Blake Lively Initiates Lawsuit Against Justin Baldoni for Sexual Harassment

Blake Lively has filed a lawsuit against Justin Baldoni, her costar in "It Ends with Us," claiming sexual harassment. Lively, 37, asserts that Baldoni's conduct caused her "severe emotional distress." Baldoni, aged 40, was also the film's director. His lawyer, Bryan Freedman, described the allegations as "false, outrageous, and intentionally salacious," aiming to damage Baldoni's reputation, PEOPLE reported.

The lawsuit references a meeting to address Lively's concerns regarding her working conditions. This meeting included notable figures like Lively's husband, Ryan Reynolds.

 According to the lawsuit accessed by TMZ, several demands were discussed in this meeting. These included prohibitions on showing nude videos or photos of women to Lively. Other restrictions requested involved any mention of Baldoni's alleged "pornography addiction," discussions about sexual exploits, and further references to personal topics such as Lively's weight and deceased father.

The lawsuit articulates that "no more additions to sex scenes" were allowed without Lively's approval. Despite the agreement with Sony Pictures to support Lively’s demands, the actress contends that Baldoni later engaged in actions to undermine her reputation.

Freedman suggested that Lively's lawsuit aims to repair her public image, countering her assertions. He alleged that Lively disrupted the film's production by threatening to withdraw from filming and promotion, ultimately impacting the film's release.

Sony Pictures, along with representatives from Lively and Baldoni, did not provide immediate comments regarding these claims.

"It Ends with Us" revolves the character Lily, played by Lively, as she navigates a troubled relationship with Ryle – portrayed by Baldoni. Earlier reports had depicted Baldoni as creating a difficult environment on set, leading to speculation about tension between him and Lively during the film's promotional events.

Separately, actors shared their support for Lively and the other women involved, emphasizing the film’s message of hope and resilience. Cast member Brandon Sklenar expressed his disappointment over negative portrayals of the women who passionately contributed to this project.

Earlier, SSP wrote that Joss Stone announced pregnancy after recent adoption.