on Friday.

Barkley cited his previous experience coming to play in Philadelphia as an opponent when he was with the New York Giants from 2018-23. 

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"I've been on the other side, I've felt some type of way," Barkley said. "I probably wouldn't give them any extra fuel."

Barkley expects Verse will receive an especially rude greeting when he takes the field on Sunday. 

"I’m pretty sure Philly fans have seen that comment. It was already going to be loud and rocking, so it’s just only going to add to it," Barkley said. 

Verse is just one of the harsh vocal critics of Eagles fans in the aftermath of the viral footage of Caldwell. Verse said even though the game was in Los Angeles, he heard heckling Eagles fans, despite wearing headphones. 

"I didn’t even do nothing to em. It was my first time playing. Oh, I hate Eagles fans," Verse said. 

The Eagles won that game 37-20, and Barkley ran wild, amassing 302 scrimmage yards, including 255 rushing yards with two touchdowns.

5 MOST INFAMOUS FAN MOMENTS IN SPORTS

Meanwhile, Caldwell was fired from his job as a project manager at BCT Partners after a video of his insults went viral. He has apologized but also defended himself by insisting his actions "were not without provocation" and that the viral video "does not show the full context" of what happened. 

"While attending an NFL game last Sunday to support my beloved Philadelphia Eagles, an incident occurred that I deeply regret," Caldwell said in a statement. 

"What began as banter with two Packers fans sitting near me escalated to something more serious, and I said things that were unacceptable. In the heat of the moment, I chose unforgiving words to address one of the fans, Ms. Ally Keller.

"I want to sincerely apologize to Ms. Keller for those words, and to my wife, family, and friends, my former employer and colleagues, Packer fans, Eagle fans, the Philadelphia Eagles, the City of Philadelphia, and all who were offended. That said, there are two sides to every story. 

"The video clip circulating online does not reflect the full context of what transpired, and my actions were not without provocation. I will live with this experience, and I am certainly paying a personal price. For those who don’t know me, this incident does not reflect my values or the respect I have for others and is not indicative of the person I am."

The viral video was filmed by Keller’s fiancé, Alexander Basara, and spread rapidly across the internet in the days after the Eagles' 22-10 win. 

Caldwell's apology and news of his firing prompted a wave of celebration and mockery by sports fans on social media. 

Eagles fans have a long history of unruly behavior. 

The franchise's former home, Veterans Stadium, had an on-site judicial court and jail cells to deal with law-breaking fans.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

A law professor cited by CBS News called Donald Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit over the editing of a 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris “...so ill grounded that it comes close to being sanctionable as frivolous.” But now, the The Wall Street Journal reports that executives at CBS’ parent company, Paramount Global, have discussed settling the suit while “gaming out options to reduce friction with the incoming administration” ahead of a government review of its merger with Skydance.

The paper reports that incoming FCC chairman and censor-in-chief Brendan Carr warned execs last year that presidential dissatisfaction with CBS News will make a review tougher. He’s also publicly displayed that view, saying during a Fox News interview in November, “...CBS has a transaction before the FCC. I’m pretty confident that news distortion complaint over the CBS 60 Minutes transcript is something that is likely to arise in the context of the FCC’s review of that transaction.”

The lawsuit claims that in airing two differently edited versions of Harris’ response to a question about the war in Gaza, “CBS used its national platform on 60 Minutes to cross the line from the exercise of judgment in reporting to deceitful, deceptive manipulation of news.”

But instead of mounting a defense of free speech against a lawsuit and Trump’s accusations that the network said were false and completely without merit, Paramount is considering following the example of Disney and tech oligarchs who will line up at the inauguration like Mark Zuckerberg.

The ABC News owner agreed to pay $15 million to Trump’s presidential foundation and museum to settle a defamation lawsuit in December. Zuckerberg sharply redirected Meta’s policies to the right while meeting with Trump, reportedly “in part to mediate a lawsuit Trump brought against Facebook and Zuckerberg in 2021 over the platform’s suspension of Trump’s account after the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol.”

Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is sitting out Friday's game against the Dallas Mavericks due to a sore right wrist.

The BBC spoke to officials from both sides of the talks to piece together how the Gaza deal was done.

Civilians in Gaza nervously await a ceasefire after 15 relentless months of war.

Gas from the seafloor has scientists wondering if oxygen could be found in the oceans of other planets.

