Blake Lively has filed a federal lawsuit in New York against actor-director Justin Baldoni and several others, alleging sexual harassment and inappropriate behavior during the production of “It Ends with Us.” The lawsuit seeks compensation for mental anguish, emotional distress, and lost wages.
The federal court filing mirrors a previous complaint submitted to the California Civil Rights Commission. Additional defendants named in the lawsuit include Baldoni’s crisis managers, Melissa Nathan, and Jennifer Abel, as well as Wayfarer Studios, the production company behind the film.
Detailed Allegations
According to the lawsuit, the production environment became so problematic that it necessitated an all-hands meeting to address what Lively characterized as a hostile work environment. Her husband, actor Ryan Reynolds, was present at this meeting.
The complaint outlines several specific demands that were made during production, including:
- Cessation of showing nude videos or images of women to Lively
- No further discussions about Baldoni’s alleged previous “pornography addiction”
- Prohibition of sexual conquest discussions in front of Lively and others
- End to comments about cast and crew’s genitalia
- Stop inquiries about Lively’s weight
- No further mentions of Lively’s deceased father
Marketing Dispute
While the studio reportedly agreed to these demands, a significant conflict arose over the film’s marketing strategy. Lively advocated for highlighting her character’s resilience, in line with the marketing plan, while Baldoni allegedly pushed for a focus on domestic violence and deviated from the agreed-upon strategy.
Alleged Retaliation
The lawsuit claims Baldoni and his team orchestrated a “social manipulation” campaign aimed at damaging Lively’s reputation. Text messages included in the filing reportedly show communications between Baldoni’s publicist and the studio publicist, with concerning statements such as Baldoni wanting to ensure Lively “can be buried.”
Legal Responses
Bryan Freedman, Baldoni’s attorney, has strongly refuted the allegations, characterizing them as “false, outrageous, and intentionally salacious with an intent to publicly hurt.” He suggests the filing is an attempt by Lively to rehabilitate her reputation.
Representatives for Justin Baldoni have not yet responded to requests for comment on the federal lawsuit.
