Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni are at the center of a dramatic legal battle following the release of their 2024 film It Ends With Us. The two stars have filed competing lawsuits, each accusing the other of misconduct, with Lively’s allegations of sexual harassment and retaliation at the forefront of the dispute. Here’s a breakdown of the major claims in each filing.

 

 

Blake Lively’s Allegations:

On December 21, Blake Lively filed a formal complaint with the California Civil Rights Department, accusing director Justin Baldoni of creating a hostile work environment during the filming of It Ends With Us. In her complaint, Lively claims that Baldoni’s actions not only made her uncomfortable on set but also involved a campaign to damage her public image after she raised concerns.

 

Lively’s lawsuit outlines several serious accusations, including:

 

 

Sexual Harassment: Lively alleges that Baldoni made inappropriate comments about her body and weight, as well as other personal matters, during filming. She also accuses him of attempting to add unapproved sexual content to the film.

 

Retaliation: Lively claims that after she reported Baldoni’s behavior to producers, the director and his team launched a smear campaign against her, using media outlets and social media to tarnish her reputation.

 

Hostile Work Environment: A meeting was allegedly convened to address Baldoni’s behavior, with her husband, Ryan Reynolds, attending. The meeting reportedly discussed sensitive issues such as the removal of sexually explicit material, weight-related comments, and inappropriate conversations about Lively’s deceased father.

 

Evidence of Smear Campaign: Lively’s legal team presented evidence of text messages between Baldoni’s publicist and crisis PR experts that appear to show coordinated efforts to manipulate the media against her.

 

 

Justin Baldoni’s Defense and Counterclaims:

In response, Justin Baldoni’s team has vehemently denied Lively’s allegations, calling them false and categorically unfounded. Baldoni’s attorney claims that Lively’s accusations are an attempt to salvage her public image. Baldoni’s legal team has also argued that the public relations efforts taken during the film’s marketing campaign were standard and necessary in the face of what they describe as Lively’s unreasonable demands.

 

 

Key points from Baldoni’s defense include:

Crisis PR Management: Baldoni’s team explains that the decision to hire a crisis manager was made proactively due to what they describe as Lively’s threats to derail the film’s promotion, including refusing to show up to set and threatening not to promote the film.

 

Weight Inquiry: One of the major points of contention is a question Baldoni allegedly asked about Lively’s weight before filming a physically demanding scene. Baldoni maintains that the inquiry was made out of concern for Lively’s safety, as his character would be required to lift hers. He claims it was a reasonable and necessary question, though Lively has accused him of body-shaming and making unsolicited comments about her body.

 

Legal Counterattack: Baldoni has also filed a $250 million lawsuit against The New York Times, claiming the outlet manipulated its reporting to support Lively’s narrative. He argues that the article, which covered Lively’s accusations, was biased and omitted key details that would clear his name.

 

 

Lively’s Legal Action Against Baldoni’s Team:

In addition to her complaint filed with the Civil Rights Department, Lively has taken legal action against Baldoni, his PR team, and Wayfarer Studios, which produced the film. Her lawsuit includes:

 

Emotional Distress and Damages: Lively claims severe emotional distress caused by the retaliatory actions of Baldoni and his team. She also seeks compensation for lost wages.

 

Allegations of Inappropriate Conduct: Lively accuses Baldoni of secretly discussing her body with her fitness trainer and demanding that she lose weight, even though no such scene requiring a weight change existed in the script.

 

 

The Public and Legal Fallout:

The legal battle between Lively and Baldoni has escalated tensions in Hollywood, with both sides preparing for a lengthy and high-profile fight. Lively’s team has emphasized that this lawsuit is not about creative differences or a simple he-said-she-said dispute, but about serious allegations of harassment and retaliation. On the other hand, Baldoni’s team insists that the claims are baseless and that he acted professionally throughout the production.

 

This dispute highlights the growing conversation around the treatment of actors on set, the power dynamics in Hollywood, and the role of public relations in managing celebrity reputations. As the lawsuits continue to unfold, all eyes are on the courtroom to see how this high-profile case will ultimately be resolved.