The San Diego Padres could end up being dark horse candidates to acquire Vladimir Guerrero Jr. from the Toronto Blue Jays.

The Chicago Cubs could look to bolster their bullpen by signing San Diego Padres closer Tanner Scott in free agency.

The Los Angeles Dodgers aren't ruining baseball following their latest Roki Sasaki signing — they're just better at it than everyone else in MLB.

Stubbs was 23 years old when she went missing on April 24, 2014, in Birmingham, Ala.

"I texted my boyfriend I wanted to buy a PS5 later that day and I did," the woman wrote on Reddit

Patrick Mahomes could walk onto the field Saturday carrying a chip on his shoulder bigger than the size of any of the three Super Bowl rings that he slips on his fingers. 

It appears that Taylor Swift's relationship with Patrick and Brittany Mahomes is only growing tighter.

In November 2024, at the tail end of her third pregnancy, social media influencer and Divi owner Dani Austin left social media indefinitely.

Prior to her Instagram hiatus, Austin told her 2.3 million followers that she needed to take her “first ever” social media break — and she remained off the platform for two months.

On Monday, January 13, Austin returned to Instagram with a video showing her at 39 weeks pregnant, believing she was in labor.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Dani Austin Ramirez (@daniaustin)

At the start of the video, she joked about the hiatus, saying she would discuss where she’s been in due time.

The video continued, showing Austin jumping on her two oldest kids’ trampoline, doing a puzzle, asking her kids if they were hoping for a brother or a sister and taking shots of hot sauce.

Celeb Pregnancy Announcements of 2024: Megan Fox, Brittany Mahomes and More

Austin and her husband, Jordan Ramirez, had made the decision to wait until birth to learn the sex of their child.

A day later, Austin shared another video, this time on their way to the hospital.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Dani Austin Ramirez (@daniaustin)

In the video, she and Jordan joked about a fight they had the day before where Austin uninvited him into the delivery room. “She literally said I wasn’t invited to the labor room,” he said.

The third video came on Wednesday, January 15, showing Austin in her delivery room. By the end of the video, Austin was a mom of three.

A day later, they revealed they had welcomed an 8 pound, 1 ounce baby boy.

“We need to figure out baby names. Honestly, I only thought it was going to be a girl so I only have girl names,” Austin quipped in the video.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Dani Austin Ramirez (@daniaustin)

Alongside the first pictures of their son, she revealed the name they officially settled on, writing, “Meet Summit West Ramirez.”

“Mothering you is mothering me,” she continued. “Through mothering you, God is healing me in ways I never thought possible.”

© Courtesy of Dani Austin/Instagram

As fashion lovers, we’re always on the lookout for outfit inspiration — and more often than not, it’s celebrities and royals who provide Us with the best ideas. While visiting The Royal Marsden Hospital in London, England earlier this week, Kate Middleton showed off a sleek, structured purse that immediately caught our eye. The Princess of Wales, who recently revealed she was in remission from cancer, paired the burgundy Asprey London design with a coordinating turtleneck and skirt combo, adding a plaid coat overtop for extra warmth while outside. Unfortunately, the classic top handle bag is no longer available, but we did manage to find a worthy lookalike on Amazon that costs just $70 — way less than similar Asprey styles, which go for upwards of $3K. The deep red La Festin Leather Top Handle Satchel is super similar in appearance, featuring gold hardware, a magnetic flap closure, a small handle and a crossbody chain. It’s even roomy enough to hold everyday essentials, like a phone, wallet and small makeup products.

Kate Middleton’s Classic Turtleneck Sold Out — Snag a Lookalike for Just $12

Still, this Middleton-approved bag style isn’t the only lookalike we’ve recently found for less. Check out four more celebrity outfits that earned the honor of our Slays of the Week, then copy the looks with similar, affordable pieces from Amazon — including a cute coat and a bold pair of leggings.

• Naomi Watts showed us how to travel in style with her oversized beige coat that nailed the rich mom aesthetic. Snag an alternative that looks just as luxe for $37 at Amazon.
• Unsurprisingly, Katie Holmes kept it cool and practical while out in New York City, pairing a plaid shirt with baggy jeans and sneakers. Thankfully, it’s easy to achieve the look with HangNiFang’s $23 button-down!
• Whether you’re headed to the gym or walking the dog, Brooke Burke‘s leopard leggings are an easy, comfy way to add some oomph to your outfit. Recreate her playful ensemble with MakeMeChic’s tummy control pair — just $20!
• Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star Lisa Barlow hit the streets of NYC in a versatile pair of leather pants. Embrace the drama — at least when it comes to fashion — by swapping out your jeans for a $34 lookalike pair that’s just as stylish.

