Scarlett Johansson’s Surprising Reaction to Justin Baldoni Mention in Vanity Fair Interview

When Scarlett Johansson sat down for her Vanity Fair cover story, fans expected updates on her career, upcoming projects, and maybe a few personal reflections.

What no one saw coming, though, was her reaction to a name-drop that brought a little awkward tension to the room. Yes, the actor and filmmaker Justin Baldoni.

Keep reading for more details!

When Justin Baldoni’s Name Came Up, Scarlett Let Out a “Loud, Knowing Laugh”

During the interview, Johansson opened up about her upcoming directorial debut, Eleanor the Great.

The film is set to premiere in the fall and is being produced by Wayfarer Studios, a company co-founded by actor and filmmaker Justin Baldoni.

Everything was flowing smoothly until the interviewer casually mentioned Baldoni.

That’s when Johansson reportedly let out a “loud, knowing laugh”.

This was the reaction that instantly sparked curiosity. What did she know? What did the laugh mean? While she didn’t elaborate, her expression spoke volumes.

She Praised Wayfarer Studios but Acknowledged the “Weird Timing”

Despite the unexpected laugh, Johansson had nothing but praise for Wayfarer Studios, the production company supporting her film.

“They were super supportive throughout the process,” she shared, making it clear that her experience with the team was a positive one.

Still, the actress could not help but acknowledge the context surrounding Baldoni’s current legal entanglements.

“But yeah, such weird timing,” she added, referring to the ongoing legal battle involving Baldoni and actress Blake Lively, who happens to be married to Johansson’s ex-husband Ryan Reynolds.

A Hollywood Web: Scarlett, Blake, Ryan, and Justin

Let’s rewind a bit.

Scarlett Johansson and Ryan Reynolds were married from 2008 to 2010. Fast forward to the present day, and Reynolds is now married to Blake Lively. Meanwhile, Lively and Justin Baldoni were co-stars in the 2024 film It Ends With Us, and that’s where the trouble began.

In December 2024, Blake Lively filed a lawsuit against Baldoni, accusing him of harassment on the set of the film.

The allegations caused a major stir in Hollywood, especially given the high-profile names involved.

Baldoni denied the allegations and responded in January 2025 with a staggering $400 million lawsuit. This countersuit targeted Lively, Ryan Reynolds, and their longtime publicist Leslie Sloane, alleging defamation, extortion, and other serious charges.

Suddenly, what started as a typical celebrity lawsuit spiraled into a full-blown public drama with layers of personal history, especially for Johansson.

Even Taylor Swift Was Pulled Into the Drama

And if things were not already messy enough, Taylor Swift was unexpectedly dragged into the legal proceedings.

In a shocking twist, the global pop superstar was subpoenaed to testify in the upcoming trial, which is set for March 2026. This move raised eyebrows across the entertainment industry.

A spokesperson for Swift immediately pushed back against the subpoena, releasing a strongly worded statement:

“Taylor Swift never set foot on the set of this movie, she was not involved in any casting or creative decisions, she did not score the film, she never saw an edit or made any notes on the film, she did not even see It Ends With Us until weeks after its public release, and was traveling around the globe during 2023 and 2024 headlining the biggest tour in history.”

Her legal team is now working to get the subpoena dismissed, calling it “an abuse of the discovery process.”

Wayfarer Foundation Abruptly Shuts Down

As if things were not turbulent enough, the fallout extended beyond the courtroom.

Earlier this month, Wayfarer Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Baldoni’s production company, announced that it would be shutting down.

The reasons behind the closure have not been made public, but many speculate that it is tied to the ongoing legal issues Baldoni is facing.

It is a surprising development for an organization that previously championed a wide range of social causes.

Scarlett Johansson Stays Unbothered and Focused on Her Directorial Debut

Interestingly, Scarlett Johansson noted in the interview that she has never actually met Justin Baldoni.

He was tied up with the production of It Ends With Us during the time Eleanor the Great was in development. So while their names now appear together in headlines, their collaboration was mostly on paper.

Still, Johansson’s candid laugh and brief comment hinted at just how aware she is of the chaos surrounding Baldoni. Despite the noise, she remains focused on her creative journey.

With Eleanor the Great set to mark a new chapter in her career, Johansson is showing once again that she knows how to navigate Hollywood with grace and a bit of humor, even when the past and present unexpectedly collide.

TL;DR

• Scarlett Johansson had a candid, surprising reaction to Justin Baldoni being mentioned, laughing loudly before calling the situation “weird timing.”
• Wayfarer Studios, co-founded by Baldoni, is backing Johansson’s directorial debut Eleanor the Great, which she praised for their support.
• Johansson and Baldoni have never met in person, despite working on the same project from different angles.
• Baldoni is currently facing serious legal battles with Blake Lively, who accused him of sexual harassment in 2024.
• In response, Baldoni filed a $400 million countersuit against Lively, Ryan Reynolds (Johansson’s ex-husband), and publicist Leslie Sloane.
• Taylor Swift was unexpectedly subpoenaed in the legal case, but her team is fighting back, calling it a misuse of legal power.
• Wayfarer Foundation has shut down, possibly due to the ongoing controversy surrounding Baldoni.
• Johansson remains focused on her directorial journey, unbothered by the drama, and ready to make her mark behind the camera.

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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.