On December 21st, it was confirmed that Gossip Girl actress Blake Lively, 37, is suing her co-star Justin Baldoni, 40, over sexual harassment and a “social manipulation” campaign during their time working together on the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s It Ends With Us.
The lawsuit also includes lead producer Jamey Heath, Baldoni’s Wayfarer Studios, co-founder Steve Sarowitz, and individuals Jed Wallace, Melissa Nathan, and Jennifer Abel for allegedly being involved in a smear campaign against Lively.
Claims of sexual harassment and social manipulation
Lively is accusing Baldoni of sexual harassment and a “social manipulation” campaign. She has denied spreading rumors about Baldoni or Wayfarer Studios, stating to The New York Times:
“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.”
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Changes to the script after Lively signed on
The lawsuit claims that Baldoni and Heath added “gratuitous sexual content and/or nudity” to the script after Lively agreed to play Lily Bloom. One scene reportedly required Lively to “orgasm on-camera,” and the other involved simultaneous climaxes during intercourse.
Baldoni allegedly removed these scenes after Lively objected.
Improvised intimacy on set
Lively claims Baldoni improvised intimate scenes without prior discussion or rehearsal, and no intimacy coordinator was present. Afterward, Wayfarer Studios reportedly agreed to hire an intimacy coordinator for all nudity and simulated sex scenes.
They also decided to stop improvising kissing after a meeting with Lively, Baldoni, producers, and her husband, Ryan Reynolds.
Alleged lack of boundaries shown by Baldoni and Heath
Lively’s lawsuit accuses Baldoni and Heath of inappropriate behavior on set, including talking about their sex lives and pornography addiction.
Heath allegedly showed Lively and her assistant a “fully nude” video of his wife giving birth without their consent. Lively also claims the childbirth scene lacked standard industry protections.
Offensive comments about Lively’s weight and personal life
Lively accuses Baldoni of making negative comments about her body and weight, including urging her personal trainer to make her lose weight quickly after she gave birth to her fourth child. She also claims Baldoni repeatedly said he could “speak to the dead,” even mentioning her deceased father, Ernie Lively.
Concerns raised in a January 2024 meeting
During a break from filming due to the writers’ strike, Lively allegedly raised concerns about a “hostile work environment” in a meeting on January 4th. She reportedly filed 30 complaints against Baldoni and Heath, with Ryan Reynolds supporting her in the meeting.
Allegations of a smear campaign against Lively
Lively claims she was targeted in a smear campaign during the film’s promotion in August. Text messages between Baldoni’s team, PR expert Jennifer Abel, and crisis manager Melissa Nathan allegedly show a plan to damage her reputation, with Baldoni requesting only clips of him discussing domestic violence be posted.
Statements from Justin Baldoni’s lawyer
Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, responded to the lawsuit, calling the accusations “categorically false” and accusing Lively of attempting to “fix” her reputation from past remarks and interviews that were publicly observed.
Wayfarer Studios’ response to allegations
Freedman added that Wayfarer Studios didn’t retaliate but instead responded to media inquiries to ensure factual and balanced reporting, while also monitoring social media.
Public speculation and lack of appearances together
The lawsuit follows months of fan speculation about a rift between Lively and Baldoni, as they were rarely seen together during the It Ends With Us press tour.
With this legal battle still unfolding, it’s clear that there’s a lot more to the story. We’ll be keeping an eye on any new developments, so stay tuned!