14 Katie Holmes-Inspired Pieces to Add to Your Wardrobe, Starting at $9

© Chris Jackson/Getty Images and DUTCH/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images

Scott Eastwood gave an update on how his dad, Clint Eastwood, is faring after the death of his longtime girlfriend Christina Sandera.

“He’s good. He’s doing good,” Scott, 38, said in an interview with People published on Friday, January 17. “He’s a survivor, a trouper.”

Scott, who is the son of Clint, 94, and ex Jacelyn Reeves, acknowledged that he knows his dad is tough because he “was born coming out of the Great Depression, and then he was young during World War II. He saw a lot of struggle.”

He added that his father’s perseverance is one of the biggest life lessons he has taught him over the years.

Clint Eastwood and Christina Sandera's Relationship Timeline

“It’s in our blood. You don’t complain,” he said. “You don’t whine. You just do.”

Scott shared that Clint has been an inspiration throughout his life, and that’s part of the reason why he decided to follow in his footsteps.

“He’s the reason I’m in this industry. It’s like anybody,” Scott told the outlet. “If your dad’s a carpenter, maybe you’d become a carpenter.”

It’s been six months since Clint confirmed that Sandera had died at age 61.

“Christina was a lovely, caring woman, and I will miss her very much,” he said in a July 2024 statement to The Hollywood Reporter at the time.

Later that month, it was revealed that Sandera’s cause of death was due to cardiac arrhythmia, which is also known as an irregular heartbeat, and atherosclerotic coronary artery disease.

Clint and Sandera were together for more than a decade. Us Weekly confirmed that the couple met while she was working as a hostess at Eastwood’s Mission Ranch Hotel and Restaurant in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California.

Clint Eastwood’s Family Guide: Meet the Actor’s 8 Children

While the pair kept their romance low-key, Clint brought Sandera as his date to many functions over the years including movie premieres, award shows and more. The twosome made their red carpet debut at the 2015 Oscars where the director’s film American Sniper was nominated for six awards.

Before finding love with Sandera, Clint was married twice. He tied the knot with model Maggie Johnson in 1953. They share two children, son Kyle and daughter Allison. The exes divorced in 1984. Nearly 10 years later, Clint walked down the aisle for a second time with Dina Eastwood in 1996. The pair welcomed daughter Morgan later that year. Dina and Clint split in 2013 after 17 years of marriage and finalized their divorce the following year. (In 2016, Dina moved on with current husband Scott Fisher.)

Being promoted to coanchor of Today was a bittersweet achievement for Savannah Guthrie, who took over the role after Ann Curry exited the show.

“I came at a time of a lot of controversy for the show, and it wasn’t, I don’t think, a happy occasion, really — for anyone, including me,” Guthrie, 53, shared in an interview with Parade published on Friday, January 17. “I was as terrified as I could possibly be because the bosses at the time had made a decision, and I quite literally was the last to know, and I was so afraid, and I was pretty sure that I wouldn’t last.”

Guthrie first joined Today in 2011 as a chief legal correspondent and served as the anchor of the show’s 9 a.m. hour. That same year, Curry took over from Meredith Vieira as Matt Lauer’s Today coanchor. She departed the show just one year later amid rumors that NBC believed her and Lauer’s alleged lack of chemistry led to low ratings. (A source claimed to Us Weekly in July 2012 that Lauer, 67, also played a part in Curry’s exit.)

Guthrie was announced as Curry’s replacement in June 2012. At the time, Today.com reported that ratings were the main reason behind the hosting lineup change.

The Most Dramatic 'Today' Show Exits Over the Years: Hoda Kotb and More

While Guthrie was happy to take on the coveted gig, she told Parade that she was “in tears” when she was offered the job. “And it wasn’t because I didn’t dream of this job like everyone else does. It was because I was sure that it wouldn’t last and that I’d be thrown by the wayside within a few weeks or months.”

Now, Guthrie told the outlet she’s “so happy that survived and I’m still here.” Her current cohost, Craig Melvin, chimed in by stating she “thrived, not survived.”

