Listen To Story Above
Blake Lively has initiated legal proceedings against her “It Ends With Us” co-star Justin Baldoni, accusing him of sexual harassment during the film’s production and orchestrating a campaign to tarnish her reputation, according to TMZ.
The lawsuit, which has sent shockwaves through Hollywood, details how Baldoni, who also directed the film, allegedly created a hostile work environment that led to a crucial intervention meeting. Lively’s husband, actor Ryan Reynolds, was present at this emergency gathering.
Blake Lively has filed a lawsuit against Justin Baldoni accusing him of sexual harassment and a coordinated effort to destroy her reputation, TMZ reports.
Do you even care? pic.twitter.com/FMqxEM6DWm
— Donald Gianino (@DonaldGianino) December 21, 2024
During this meeting, the couple outlined specific demands: a halt to showing explicit content to Lively, no discussions about Baldoni’s reported past struggles with adult content, and an end to conversations about sexual encounters in Lively’s presence. Additionally, they requested that Baldoni cease making comments about Lively’s weight and refrain from mentioning her deceased father.
The actress also insisted on maintaining the original intimate scenes as agreed upon in the script she initially approved, with no additional sexual content.
In response to the sexual harassment allegations, Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, dismissed the lawsuit as “false, outrageous and intentionally salacious with an intent to publicly hurt,” suggesting it was merely an attempt by Lively to rehabilitate her image.
The conflict between the co-stars reportedly escalated during discussions about the film’s marketing strategy. While Lively advocated for highlighting her character’s strength and resilience, Baldoni preferred to emphasize the domestic violence aspects of the story.
The lawsuit includes damaging evidence, such as text messages from Baldoni’s publicity team expressing a desire to “bury” Lively’s reputation.
Justin Baldoni’s Lawyer calls Blake Lively’s lawsuit a ‘desperate attempt to fix her negative reputation’ and ‘categorically false’:
“It is shameful that Ms. Lively and her representatives would make such serious and categorically false accusations against Mr. Baldoni, Wayfarer… pic.twitter.com/zy87Z3zSzf
— Pop Base (@PopBase) December 21, 2024
Ironically, the widely reported tension between the stars may have contributed to the film’s success. The domestic violence drama, adapted from Colleen Hoover’s bestseller, became a significant box office success, generating over $350 million worldwide despite the stars’ refusal to promote the film together.
The controversy surrounding the film intensified when Lively faced public criticism after a journalist claimed an uncomfortable interview with the actress prompted her resignation.
