Blake Lively Accuses Justin Baldoni of Orchestrating Smear Campaign.
Blake Lively has leveled accusations of sexual harassment against her co-star Justin Baldoni from the film "It Ends with Us." According to a legal complaint on Saturday, Lively asserts that Baldoni, who also directed the film, orchestrated a public relations campaign in collaboration with a crisis management firm.
Her legal representatives described this initiative as "'social manipulation' intended to 'destroy' Ms. Lively's reputation" following her objections to certain behaviors on set. The legal filing includes text messages exchanged between Baldoni and others, shedding light on the off-screen turmoil that fueled months of speculation regarding a purported conflict between the two actors.
The poignant film, adapted from Colleen Hoover's novel, tells the story of Lily Blossom Bloom (Lively), a flower shop owner who falls for a charming neurosurgeon named Ryle Kincaid (Baldoni) while also reconnecting with her childhood love, Atlas Corrigan (Brandon Sklenar).
The narrative delves into the troubling themes of domestic violence and the cyclical nature of abuse across generations. Lawyer Monthly has sought comments from the legal representatives of both Baldoni and Lively, as well as from representatives of Hoover and Sony Pictures.
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This legal action arises nearly ten years after the #MeToo and Time's Up movements significantly impacted the film and entertainment sectors, as numerous women shared their experiences of inappropriate sexual conduct by influential men in Hollywood, revealing a widespread culture that often protected such behavior. "I hope that my legal action helps expose these malicious retaliatory tactics aimed at silencing those who report misconduct and aids in safeguarding others who may be at risk," Lively expressed to The New York Times in an article published on Saturday. In the legal documents, Lively's attorneys claim that Baldoni engaged crisis PR expert Melissa Nathan and her firm, The Agency Group, to execute an online defamation campaign.
A publicist collaborating with Baldoni communicated to Nathan, stating, "He wishes to convey that she can be buried." Nathan responded with a message of her own: "You are aware that we can bury anyone." Lively asserts that Baldoni exhibited predatory conduct of a sexual nature, detailing in her lawsuit that she and other cast and crew members of "It Ends with Us" encountered invasive, unwelcome, unprofessional, and sexually inappropriate behavior.
The ongoing situation between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni regarding 'It Ends with Us' has been elaborated upon. In the legal complaint, Lively's attorneys allege that Baldoni engaged in "improvised physical intimacy" that had not been previously arranged, which included "discreetly" biting and sucking on the lower lip of the "Gossip Girl" star during a scene, where he insisted on performing multiple kisses for each take, demanding to shoot the scene repeatedly.
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Lively's lawsuit states that when she raised objections to similar actions, Baldoni responded by saying, “I’m not even attracted to you." After Lively approved one draft of the film's script, she claims Baldoni "personally inserted graphic content," which included a scene depicting her supposed orgasm on camera. According to the filing, Baldoni purportedly consented to eliminate the scene but subsequently inquired whether Lively and her husband, renowned actor Ryan Reynolds, "climax simultaneously during (sexual) intercourse."
During a car ride with Lively, he allegedly recounted his own experiences of sexual abuse inflicted by an ex-girlfriend, using that past trauma to reflect on his own shortcomings in obtaining sexual consent. "Did I always ask for consent? No. Did I always listen when they said no? No," he reportedly told the actress, with her driver and assistant present. The filing also mentions discussions between Baldoni and Heath regarding a "previous pornography addiction."
Lively further asserts that he violated her privacy by "entering her makeup trailer without permission while she was undressed, including during the time she was breastfeeding their one-year-old son, Olin."