At the time of her Today exit, Curry told viewers on air, “This is not as I expected to ever leave this couch after 15 years, but I am so grateful.” She tearfully added, “And for all of you who saw me as a groundbreaker, I’m sorry I couldn’t carry the ball over the finish line. But man, I did try.”

Curry later announced she was parting ways with NBC News in January 2015. “This is about reaching for the edge of the future in journalism, which we know is undergoing an irrevocable transition,” she said in a press release. “I am excited about working to become a valuable link between traditional media and what is to come.”

Savannah Guthrie's Ups and Downs Over the Years

Hoda Kotb went on to replace Lauer in 2018 after he was let go from the show following a sexual misconduct scandal. She bid farewell to Today after nearly 30 years working for NBC on January 10. Melvin assumed his role as Guthrie’s coanchor on Monday, January 13.

Curry opened up about her Today exit in a September 2020 interview with Elle, admitting she still didn’t “really understand” why she was let go. “I know I did nothing wrong. I know I was good at my job,” she stated. “They say where there’s smoke, there’s fire. You can read the tea leaves. But you know, I’m a fact-based reporter, so it’s hard for me to go out there, with something so close to the vest. I don’t know. I don’t know.”

Noting that the exit “still hurts,” she continued: “It honestly hurts really deeply, because I really think I did nothing wrong. But in spite of the pain of it, which still lingers, I know that I contributed to some people suffering less.”

Jordyn Wieber’s decision to walk away from Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test may have appeared quick on TV — but there was actually a lot of thought that went into her choice to leave.

“It was so tough. It was such a hard decision,” Wieber, 29, exclusively told Us Weekly. “Standing there watching everybody do the challenge, I probably went back and forth like 50 times. Like, ‘OK, I’m going to do it. OK, I’m not going to do it. OK, I’m going to do it. OK, I’m not going to do it.’”

Wieber decided to voluntarily withdraw from the competition during the Wednesday, January 15, episode of Special Forces before attempting the submarine submersion task. Wieber explained to Us that she had a negative experience with the beehive task in the first episode, which led her to tread carefully with water moving forward.

“The water just really started freaking me out and I just felt like I was going to panic if I went back in the water,” she said. “Not to mention in a boat where you’re in a cage and all the other elements.”

Trista Sutter Turned 'Blue' While in Hypothermic Shock on 'Special Forces'

The Olympian added that she “wanted to say longer,” explaining: “I knew that there were many other challenges that I could have handled and could have crushed it at and been tough enough to do, but the water just was really freaking me out. I was sad to leave, but I felt like it was just a little bit beyond my limit at that time.”

Before her experience on Special Forces, Wieber clarified that she did not have a negative experience with water.

“But at the same time, I’ve never had to do anything in the water beyond swimming with friends in a pool,” she noted. “I really haven’t had any experience in the water. I can swim and kind of do the basic things, but I’ve never been challenged to do that.”

Despite her hesitation about exiting, Wieber can ultimately look back and be confident in her decision.

Ali Fedotowsky Says ‘Special Forces’ Bathroom Smell Was ‘Horrendous’

“I think I made the right decision for me based on how much water was involved, but I really didn’t know what I was in for, nor could I have prepared for it,” she said. “We really didn’t know the challenges ahead of time.”

While Wieber may have had a short stint on the show, she made a lasting impact with her vulnerability. In the second episode, Wieber opened up to the ex-special forces operatives Directing Staff (DS) agents about being a victim of sexual abuse. (Wieber was one of the gymnasts who testified at Larry Nassar’s trial in 2018. Nassar was later convicted and sentenced to 40 to 175 years in prison.)

For Wieber, who considers herself to be “a little bit more stoic and together emotionally,” did not anticipate the emotional component of Special Forces.

“I think the way that it breaks you down physically and mentally, you can’t help it. You just become more vulnerable emotionally, and so when you go into that interrogation room and they’re asking you about sensitive things, it makes sense,” she said, adding that it was “tough” to watch back. “You go into something like that, you think you’re going to be in control the whole time, but when you get that tired and that exhausted, you really can’t control the emotions that are coming out of you.”

With reporting by Sarah Hearon

Former President Barack Obama made sure his wife, Michelle Obama, was celebrated with great fanfare on her 61st birthday.

