Blake Lively sues Justin Baldoni for alleged sexual harassment on-set of it Ends With Us

The lawsuit accuses Baldoni of sexual harassment and creating a toxic work environment while filming the hit movie. Lively claims Baldoni’s actions harmed her reputation and caused emotional distress to her and her family.

Blake Lively, best known for her role in Gossip Girl, is suing Justin Baldoni, who played her love interest and also directed the movie. According to Lively’s legal documents, Baldoni’s actions went beyond inappropriate behavior and extended into what she describes as a “coordinated effort to destroy her reputation” after the movie was released.

Lively claims that Baldoni’s behavior was so damaging that it led to “severe emotional distress” for her family. She says that the drama, based on Colleen Hoover's bestselling book, became surrounded by rumors of a rift between the two stars after it hit theaters. The film, which deals with sensitive topics like domestic abuse, was meant to be a powerful story, but behind the scenes, things were far from smooth.

[Image: Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, has lashed out at Lively’s new lawsuit. Getty Images.]Lively claims that during filming, Baldoni created an uncomfortable and unsafe atmosphere. She says he showed her nude videos of other women and discussed his alleged past with pornography. Lively says these actions were part of a wider toxic environment that made filming difficult.

Things reportedly got so bad that a “crisis meeting” was called during production. In this meeting, Lively, with the support of her husband, Ryan Reynolds, set clear boundaries. They demanded that Baldoni stop making inappropriate comments about her body, including asking about her weight, and to stop making disturbing remarks about her deceased father. They also requested that no more explicit content be added to the script without Lively's consent.

According to Lively’s lawsuit, the tension between her and Baldoni wasn’t limited to personal issues. The two also clashed over the direction of the movie. Lively wanted the film’s focus to be more hopeful, while Baldoni believed the film should center on the darker aspects of abuse.

The conflict reportedly extended to the marketing of the movie. Lively and Baldoni disagreed on how the movie should be promoted. Fans began noticing that Lively and Baldoni refused to appear together for interviews or photo opportunities. This only fueled rumors of a feud.

Lively also used her power as a producer to push for changes in the movie. She worked with a new editor to create a different version of the film. It’s unclear whether this version was used in the final release, but it shows how deep the differences between the two stars ran.

Lively claims that after the movie was released, Baldoni’s team tried to destroy her public image. She alleges that Baldoni’s publicist sent messages to the studio, saying they wanted to “bury” her reputation. The legal documents also suggest that Baldoni’s team was trying to turn the public against Lively.

One of the key issues was Lively’s behavior during interviews and her response to the film’s serious themes. She was criticized for not discussing the movie’s serious subject matter enough in interviews. In one instance, Lively was labeled a “mean girl” after an uncomfortable interaction with a journalist. This negative publicity, Lively says, contributed to the damage to her image.

Justin Baldoni has strongly denied Lively’s claims. His lawyer, Bryan Freedman, called the lawsuit “false” and “outrageous.” Freedman accused Lively of filing the lawsuit in an attempt to fix her damaged reputation. He also claimed that Lively was difficult to work with during filming, even threatening to quit or refuse to promote the movie.

Freedman insists that Lively’s claims about Baldoni are unfounded and intended to hurt his client. He also said that Lively was a “nightmare” on set, but Lively’s side counters that it was Baldoni who created the hostile environment.

Despite the drama surrounding the film’s production, It Ends With Us was a box-office success. The movie, which deals with heavy themes like domestic abuse, became one of the most talked-about films of the year. However, its success came with a lot of controversy.

Critics had mixed reactions, with the movie receiving just a 57% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The public drama, including the ongoing feud between Lively and Baldoni, only added to the buzz surrounding the film. Fans on social media noticed the tension between the stars, with some even questioning the movie's promotion and the way it was marketed.

Blake Lively’s lawsuit is still ongoing, and it’s clear that the tensions between her and Justin Baldoni are far from resolved. Lively is seeking damages for the emotional and professional harm she claims to have suffered as a result of Baldoni’s alleged actions.