Blake Lively has taken legal action against her It Ends With Us co-star Justin Baldoni, accusing him of sexual harassment and causing “severe emotional distress.” This lawsuit follows months of speculation about the fraught production of the film, which also saw Lively facing online abuse while rumors of Baldoni’s alleged misconduct circulated widely.
In the film, Lively portrays Lily, a woman whose life becomes complicated when she starts a relationship with Baldoni’s Ryle, only for her former partner to reappear. The movie, which competed with Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool & Wolverine during its theatrical release, garnered significant attention and recently performed well on Netflix during its streaming debut.
Tensions between Lively and Baldoni had reportedly been brewing for some time, with earlier reports accusing Baldoni of being “difficult to work with” and fostering a hostile atmosphere on set. Sources close to the production hinted at deeper conflicts, and during the press tour in August, it became evident that relations between the two stars were strained.
What Does the Lawsuit Claim?
According to Lively’s legal filing, Baldoni is accused of orchestrating a campaign to damage her professional reputation. TMZ reports that Lively has outlined a series of incidents, including Baldoni allegedly sharing inappropriate content and making unwelcome comments about her weight and personal life during production.
The suit also references a meeting in which Lively demanded changes to Baldoni’s on-set behavior, which included a ban on showing explicit images, discussing his sexual experiences, and altering any intimate scenes outside the scope of the script. Although the studio complied with these requests, tensions reportedly continued to escalate.
In response, Baldoni’s legal team has dismissed the claims, accusing Lively of using the lawsuit to rehabilitate her image and labeling her behavior on set as unprofessional. They allege that her actions, including threatening to boycott filming and promotional events, contributed to the film’s challenges during its release.
A Lingering Fallout
While It Ends With Us achieved notable success, the behind-the-scenes discord now threatens to overshadow the film itself. As the legal battle unfolds, it seems this chapter of turmoil in Hollywood is far from over.
Source:MovieWeb