“Happy birthday to the love of my life, @MichelleObama,” Barack, 63, wrote via X on Friday, January 17. “You fill every room with warmth, wisdom, humor, and grace — and you look good doing it. I’m so lucky to be able to take on life’s adventures with you. Love you!”

Barack also uploaded an image of the couple holding hands from across the table while at a private dinner.

Michelle, for her part, reposted her spouse’s note, captioning it, “Love you, honey!”

Barack Obama and Michelle Obama: A Timeline of Their Relationship

Barack and Michelle have been married since 1992 after meeting a decade earlier during their early legal careers in Chicago. They went on to welcome daughters Malia and Sasha in 1998 and 2001, respectively. (Sasha completed the family seven years before Barack was elected president of the United States for his first of two consecutive terms.)

Throughout Barack’s political career, fans have frequently praised his seemingly perfect marriage.

Happy birthday to the love of my life, @MichelleObama. You fill every room with warmth, wisdom, humor, and grace – and you look good doing it. I’m so lucky to be able to take on life’s adventures with you. Love you! pic.twitter.com/WTrvxlNVa4

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) January 17, 2025

“I don’t want people looking at me and Barack like hashtag couple goals and not know that no, no, there are some broken things that happen even in the best of marriages,” Michelle said during an episode of the “On Purpose With Jay Shetty” podcast in January 2024. “After 31 years, yeah, we still do [cross the line], but you know it quicker. And then you apologize. You learn how to say my bad, right? That takes a second, right?”

She added, “I talk about marriage because I just think that No. 1, most people don’t talk about it. What happens is that by not knowing, you hit, in your relationship, some natural, like, understandable rough patches, and you want to quit. And it’s like, ‘Oh, no, no, no, no, no. That’s not quit-worthy. That’s just the nature of things.’ That’s why I joked, it’s like, ‘Oh, you’re mad at your partner, you’re mad for a year and you think the marriage is over.’”

Michelle Obama Says She and Barack Obama Aren't Always ‘Couple Goals’

For Michelle, she and Barack have been able to “learn from” the hardships instead of giving up.

“Of course, it’s going to be hard, you know, but I wouldn’t trade in my marriage for anything in the world with all the ups and downs, with all the running for president stuff,” Michelle added at the time. “And if we hadn’t hung in there, we would have missed all the good.”

The Obamas are now empty nesters as both Malia, 26, and Sasha, 23, have each graduated from college and moved out of the family home. The sisters are still roommates, frequently inviting their parents over for drinks.

“We were going to take them to dinner, and they said, ‘Why don’t you come over to our spot for cocktails?’” Michelle recalled on the Today show in 2022. “We were like, ‘OK, let’s see what this is going to be like.’ Well, [first], the martinis were a little weak. I don’t think they really knew what it was.”

Justin Baldoni made several claims about the It Ends With Us premiere and afterparties in his $400 million lawsuit against costar Blake Lively.

Baldoni, 40, filed his lawsuit against Lively, 37, her husband, Ryan Reynolds, and their team of publicists on Thursday, January 16, seeking $400 million in damages. In the court filing obtained by Us, Baldoni included a photo from the It Ends With Us premiere where he and his family (including wife Emily and his parents) posed in the basement of the theater surrounded by containers of popcorn and bottles of soda.

Baldoni claimed in the court documents that he and his camp were initially uninvited from the occasion at Lively’s request, only receiving the green light to attend at the last minute. In the docs, Baldoni alleged that his team were “confined to a makeshift holding area surrounded by concession stand stock, with only fold-out tables and chairs arranged in a square” to minimize interactions with Lively and her guests.

 “Surrounded by close friends, family, soda bottles, and a lot of love, the irony of being held in a basement on what was arguably one of the most important nights of Baldoni’s career thus far, was not lost on anyone,” the suit reads.

Blake Lively Allegedly Tried to Ban Justin Baldoni From Movie Premiere

He also had a separate afterparty with his team, claiming that it was “dry” since the majority of domestic violence incidents involve alcohol. He also claimed that Lively’s gathering, which his production company allegedly paid for, was not and offered a drink titled “Ryle Can Wait.”

