Blake Lively is taking legal action against her co-star and director Justin Baldoni, accusing him of sexual harassment during the filming of the movie It Ends With Us. The lawsuit, filed on December 20, 2023, outlines serious allegations against Baldoni, including his involvement in creating a hostile work environment and orchestrated efforts to retaliate against Lively after she voiced her concerns.
The film premiered on August 6, 2023, and early signs of tension between Lively and Baldoni were evident during the promotional campaign, where they avoided appearing together publicly. The backdrop of It Ends With Us, which tackles themes of domestic abuse, adds to the complexity of these allegations. Lively claims Baldoni engaged in inappropriate discussions about sexual topics and showcased explicit images and videos of women, contributing to what she describes as harassment.
According to Lively, after raising concerns about Baldoni’s conduct, she claims he hired PR specialist Melissa Nathan to manage how the media portrayed her and to suppress damaging content about himself. The lawsuit contends this was part of a “multi-tiered” campaign intended to “destroy” her reputation.
Her legal complaint states, “To safeguard against the risk of Ms. Lively ever reveling [the] truth about Mr. Baldoni, the BaldoniWayfarer team created, planted, amplified, and boosted content...” This reflects the gravity of her charges, emphasizing her belief in the calculated nature of Baldoni’s response to her complaints.
Baldoni has firmly denied these allegations, with his attorney, Bryan Freedman, calling the claims “completely false, outrageous, and intentionally salacious.” Freedman argues the studio had to hire a crisis manager due to multiple demands and threats from Lively during production, characterizing her approach as manipulative.
The fallout of these events has sparked conversation within Hollywood about the handling of claims of sexual misconduct. Lively's brother-in-law, Bart Johnson, even took to social media to express his disdain for Baldoni, saying he “puts on the ‘costume’ of a hero” but is not genuine, urging people to reconsider their admiration for Baldoni’s public persona.
Lively’s lawsuit also includes her demands for workplace conduct changes on set, which reportedly consisted of 30 specific points. Among these were requests to halt discussions about pornography and related topics, and mandates for more respectful treatment from Baldoni and other production members. For example, she demanded, “no more showing of nude videos or images of women... to Lively or her employees,” reflecting the specific nature of her grievances.
Concerns about workplace dynamics escalated to such severity, it led to formal complaints from other female cast members about Baldoni’s behavior, alleging he had made “gross” comments impacting their work environment. Lively maintained her stance not only for herself but for the welfare of her colleagues, showcasing the collective nature of distress over Baldoni's alleged conduct.
Baldoni’s career is already facing significant repercussions from the lawsuit, with reports indicating he has been dropped by his talent agency and facing backlash for his public statements. Meanwhile, social media has amplified support for Lively, particularly after she stated, “I hope my legal action helps pull back the curtain on these sinister tactics to harm people who speak up about misconduct.”
The Hollywood community is closely watching this case as it not only highlights Lively’s bravery but also shines a spotlight on the pervasive issues of sexual harassment and retaliation. The principles at stake have broader societal ramifications, encouraging others to share their experiences and seek accountability for misconduct.
