Blake Lively has accused Justin Baldoni of sexual harassment while filming It Ends With Us. She claims that Baldoni tried to add graphic, unwanted scenes and crossed boundaries with inappropriate kissing. But Baldoni’s response? A $400 million countersuit. The battle gets more intense as the stars clash over accusations of harassment and miscommunication.
The lawsuit battle: Lively vs. Baldoni
Blake Lively filed a lawsuit against Justin Baldoni, accusing him of unwanted advances, touching, and suggesting inappropriate content for their intimate scenes. In retaliation, Baldoni countersued Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and their publicist. He alleges civil extortion and defamation, even launching a website, thelawsuitinfo.com, to share his side of the story.
Amidst the legal chaos, a set of handwritten notes from Baldoni to the film’s intimacy coordinator surfaced, adding fuel to the fire. The notes could be key to understanding what really happened on set. According to Baldoni, Lively’s accusations are not as they seem.
Intimacy coordinator drama
Blake Lively claims there was no intimacy coordinator involved until she insisted. But Baldoni’s timeline says otherwise. He hired an intimacy coordinator long before filming started. Lively declined to meet the coordinator, causing issues for Baldoni, who had to relay her notes himself.
Emails from Baldoni show that Lively didn’t meet with the intimacy coordinator until the filming began, which led to confusion about the sex scenes. Baldoni’s camp argues that any awkwardness in the scenes was due to Lively’s refusal to collaborate directly with the coordinator.
The “orgasm” scene controversy
Things get more heated when Lively accuses Baldoni of adding an “orgasm” scene. Baldoni insists that this idea came from the intimacy coordinator, not him. He claims that Lively couldn’t separate her character’s sex scenes from real life, misinterpreting the professional direction as personal.
In Baldoni’s handwritten notes, phrases like “foreplay” and “orgasm” appear, suggesting that the scenes were carefully planned. However, Lively’s response to the notes was less than enthusiastic. She allegedly quipped, “I’m too old for that,” when the idea of her character having an orgasm on screen was discussed.
The script changes and “unwanted” kissing
Fast forward to May 2023. Lively made clear demands: no “improvised” kissing, no inappropriate touching. She even set strict conditions for all intimate scenes, insisting on a coordinator present for every shot. Yet Baldoni’s complaint suggests that it was Lively who initiated kisses during filming.
In one hospital scene, Lively allegedly kissed Baldoni multiple times—something Baldoni’s camp insists was scripted. If Lively didn’t want improvisation, why did she go off-script herself?
The nudity rider controversy
When it came to nudity, Lively made her boundaries clear. She requested a nudity rider, a legal document outlining the details of any intimate scenes, before agreeing to any more filming. Baldoni’s team insists that Lively received the rider long before any nude scenes were shot.
Despite Lively’s demands for strict control, Baldoni’s camp claims everything was handled professionally, with the intimacy coordinator involved from the start. Yet Lively alleges she was put in uncomfortable positions without her consent.
Allegations of hostile set environment
In January 2024, Lively presented 30 demands to ensure a “safe” work environment on set. She wanted no more discussions of pornography addiction, her weight, or personal sex lives. One of her boldest requests? That no one show her nude videos or images of women—shockingly, even the producer’s wife was mentioned.
Baldoni’s legal team argues that Lively’s actions created a tense and hostile atmosphere. They also point out that she never mentioned these demands until later in production, causing confusion on set.
With both parties digging in their heels, the truth remains murky. Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni’s legal battle is only getting started. The case revolves around misunderstandings, communication breakdowns, and accusations of harassment. As the drama unfolds, Hollywood is watching closely.
