American Entertainment News: Actress Blake Lively Files Lawsuit Against Justin Baldoni Over Harassment and Reputation Damage
Blake Lively has initiated legal proceedings against her former It Ends with Us co-star and director, Justin Baldoni, accusing him of sexual harassment and orchestrating a campaign to tarnish her image
Speaking to TMZ, Lively stated,
“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.”
The lawsuit, obtained by TMZ, alleges troubling incidents during the film’s production that escalated to an emergency meeting aimed at addressing what Lively describes as a toxic work environment. Actor Ryan Reynolds, Lively’s husband, was reportedly among those who attended the meeting.
The filing outlines several complaints against Baldoni, including requests for him to stop displaying explicit videos or images of women, discussing his alleged struggles with pornography addiction, making inappropriate comments about sexual experiences, and referencing the physical attributes of cast and crew members.
Additional complaints include remarks about Lively’s weight and personal life, such as her late father.
One key demand stated in the suit was to
“no more adding of s3x scenes, oral s3x, or on-camera climaxing by [Blake Lively] outside the scope of the script [she] approved when signing onto the project.”
While the studio initially agreed to her demands, the lawsuit claims tensions increased over disagreements regarding the film’s marketing.
Lively advocated for a promotional campaign highlighting her character’s strength, whereas Baldoni allegedly pushed for a focus on domestic violence, deviating from the agreed-upon narrative.
The lawsuit accuses Baldoni and his team of orchestrating a “reputation-destroying campaign,” referencing alleged text messages from Baldoni’s publicist to the studio’s PR team. One text reportedly stated Baldoni “wants to feel like [Ms. Lively] can be buried,” with another adding, “We can’t write we will destroy her.”
Lively claims the alleged smear campaign has damaged her career and caused emotional harm to her family. Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, has dismissed the allegations, labeling them as baseless and an attempt by Lively to salvage her public image. Freedman described the claims as “false, inflammatory, and deliberately harmful.”
Freedman further accused Lively of being uncooperative on set, stating she “threatened to abandon filming and refused to promote the movie, ultimately contributing to its failure upon release.”
The dispute has been further complicated by allegations that Baldoni questioned Lively’s trainer about her weight. Lively reportedly viewed this as body-shaming, while Baldoni has argued the inquiry stemmed from concerns about his back injury.
This ongoing legal battle has garnered widespread attention in American Entertainment News, shedding light on the complexities of professional dynamics in Hollywood.
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