Blake Lively has filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against her "It Ends With Us" co-star Justin Baldoni, alleging he engaged in harassing behavior and waged a campaign to damage her reputation. The film, based on Colleen Hoover's bestselling novel, features Lively as Lily Bloom and Baldoni as her abusive partner, Ryle Kincaid. After the film's successful release, Lively's allegations against Baldoni emerged, marking the beginning of what has become one of Hollywood's most contentious legal dramas.
The lawsuit, initiated by Lively, claims Baldoni's behavior caused her severe emotional distress. It includes specific allegations about their time on set, stating, "During filming, Baldoni leaned forward and slowly dragged his lips from her ear and down her neck as he said, ‘It smells so good.'" When Lively later objected, Baldoni allegedly replied, "I’m not even attracted to you." Dismissed as false and defamatory by Baldoni's legal team, these claims have sparked intense media scrutiny.
The scandal has taken on its own life as both Lively and Baldoni have sought legal recourse against one another. Baldoni countersued Lively for $400 million, alleging she is launching her accusations to cover up her own misdeeds and to deflect from the negative portrayal of her marketing efforts for the film. "Her team has resorted to bullying tactics to hijack the narrative," his legal representative Bryan Freedman stated. The legal battles have escalated to allegations of smear campaigns and defamation, with each party accusing the other of manipulating public perception.
The feud manifested on social media and other public platforms, with rumors swirling about tomfoolery on set and hidden tensions reflected during promotional events. Baldoni's legal strategy involves emphasizing his role as the film's director, contending he operated well within professional boundaries, and attempting to frame Lively's claims as part of her public relations strategy.
Before the film's release, Lively faced backlash for her promotional approach, which many critics decried as misleading and insensitive, particularly because the film addresses the serious issue of domestic violence. Critics pointed to her light-hearted manner, perceived tone-deafness, and subsequent tie-ins, like themed cocktails promoting the film, contributing to the negative narrative around her. This provided fertile ground for conjecture about the motifs of retaliation and damage control pursued by both parties.
On January 21, Baldoni's legal team released behind-the-scenes footage from the film, aiming to reinforce their claims of professional conduct during filming. The nearly ten-minute video, which includes scenes shot out of character, has been met with skepticism by Lively's camp, who argue the footage corroborates Lively's discomfort during the interaction.
"Any woman who has been inappropriately touched will recognize Ms. Lively’s discomfort,” her attorneys asserted, labeling the video as fabricated media intended to sway public opinion.
The tangled threads of this case show how deeply intersected personal relationships and workplace dynamics can become. Lively and Baldoni's overall professional relationship has drawn significant media attention, amplifying conversations about the treatment of women and misconduct within Hollywood.
On December 22, The New York Times reported on Lively's allegations, detailing the purported PR battle led by Baldoni's team. Lively alleges the negative press coverage was part of a coordinated effort to undermine her following her allegations. The reports included messages exchanged among Baldoni and his PR representatives, who allegedly discussed ways to deflect public attention from the mounting allegations against him.
Consequently, Baldoni launched his own lawsuit against The New York Times for $250 million, claiming the article was defamatory and manipulated facts to suit Lively's narrative. The complexity of the case has increased with allegations of civil extortion, breach of contract, and power dynamics entangled with their professional hierarchy on set.
Both Lively and Baldoni have sought legal protections, with Lively requesting the court issue a gag order against Baldoni's PR team for what she describes as harassment through media manipulation. Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds have taken legal action to safeguard their reputation and respond to Baldoni's allegations touting various legal approaches for the course of the case.
The outcome of this legal tempest remains uncertain, as both parties are entrenched and adamant about their positions. Each phase of litigation reveals more about not only individual behavior but broader industry practices and highlights unchecked power dynamics at play.
While the film “It Ends With Us” aimed to shine light on the nuanced and often delicate subject of domestic abuse, it has become entangled within the missteps and miscommunication of its cast and crew, shaping how audiences perceive both the film and its creators. The saga serves as a stark reminder of the importance of accountability and appropriate conduct, especially within environments laden with inequality.