Kaylah Walton
Blake Lively has officially accused her co-star and director, Justin Baldoni, of sexual harassment related to their film, It Ends With Us.
The serious allegations emerged months after the film’s debut and highlight troubling conduct by Baldoni, prompting Lively to organize an urgent team meeting during production.
Additionally, she accused him of making comments about her body and father, along with trying to introduce unscripted sexual scenes.
Lively’s legal pursuit aims to shed light on what she labeled “sinister retaliatory tactics” prevalent in Hollywood.
“I hope my lawsuit will expose these harmful tactics used to intimidate those who report misconduct and help safeguard future targets,” she stated in an interview with The New York Times.
Tensions and social media dynamics
Prior to the complaint, Baldoni had sensed rising tensions. Text messages obtained revealed that he was worried after getting blocked by Ryan Reynolds, Lively’s husband, on Instagram, prompting him to discuss potential contingencies with his publicist.
Though Lively hasn’t blocked Baldoni, she does not reciprocate his follow on Instagram. Moreover, Reynolds and Baldoni are also not connected on social media, suggesting underlying relationship issues.
In response to the allegations, Baldoni and his production team at Wayfarer Studios have strongly denied the claims. Attorney Bryan Freedman dismissed the accusations as “categorically false” and “deliberately sensational.” He further stated that Lively had made numerous requests during filming and threatened to leave if those demands were not satisfied.
Sources suggest that Lively was not alone in her discomfort with Baldoni. “None of the cast enjoyed working with Justin,” a source told Page Six, referring to the distant interaction between Lively and Baldoni during the film’s New York City premiere.
As Hollywood navigates issues of proper conduct, the repercussions of these allegations spotlight the urgent need for accountability and transformation within the industry.
