Blake Lively’s Legal Battle Against Justin Baldoni: New Allegations Surface
Blake Lively filed a complaint highlighting serious allegations against her It Ends With Us co-star Justin Baldoni. He denies these claims but faces professional consequences following her accusations, PEOPLE reported.
As promotion for It Ends With Us unfolded last summer, fans quickly sensed tension among the cast. Lively, along with co-stars Jenny Slate, Brandon Sklenar, and author Colleen Hoover did not follow Baldoni on Instagram. Baldoni notably skipped several group events, including a screening at the Book Bonanza festival in June, and he did not pose with cast members during the film premiere in New York City.
Amidst speculation of a rift, a source suggested to PEOPLE that "more to the story" existed. This situation completely unfolded on December 20 when Lively's attorneys filed a California Civil Rights Department complaint. That filing revealed claims of sexual harassment against Baldoni, whose production company, Wayfarer Studios, created the film.
The 80-page complaint alleges Baldoni, aged 40, sexually harassed Lively, 37, and retaliated when she reported the misconduct. Lively expressed hope that her actions would expose harmful retaliatory tactics often faced by whistleblowers. Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, responded to the complaint as "false" and "salacious" with intent to harm.
The repercussions have already begun to unfold. Baldoni lost representation from WME, the agency that also represents Lively and Ryan Reynolds. Additionally, journalist Liz Plank exited Baldoni's podcast shortly after the allegations surfaced. Support has poured in for Lively from many sources, including her It Ends With Us costars.
Among the claims detailed in the complaint, Lively alleges Baldoni intruded into her makeup trailer without invitation while she was breastfeeding, along with discussing sensitive information like his own past pornography usage. He allegedly pressured her to simulate nudity during a scene and criticized her physical appearance, invoking discussions about her late father.
Lively argues Baldoni created a "hostile work environment," which she says almost derailed the film's production. A meeting held on January 4 sought to remedy this by instituting alternative working conditions. Those provisions included the presence of an intimacy coordinator during scenes involving Lively and concluded improvised interactions.
Even after this meeting, Lively’s team claims Baldoni and his publicists implemented a malicious smear campaign against her following the film's completion. The complaint accuses them of orchestrating a press strategy to damage Lively’s reputation as retaliation for speaking out. Reportedly, discussions about negatively influencing public perception occurred through subpoenaed text messages.
Baldoni’s attorney deemed Lively’s move as an effort to restore her reputation rather than a legitimate grievance. Lively's representation claims her companies experienced significant sales drops immediately after the alleged character attacks emerged.
Lively reportedly grapples with significant emotional distress as a result of the ordeal. Behind the scenes, she faces trauma and anxiety associated with the ongoing situation, which directly affects her family and personal life. She's seeking compensation for various damages related to these allegations.
Despite the circumstances, a source revealed Lively continues to prioritize her family, especially with the support from her husband Ryan Reynolds. The California Civil Rights Department’s next steps are anticipated to clarify possible legal advancements in this high-profile case.
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