Months after a reported rift between It Ends With Us costars Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, she sued him for sexual harassment. In the lawsuit, filed on December 20, Lively accused Baldoni of launching a “social manipulation” campaign against her. Baldoni’s lawyer called the accusations false and salacious, stating that Lively filed the lawsuit to fix her negative reputation from the film’s production.
Reps for Lively stated that her legal action aimed to expose retaliatory tactics used against those who speak up about misconduct. Weeks later, Baldoni was one of 10 plaintiffs who filed a $250 million lawsuit against The New York Times after it reported on Lively’s lawsuit. The plaintiffs alleged that Lively pursued a smear campaign against Baldoni and omitted key details.
Lively’s attorneys claimed the lawsuit was based on a false premise, while Baldoni’s attorney denied any wrongdoing on his client’s part. Lively later filed a lawsuit against Baldoni in New York court, mirroring her earlier claims in California. The lawsuit includes accusations of unwanted physical intimacy, nudity in scenes, and body-shaming by Baldoni.
In the lawsuit, Lively alleged that Baldoni broke character during a scene by making inappropriate comments and gestures. She also claimed that Baldoni engaged in body-shaming and made inappropriate comments about her appearance and weight. Lively also accused Baldoni of launching a “social manipulation” campaign to destroy her reputation with a strategic smear campaign.
Lively further alleged that Baldoni and Heath failed to implement proper COVID-19 protocols on set, resulting in Lively and her infant contracting COVID. The lawsuit claims that Lively’s emotional well-being and professional life were severely impacted by the incidents on the set. Allegations of constant hugs, inappropriate behavior, and references to people as “sexy” were also included in the lawsuit.
The lawsuit alleged damages to Lively’s professional and personal life, including having to back out of hosting Saturday Night Live and canceling a corporate event for her hair care company. Lively’s businesses suffered a significant retail sales drop and negative media attention, impacting her ability to promote her brands. The lawsuit also mentioned the impact on Lively’s family, especially her husband and children, who have been emotionally affected by the situation.
