LOS ANGELES: Hollywood actor Blake Lively has filed a lawsuit against her It Ends With Us co-star and director Justin Baldoni, accusing him of sexual harassment and orchestrating a smear campaign against her, according to Variety.
The lawsuit alleges that Baldoni’s behaviour on set and during the film’s production caused Lively and her family “severe emotional harm.”
Lively claimed Baldoni, alongside producer Jamey Heath, exhibited unprofessional conduct, including inappropriate discussions of their sexual histories and pornography addictions, and repeatedly violated her boundaries.
The complaint also highlighted Baldoni’s claim that he could communicate with Lively’s late father, Ernie Lively, which she described as “off-putting and violative.”
In a statement to The New York Times, Lively stated that her lawsuit aims to “pull back the curtain on these sinister retaliatory tactics to harm people who speak up about misconduct” and protect others who may face similar treatment.
Allegations of Misconduct
The lawsuit details incidents where Baldoni and Heath allegedly entered Lively’s makeup trailer without her consent, including while she was breastfeeding her infant. Additionally, Heath reportedly showed Lively a video of his wife giving birth, an act she called inappropriate.
Lively demanded that Baldoni and Heath stop discussing their personal sexual histories and refrain from adding explicit scenes to the movie script beyond what she had approved.
While Sony Pictures agreed to her terms, Lively alleged that Baldoni retaliated by launching a smear campaign to tarnish her reputation.
Smear Campaign
According to the lawsuit, Baldoni and Heath hired crisis public relations experts to orchestrate a digital campaign aimed at discrediting Lively. Text messages and emails obtained through subpoenas revealed a coordinated effort to spread misinformation about the actor.
“The documents show an additional playbook for waging a largely undetectable smear campaign in the digital era,” The New York Times reported. One publicist involved allegedly said Baldoni wanted to “bury” Lively.
Industry Backlash
The allegations have led to significant professional fallout for Baldoni. Talent and media agency William Morris Endeavor (WME) dropped him as a client. Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, remain represented by the agency.
Author Colleen Hoover, whose bestselling book inspired the movie, expressed solidarity with Lively, praising her for her honesty and kindness. Lively’s sister, Robyn, also defended her, sharing the New York Times article and condemning the unsafe working conditions her sister endured.
Lively’s The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants co-stars—America Ferrera, Alexis Bledel, and Amber Tamblyn—voiced their support in a joint statement, condemning the alleged retaliation and the exploitation of domestic violence survivors’ stories to silence Lively.
Public Criticism
While promoting the film, Lively faced backlash for her marketing approach, which critics called “tone-deaf.” Social media users accused her of trivializing domestic violence, a central theme of the film, while Baldoni was praised for raising awareness about the issue.
In response, Lively’s lawsuit argued that the negative publicity was part of Baldoni’s orchestrated campaign to discredit her.
Baldoni’s Denial
Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios’ lawyer, Bryan Freedman, denied the allegations, calling them “categorically false” and accusing Lively of making demands that jeopardized the film’s production and release.
Despite the controversy, Lively’s legal action has sparked broader discussions about workplace safety in Hollywood and the challenges women face when standing up against misconduct.
