Blake Lively has filed a lawsuit against her It Ends With Us costar and director Justin Baldoni, alleging sexual harassment and retaliation on set. According to the lawsuit, Lively claims Baldoni created a hostile work environment and engaged in behaviors that caused her emotional and professional harm. Specific allegations include inappropriate comments about her weight, unsolicited discussions about his alleged pornography addiction, and displaying explicit material in her presence. Lively also accuses Baldoni of adding explicit scenes to the script without her consent.
The lawsuit also details a contentious production environment, including a meeting that addressed her grievances, reportedly attended by her husband, Ryan Reynolds. Despite the studio approving her demands, Lively claims Baldoni later orchestrated a smear campaign against her, allegedly stating his intent to damage her reputation. Text messages cited in the lawsuit reportedly show Baldoni’s publicist suggesting efforts to “bury” Lively.
Baldoni’s legal team strongly denies the allegations, calling them “false and outrageous.” His attorney claims the lawsuit is a response to Lively’s alleged unprofessionalism during filming, asserting that her behavior contributed to the movie’s poor performance.
This legal battle adds another layer of controversy to the production, which had already been marked by disagreements over its marketing approach. While Lively wanted to focus on resilience, Baldoni allegedly prioritized highlighting themes of domestic violence.
