Blake Lively has filed a legal complaint in California, accusing her former co-star and director Justin Baldoni of sexual harassment and orchestrating a public relations campaign to tarnish her reputation. The complaint, which was submitted to the California Civil Rights Department on Friday, claims that the production of the film It Ends with Us, which premiered in August, created a hostile work environment for Lively.
According to Lively’s complaint, tensions escalated during filming to the point where a meeting was convened to address her concerns. The meeting, which included her husband, actor Ryan Reynolds, outlined several demands, including a ban on showing nude videos or images to Lively, no discussions of Baldoni’s alleged "pornography addiction," and a cessation of comments about her weight and the mention of her late father. Lively also requested that no further sex scenes be added to the film beyond what she had initially approved.
The complaint further alleges that Baldoni and the production company, Wayfarer Studios, engaged in a coordinated "social manipulation" campaign to damage Lively’s reputation after her demands were accepted. The campaign reportedly involved planting negative theories on online message boards, launching a social media smear campaign, and circulating stories critical of Lively.
Lively’s complaint also accuses Baldoni of shifting the marketing strategy for the film to protect his own image, including focusing on domestic violence survivor content. The legal filing includes alleged text messages from Baldoni’s publicist suggesting a plan to “bury” Lively and “destroy her.”
In response to the allegations, Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, denounced Lively’s claims as “categorically false” and called them a desperate attempt to fix her public image. Freedman also accused Lively of making multiple demands during production, including threatening not to show up to set or promote the film unless her conditions were met, which allegedly contributed to the movie’s troubled release.
The publicity campaign for It Ends with Us, a film based on Colleen Hoover’s romance novel that touches on sensitive themes of domestic violence, was marred by issues, including Baldoni's absence from key promotional events. Insiders later revealed that two versions of the film had been produced, sparking rumors that Lively, a producer on the film, had brought in Reynolds to take over creative control.
Lively, in a statement to The New York Times, said she hopes her legal action will expose the tactics used to retaliate against those who speak out about misconduct and protect others from similar attacks. Baldoni, known for his role in Jane the Virgin and for directing Five Feet Apart, has yet to comment further on the lawsuit.
The controversy surrounding It Ends with Us continues to unfold as both parties prepare for what could be a lengthy legal battle.
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