The Hollywood drama surrounding the film “It Ends With Us” has taken a dramatic turn, with actress Blake Lively filing a lawsuit against her co-star and director, Justin Baldoni, alleging sexual harassment and a subsequent smear campaign to damage her reputation.
Lively’s lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, outlines a series of disturbing allegations, including:
- Unwanted Physical Contact: Lively claims that during filming, Baldoni “improvised physical intimacy,” including “discreetly biting and sucking on Ms. Lively’s lower lip” during multiple takes, despite her clear discomfort.
- Inappropriate Sexual Comments and Behavior: The lawsuit alleges that Baldoni made numerous inappropriate comments, including discussing his alleged porn addiction and making sexually suggestive remarks about Lively’s weight and other members of the cast and crew.
- Exploitation of Grief: A particularly disturbing allegation involves Baldoni claiming he could “speak to the dead” and informing Lively that he had spoken with her late father, Ernie Lively. This deeply personal intrusion caused significant emotional distress for Lively.
‘It Ends With Us’: Blake Lively Lawsuit Against Justin Baldoni Alleging Sexual Harassment and a Smear Campaign, Shocking New Details Emerge
Beyond the alleged on-set harassment, Lively’s lawsuit accuses Baldoni and his team of launching a coordinated smear campaign to damage her reputation. Leaked text messages between Baldoni’s publicist and a crisis management expert reveal disturbing plans to “bury” Lively and “destroy” her reputation.
The lawsuit alleges that Baldoni and his team sought to capitalize on negative press surrounding the film’s release, attempting to shift the narrative away from his alleged misconduct. This included manipulating social media narratives, attempting to discredit Lively’s professional judgment, and even suggesting that she was “difficult” to work with.
Baldoni has vehemently denied all allegations, claiming Lively’s lawsuit is a desperate attempt to “fix her negative reputation” following criticism of her promotional efforts for the film. His lawyer, Brian Freedman, stated that Lively “threatened to not show up to set [and] threatening to not promote the film” and even enlisted her own publicist to plant negative stories in the media.
The “It Ends With Us” set appears to have been a breeding ground for tension. Lively reportedly clashed with Baldoni over his creative decisions, particularly his insistence on including graphic sexual content and scenes she deemed inappropriate.
