Actress Blake Lively has filed a lawsuit against her former co-star and director of the film It Ends with Us, Justin Baldoni, alleging sexual harassment and defamation, according to TMZ.
Blake Lively Sues Justin Baldoni For Smear Campaign and Sexual Harassment
The lawsuit, obtained by the entertainment portal, details claims that Baldoni engaged in inappropriate behavior, including showing Blake Lively explicit photos and videos of other women, boasting about his addiction to sex and pornography, and making offensive remarks about her weight and her late father.
TMZ also reports that a meeting was convened to address the actress’s complaints about what she described as a “hostile work environment” on set. The meeting included several individuals, among them Lively’s husband, actor Ryan Reynolds.
The lawsuit notes that the studio initially agreed to Lively’s demands to improve her working conditions. However, this led to conflicts over how the film should be promoted. While Lively advocated for a more optimistic portrayal of her character, Baldoni reportedly wanted the story to emphasize themes of domestic violence, diverging from the original script.
Additionally, the actress requested that unscripted sex scenes, which were not part of the contract she signed, be removed from the production.
The filing also accuses Baldoni of orchestrating a “social manipulation” campaign aimed at damaging Lively’s reputation. As evidence, the lawsuit includes text messages allegedly sent by Baldoni’s publicist to the studio’s publicist.
y’all were too busy hating on blake lively and ryan reynolds, that u overlooked the fact that the ENTIRE cast unfollowed justin baldoni pic.twitter.com/mtInusCbJG
— m ᥫ᭡⋆ (@_summerchld) August 14, 2024
Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, has denied the allegations, calling them “completely false, outrageous, and intentionally sensational.” Speaking to Us Weekly, Freedman accused Lively of attempting to “repair her negative reputation” and “reshape the narrative” surrounding the film’s production.
In one text message dated August 2, a publicist working with Baldoni wrote to crisis management expert Melissa Nathan, “He wants to feel like she can be buried.” Nathan allegedly replied, “You know we can bury anyone.”
Reports suggest that tensions between Lively and Baldoni escalated during the film’s promotional tour. Fans noted that while Lively actively participated in interviews alongside her co-stars, Baldoni was notably absent from these promotional events.
