WME Seeks Commission From Justin Baldoni Earnings
The talent agency is pursuing a six-figure payment following its split with actor and director Justin Baldoni.
Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in Celebrities
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WME is pursuing a mid-to-high six-figure commission from backend earnings generated by Justin Baldoni for the film It Ends With Us. The effort follows the agency ending its representation of the actor in December 2024.
Why it matters
The agency maintains that seeking unpaid commissions from both current and former clients is standard policy. This move arrives months after legal disputes surrounding the project were settled between key stakeholders.
WME is attempting to collect a mid-to-high six-figure commission linked to the backend earnings of the film It Ends With Us. This request follows the formal termination of the professional relationship between the agency and Baldoni.
The players
Justin Baldoni
He is an actor and director known for his work on projects including the film It Ends With Us.
WME
This is a global talent agency representing high-profile individuals across the entertainment and sports industries.
Lewis Liman
He is a judge who presided over the legal proceedings involving claims of defamation and sexual harassment.
Blake Lively
She is an actress and producer who reached a legal settlement agreement with Justin Baldoni.
Courtney Braun
She serves as the general counsel for WME and is leading the firm's effort to collect unpaid commissions.
The details
WME general counsel Courtney Braun is leading the firm's pursuit of the payment. The action comes after a series of legal filings, including the dismissal of defamation and extortion claims in 2025 and the resolution of sexual harassment claims in 2026.
Timeline
December 2024: WME ended its professional relationship with Justin Baldoni.
June 2025: Judge Lewis Liman dismissed Baldoni's defamation and extortion case.
April 2026: Judge Lewis Liman dismissed most of the legal case involving sexual harassment claims.
May 4, 2026: Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively announced a legal settlement.
October 22, 2026: Page Six reported on WME's commission request.
Industry Dynamics
This move highlights the aggressive nature of talent agency collection policies even after representation has ceased. It follows the standard WME commission collection policy which dictates that firms pursue all unpaid backend earnings as a matter of internal protocol.
This development clarifies the legal status of the production's backend financial structure following the settlement between the project's leads. Fans should note that this dispute is an internal business matter between the agency and the actor rather than a public production issue.
The takeaway
Agencies typically enforce strict collection policies on backend earnings as part of their standard business agreements. Clients often find that contractual obligations regarding commissions persist well after a formal professional split occurs.
Further reading
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