“Lively’s disastrous marketing efforts and tone-deaf press interviews and appearances backfired and led to widespread criticism of Lively’s promotional approach to the Film’s highly sensitive focus on domestic violence,” the docs read. “Past videos of Lively resurfaced online — videos that appeared to solidify public perception that Lively was an insensitive ‘mean girl’ who cared more about peddling her products than acknowledging the domestic violence survivor community. Social media commenters quickly pointed out that her tie-in of her alcohol beverages was in particularly poor taste, given the World Health Organization estimates that 55 percent of domestic violence incidents are linked to alcohol. Unbelievably, Lively made this harmful and irresponsible message worse by naming a drink at her premiere afterparty ‘Ryle You Wait.’”

Lively, for her part, denied Baldoni’s recent legal claims.

““This latest lawsuit from Justin Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios and its associates is another chapter in the abuser playbook. This is an age-old story: A woman speaks up with concrete evidence of sexual harassment and retaliation and the abuser attempts to turn the tables on the victim,” Lively’s lawyers told Us in a statement. “This is what experts call DARVO. Deny. Attack. Reverse Victim Offender. Wayfarer has opted to use the resources of its billionaire co-founder to issue media statements, launch meritless lawsuits, and threaten litigation to overwhelm the public’s ability to understand that what they are doing is retaliation against sexual harassment allegations.”

Lively’s attorneys further alleged that Baldoni’s team was “trying to shift the narrative” by falsely claiming she took over production and alienated him from the rest of the It Ends With Us cast.

“The evidence will show that the cast and others had their own negative experiences with Mr. Baldoni and Wayfarer,” Lively’s statement continued. “The evidence will also show that Sony asked Ms. Lively to oversee Sony’s cut of the film, which they then selected for distribution and was a resounding success. Their response to sexual harassment allegations: she wanted it, it’s her fault. Their justification for why this happened to her: look what she was wearing.  In short, while the victim focuses on the abuse, the abuser focuses on the victim. The strategy of attacking the woman is desperate, it does not refute the evidence in Ms. Lively’s complaint, and it will fail.”

Baldoni’s team has not responded to Lively’s response. Us has reached out for comment.

Earlier this month, leaked audio footage also discussed Baldoni’s reported separate afterparty.

Justin Baldoni Claims Blake Lively 'Kicked' Him Out of 'It Ends With Us'

While appearing on the January 7 episode of The Megyn Kelly Show, his lawyer Bryan Freedman played part of an alleged voice message Baldoni sent to his team recalling the events that transpired at the New York City premiere in August 2024.

“On what could have been one of the most beautiful nights of my life career-wise, I literally was sent to the basement with all my friends and family for over an hour because I wasn’t allowed to be seen. She didn’t want me anywhere near her or the rest of the cast,” Baldoni said in the alleged voice message.

He continued, “So they ushered me off the carpet and sent us down to the basement. We were down there together, my friends and family, the people that love me the most. We start laughing because of the ridiculousness of this whole thing and I realize, like, on a night that was supposed to be so materialistically joyful, I was in the basement with the people that I love the most and we were all joyful and laughing cause none of that s— matters, none of it.”

Baldoni, who also directed the film, noted that they’re not in the movie business “to attend a premiere like that and be celebrated.”

“We’re in this business because we’re artists and we believe in what we do and because we want to create art that touches people’s hearts and souls and can move people,” he said. “And that’s what we did, that’s what you both did. I believe that will follow each of us and the truth will prevail and light and love will win.”

Rumors began swirling of a rift on set when eagle-eyed fans noticed that Baldoni was absent for joint press interviews for the film and did not pose for group photos with cast members at the premiere.

Months after the speculation, The New York Times reported that Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment in a lawsuit, which was obtained by Us. (Freedman called Lively’s accusations “completely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious” in a statement to Us.)

The alleged audio mirrored what Baldoni and other plaintiffs claimed in their December 2024 lawsuit, where they sued The New York Times for its coverage of Lively’s accusations. (A spokesperson for The New York Times told Us that the outlet is planning to “vigorously defend against the lawsuit.”)

“The Wayfarer team and their families, including Baldoni and [producer Jamey] Heath, were segregated from the main cast, barred from the exclusive after-party, and forced to organize their own event at additional cost,” the filing reads. “Baldoni’s participation on the red carpet was cut short, and his family and friends were confined to a makeshift holding area in the basement before being escorted into a separate theater after Lively’s departure.”

The lawsuit continues, “Not only had Lively stolen the Film, but she also robbed Baldoni and his team of any genuine opportunity to celebrate their hard work.”