LOS ANGELES (AP) — Actress Blake Lively has filed a lawsuit against Justin Baldoni, her co-star and director of “It Ends With Us,” alleging sexual harassment and claiming a coordinated effort to damage her reputation, according to court documents obtained by The Hollywood Reporter.
The complaint details workplace conduct that allegedly led to an emergency all-hands meeting during production. The meeting addressed multiple demands, including prohibitions on showing nude content to Lively, discussing sexual experiences, and adding intimate scenes beyond the approved script.
“I hope that my legal action helps pull back the curtain on these sinister retaliatory tactics to harm people who speak up about misconduct and helps protect others who may be targeted,” Lively said in a statement to The New York Times.
The lawsuit also alleges that Baldoni and his team engaged in a “social manipulation” campaign to harm Lively’s reputation. The filing includes 22 pages of text messages between publicists discussing potential strategies against the actress.
Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, strongly denied the allegations in a statement: “It is shameful that Ms. Lively and her representatives would make such serious and categorically false accusations against Mr. Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios and its representatives.”
Freedman claimed Wayfarer Studios hired crisis management professionals due to “multiple demands and threats made by Ms. Lively during production,” including threats to boycott set and promotional activities.
The legal dispute follows months of speculation about tension between the co-stars. Observers noted Baldoni’s absence from joint press events, his missing from group photos at the New York premiere, and key cast members, including Lively, author Colleen Hoover, and Jenny Slate, not following him on social media.
The controversy could affect plans for a potential sequel. While Baldoni’s Wayfarer Studios holds rights to “It Starts With Us,” the second book in Hoover’s series, the current dispute complicates future collaboration.
Both parties have faced criticism since the film’s August release. Lively received backlash for perceived lighthearted promotion of a film dealing with domestic violence, while Baldoni faced accusations of creating an uncomfortable set environment.
Representatives for Lively, Baldoni, and Sony Pictures have not responded to requests for additional comment.
