Blake Lively Accuses Justin Baldoni of Sexual Harassment in Shocking New Lawsuit
Blake Lively has accused her It Ends With Us co-star and director, Justin Baldoni, of sexual harassment, sparking a fierce legal battle. The shocking allegations have cast a shadow over the film’s success.
According to Lively’s complaint, Baldoni’s actions caused “severe emotional harm” to her and her family. Among the allegations are claims that Baldoni discussed her weight with her trainer, pressured her to disclose her religious beliefs, and even made inappropriate comments about his own sex life. Adding fuel to the fire, Lively alleges that Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios’ CEO Jamey Heath entered her makeup trailer without permission. On one occasion, she was breastfeeding her infant child.
The complaint also includes allegations against Heath, who reportedly showed Lively a video of his wife naked and giving birth. These incidents, Lively says, not only affected her but other women on set, some of whom also voiced concerns.
As if that weren’t enough, the filing reveals bizarre and deeply personal claims, including Baldoni allegedly stating he could communicate with the dead, specifically Lively’s father, who passed away in 2021. The actress described this as “violative” and “off-putting.”
Ryan Reynolds Joins the Fray
Lively’s husband, Ryan Reynolds, reportedly attended a January 2024 meeting where the allegations were discussed, signaling the seriousness of the situation. During the meeting, Lively demanded that no additional sex scenes be added to the film beyond what she had already approved. While Sony Pictures, the movie’s distributor, allegedly supported her request, the complaint accuses Baldoni of orchestrating a smear campaign to tarnish her reputation after the fact.
Baldoni’s Team Responds
Justin Baldoni’s legal team has fiercely denied the allegations. In a statement, his lawyer Bryan Freedman called the claims “shameful” and “categorically false,” suggesting that the accusations are part of a “desperate attempt” by Lively to fix her “negative reputation.”
“These claims are completely false, outrageous, and intentionally salacious,” Freedman added. The statement also accused Lively of planting fabricated stories in the media during the film’s production, prompting Wayfarer Studios to hire a crisis manager to handle potential fallout.
A Social Media Battle
The complaint reveals that Baldoni’s PR team allegedly weaponized social media to sway public opinion in his favor. Emails and text messages included in the filing show members of his team celebrating posts that sided with Baldoni and criticized Lively.
Will They Ever Work Together Again?
The feud between Lively and Baldoni had already sparked rumors during the film’s press tour last August, as the pair avoided appearing together. Despite the behind-the-scenes chaos, It Ends With Us was a box office hit, raking in $350 million globally. However, a sequel to the Colleen Hoover adaptation seems unlikely. A source told Variety, “There’s probably no world where these two will work together again.”
