Blake Lively has filed a legal complaint against her It Ends with Us co-star and director Justin Baldoni, accusing him of sexual harassment on set and orchestrating a malicious “smear campaign” in the months following production.
The 37-year-old Gossip Girl star, who portrays Lily Bloom in the adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel, claims Baldoni created a hostile work environment that escalated into targeted efforts to tarnish her reputation.
Legal Drama Unfolds
The complaint, filed with the California Civil Rights Department, is a precursor to a potential lawsuit and follows months of speculation about tensions between Baldoni and the cast. Legal documents obtained by The Independent and The New York Times detail alleged efforts by Baldoni and associates to “destroy” Lively through a coordinated media campaign, causing her “severe emotional distress.”
Lively alleges that Baldoni and lead producer Jamey Heath engaged in repeated harassment, including unwanted improvised kissing and inappropriate discussions about personal matters. Her demands to continue filming reportedly included banning sexual content, halting discussions of pornography addiction, and refraining from mentioning her late father.
Disturbing On-Set Allegations
According to Lively’s filing, Baldoni inserted unapproved sexual content into scenes, including for an underage character. After her concerns were addressed by Sony Pictures, she claims Baldoni retaliated by hiring a PR team to discredit her publicly. The campaign allegedly involved fabricated stories, leaked emails, and planted negative articles, resulting in substantial harm to Lively’s career and mental health.
The Smear Campaign
The complaint includes damning text messages between Baldoni, PR executive Jennifer Abel, and crisis expert Melissa Nathan. One exchange detailed their plans to “bury” Lively, with Abel allegedly stating, “I’m having reckless thoughts of wanting to plant pieces this week of how horrible Blake is to work with.”
Other messages revealed coordinated efforts to circulate damaging articles, including one headlined, “Is Blake Lively set to be CANCELLED?” The fallout reportedly led to a 78% drop in sales for Lively’s hair-care line, Blake Brown, and tarnished her public image.
Press Tour Chaos
Rumors of a rift erupted during the movie’s promotional campaign, with Baldoni noticeably absent from events alongside the cast. Fans noticed that Lively, her co-stars, and even her husband Ryan Reynolds unfollowed Baldoni on Instagram. Author Colleen Hoover also reportedly distanced herself from Baldoni after learning of Lively’s complaints, further fueling speculation.
Fallout and Industry Reactions
Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, dismissed the allegations as “false, outrageous, and intentionally salacious.” However, Lively has received public support from her sister, Robyn Lively, and Hoover, who praised her courage and integrity. The scandal has sparked widespread debate in Hollywood, with many calling for greater accountability on film sets.
The It Ends with Us controversy has left both Lively and Baldoni’s reputations hanging in the balance, as the industry braces for the next chapter in this explosive legal battle.
