Actress Blake Lively has filed a legal complaint accusing her director and co-star Justin Baldoni of sexual harassment during the filming of 'It Ends With Us.' The complaint, submitted to the California Civil Rights Department, alleges that Baldoni and the studio behind the movie engaged in a plan to tarnish Lively's reputation after she raised concerns about harassment on set.
Lively claims that following a meeting where she and her husband Ryan Reynolds addressed the harassment issues, Baldoni and the studio initiated a campaign to damage her public image. This alleged plan included planting negative information on online platforms, orchestrating a social media smear campaign, and generating critical news stories about Lively.
In response to these accusations, Baldoni's attorney has vehemently denied the claims, calling them false and salacious. The attorney stated that the studio had hired a crisis manager due to Lively's demands during production, which were not specified in the statement.
Lively, in her statement to the media, expressed hope that her legal action would shed light on retaliatory tactics used against individuals who speak out against misconduct. She denied any involvement in spreading negative information about Baldoni or the studio.
'It Ends With Us,' based on Colleen Hoover's novel, performed well at the box office despite the controversy surrounding its release. Baldoni, known for his work in 'Jane the Virgin' and 'Five Feet Apart,' addressed concerns about the film's portrayal of domestic violence, stating that the team was intentional in their approach.
The situation between Lively and Baldoni has brought attention to the complexities of addressing harassment and misconduct in the entertainment industry, highlighting the importance of creating safe work environments for all individuals involved in film production.
