Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni Engage in Legal Battle Over Allegations from Film Set
Blake Lively has initiated a lawsuit in New York against Justin Baldoni and his publicity team, escalating a contentious dispute stemming from alleged sexual harassment during the production of their film, It Ends With Us. Lively’s complaint accuses Baldoni of orchestrating a scheme to undermine her reputation.
In a counter move, Baldoni has filed a lawsuit accusing a major newspaper of collusion with Lively to malign his character, claiming the publication ignored evidence contradicting her allegations. The publication stands by its reporting, asserting that it was conducted thoroughly and responsibly.
This latest legal development mirrors accusations detailed in Lively’s prior civil rights complaint filed in California last December. In her lawsuit, she seeks compensatory damages for "lost wages" and "mental pain and anguish," though she refrains from specifying a monetary figure.
Baldoni’s lawsuit targets the newspaper for libel and fraud, alleging that it misrepresented communications to damage his public image without allowing his team adequate time to respond. His claims emphasize that the publication relied on selective and misleading information.
In response to the unfolding drama, Baldoni’s attorney accused the publication of facilitating a smear campaign designed to restore Lively’s tarnished image. The actor’s lawsuit includes some of the same messages and communications cited by Lively, further intensifying the conflict.
Lively contends that a meeting with Baldoni and his team addressed her serious allegations of sexual harassment. She claims to have presented a list of 30 demands to address the alleged misconduct, aimed at ensuring a safe filming environment.
Her legal representatives allege that Baldoni and his production team devised a multi-faceted strategy to damage her reputation, utilizing social media and leveraging favorable journalists to manipulate public perception.
Baldoni’s legal team maintains that Lively’s accusations are "categorically false" and reveal a strategic effort to sabotage the film’s production unless her terms were accepted.
It Ends With Us premiered last summer, featuring Lively as a woman entangled in a relationship with an abusive partner portrayed by Baldoni. The film, adapted from Colleen Hoover’s best-selling novel, explores themes of domestic abuse that were inspired by Hoover’s personal experiences.
