Blake Lively has accused her co-star and director Justin Baldoni of sexual harassment and retaliation, setting off a media storm surrounding working conditions on the set of their film, It Ends With Us. Lively's civil rights complaint filed with the California Civil Rights Department accused Baldoni and his team of creating "a hostile work environment" during the production, culminating in what she refers to as his efforts to orchestrate a personal smear campaign against her.
The lawsuit shines light on disturbing allegations made by the 37-year-old actress, including claims of coercion during filming where she was pressured to simulate full nudity for what was supposed to be a childbirth scene, which she argues was not outlined in her contract. Lively states Baldoni insisted on this decision, reasoning, "women give birth naked," leading to her feeling forced to agree to partial nudity to avoid conflict.
Things allegedly worsened on set, Lively contends, where privacy and safety protocols were entirely ignored. Specifically, she stated the filming set was left wide open, allowing anyone to observe her, and monitors displaying her scenes were available for crew members to see on personal devices. Lively also claims no intimacy coordinator was on hand to safeguard her comfort, which is now considered standard practice on film sets.
Adding insult to injury, Baldoni reportedly cast his best friend as the on-screen obstetrician, which Lively found invasive and humiliative during such sensitive scenes. This incident has propelled discussions about the necessity of establishing strict regulations governing on-set behavior, especially protecting against potential harassment.
According to Lively's civil rights complaint obtained by The New York Times, there was even an "all hands" meeting held on January 4, 2024, addressing the hostile work environment concerns raised by Lively. During this meeting, Lively's husband, actor Ryan Reynolds, represented her, leading discussions on avoiding nude imagery and inappropriate comments pertaining to women’s bodies. The meeting concluded with agreements to implement safeguards to protect Lively and her team, such as ensuring the presence of intimacy coordinators.
Despite the cooperative sentiments expressed during the meeting, Lively’s complaint alleges Baldoni executed measures shortly thereafter to initiate what she describes as a "social manipulation campaign" intended to destroy her reputation. This included claimed efforts to circulate stories about her detrimental behavior and alleged threats she supposedly made concerning film promotions.
Lively's lawsuit also points fingers at Baldoni’s production company, Wayfarer Studios, Brooks Hunsaker, the film's publicist, and others. They are accused of complicity through their apparent knowledge of this systematic harassment and infringement on Lively’s rights. Her filings encompass screen captures of texts and messages purportedly showing orchestrated smear tactics against her.
The backlash against Baldoni and support for Lively has prompted several celebrities to rally behind the actress. Colleen Hoover, the author of the novel on which the film is based, shared her praises on social media, calling Lively honest, kind, and supportive. Fellow actresses from The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants have also expressed solidarity, acknowledging the unfortunate reality where even accomplished women like Lively can face retaliation for demanding safe working conditions.
While the existence of negative allegations has severely impacted Baldoni's reputation, his legal team vehemently denied Lively's claims. Attorney Bryan Freedman has labeled Lively's allegations as "false, outrageous, and intentionally salacious." He insists the negative press surrounding Baldoni is mainly the result of Lively's behavior during their promotional activities, asserting she had attempted not to collaborate and support the film actively.
Given the serious claims at play, legal experts anticipate the potential for the case to head to trial if no amicable resolution is reached. Gregory Doll, speaking to People, noted cases like these often do not settle due to the deeply personal conflicts involved.
Meanwhile, Lively hopes her actions will encourage others facing similar misconduct to stand up against such behavior and shine light on the issue of retaliation within the industry. She stated, "I hope my legal action helps pull back the curtain on these sinister retaliatory tactics to harm people who speak up about misconduct."
This situation has sparked considerable discourse around the balance of power within Hollywood, with the mistreatment of individuals on set taking center stage. The future of this lawsuit remains uncertain, but it continues to raise significant questions about the treatment of actors and the need for prioritized safety measures.
