In December 2024, Blake Lively took legal action against her It Ends With Us co-star, Justin Baldoni with accusations of sexual harassment. Alongside Baldoni, she also accused producer, Jamey Heath, and studio Wayfarer of misconduct as well. Moreover, it’s speculated that this move came after prolonged speculation of a rift between the two. In a complaint filed with the California Civil Rights Department, Lively alleges that Baldini fostered a toxic work environment and engaged in retaliatory behavior. While believing Baldini’s actions were unprofessional, Lively also says it damaged her reputation, which Baldini vehemently denies.
Blake Lively’s Allegations
Blake Lively’s complaint also reveals that the It Ends With Us set became increasingly hostile. In the complaint, Lively detailed other disturbing behavior, including unwanted advances and invasion actions. While accusing Baldoni of initiating uninvited kissing and discussing his sex life, Heath shared a graphic video with her. Likewise, she stated both men repeatedly entered her makeup trailer uninvited while she was unaddressed. Ultimately, this complaint led to a meeting to address Justin Baldoni’s alleged toxic behavior.
Meeting About Lively’s and Baldoni’s Conflict
Notably, Lively’s husband, Ryan Reynolds, was in attendance and several concerns were raised regarding Baldoni’s conduct. As a result of this meeting, Baldini wasn’t allowed to share any explicit content with Lively. Additionally, certain personal topics, including his alleged past issues and personal relationships, were off-limits for the discussion. As outlined in Lively’s complaint, these incidents precede a potential lawsuit, further underscoring the alleged sexual harassment that she endured on set.
The attendees of the meeting also tackled various other sensitive topics. Specifically, they made several conditions after the gathering that Justin Baldoni had to follow. For instance, Baldoni couldn’t make references to genitalia or inquire about Blake Live’s weight. Additionally, they addressed Baldoni’s alleged habit of mentioning Lively’s deceased father, Ernie Lively, who passed away in 2021 and was also deemed off-limits for discussion.
Furthermore, the meeting clarified the boundaries surrounding sex scenes in the film by forbidding Baldoni from introducing explicit content that was not already outlined in the original script. Blake Lively’s lawsuit also alleges that Justin Baldoni launched a “social manipulation” campaign to tarnish her reputation. Initially, this alleged campaign had started due to disagreements over the film’s marketing strategy. Supposedly, Lively and her family suffered significant emotional distress, and her business was negatively impacted.
Justin Baldoni’s Response to Allegations
Countering these claims, Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, asserted that Lively’s complaint was a deliberate attempt to salvage her damaged reputation. Moreover, Freedom described Lively’s allegations as false, outrageous, and intentionally hurtful. He also claimed that Lively engaged in threatening behavior behind the scenes, including refusing to come to set and promote the film. Ultimately, these allegations were potential reasons for the film’s demise upon release.
Denying Freedman’s accusations, Blake Lively asserted that she was taking legal action against Baldoni. She explained that she wanted to expose the retaliatory tactics used against individuals who speak out against misconduct. In the end, Lively hopes to help others from similar treatment with her actions. Currently, neither Lively nor Baldoni’s teams have yet to respond or make a comment.
Thoughts on Lively-Baldoni Situation
Rumors of a feud between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni first began circulating earlier this year. Specifically, tensions between the two started during the cast’s promotion of It End With Us without Baldoni’s involvement. As speculation escalated, Baldoni addressed the challenges of filmmaking in an August interview, where he acknowledged that every movie is a delicate balancing act.
Often, filmmakers are required to navigate complex personalities and their artistic visions, which can be difficult. While mistakes are inevitable, the ways they’re addressed are what matters most. Seemingly hinting at the underlying tensions on set, Baldoni’s comments didn’t reveal the full extent of the conflict with Lively that would eventually come to light.
