‘No biting or sucking lip’: Blake Lively’s explosive demands on ‘toxic’ film set

Blake Lively has leveled serious allegations against her It Ends With Us co-star and director, Justin Baldoni, accusing him of fostering a toxic workplace and engaging in sexual harassment. The 37-year-old actress filed a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department on Friday, demanding changes on set to ensure her safety and well-being.

The allegations come as production for the film resumed following delays caused by the 2023 writers’ strike. At a meeting on January 4, Lively presented 30 conditions to address what she described as a “hostile work environment.”

No More Inappropriate Content or Conversations

According to the filing, one of Lively’s key demands was the cessation of inappropriate behavior, including showing her or her employees nude videos or images of women, allegedly including photos of the producer’s wife. Lively also requested that Baldoni and producer Jamey Heath stop discussing their alleged “pornography addiction” and refrain from commenting on her “lack of pornography consumption.”

She further insisted that no one on set talk about personal sexual experiences, genitalia, or instances of non-consensual acts.

Boundaries for Workplace Interaction

Lively claimed that Baldoni and Heath would enter her trailer uninvited, sometimes while she was undressed. She demanded an end to “interrupting, pressuring, or asking” her to come out of her trailer when she was not properly dressed. Additionally, she requested an end to what she described as “multi-hour crying sessions” in her trailer with Baldoni.

Health and Personal Safety Protocols

The actress also outlined concerns about health and safety, including immediate notification if she or her infant were exposed to COVID-19 again. She requested strict adherence to SAG-compliant nudity riders for any scenes requiring nudity, with legal oversight to ensure no unauthorized footage was used.

For scenes involving sexual or violent content, Lively demanded the use of a stunt double, limiting her participation to pre-approved close-ups.

Sexual and Intimacy Scene Safeguards

Lively insisted that an intimacy coordinator be present for all scenes involving Baldoni and that no improvisation during kissing scenes occur without her consent. She also demanded pre-approved monitors for all intimacy scenes, ensuring no friends of the producer or director were involved in sensitive roles.

“No biting or sucking of lips without consent,” one demand explicitly stated.

Protection from Retaliation

The complaint also revealed Lively’s insistence on protections from retaliation or abuse as a result of her demands. She requested that Sony take a more active role in overseeing production and that an experienced producer be brought on to ensure cast safety.

Ensuring a Respectful Environment

Lively’s final stipulation was for an in-person meeting with the cast and crew before filming resumed to review the agreed-upon conditions. This step, she emphasized, was essential to protect her physical and emotional safety, as well as that of her team and others on set.

The lawsuit has cast a spotlight on the alleged toxic environment during the production of It Ends With Us, raising questions about workplace safety in the film industry. Baldoni and Heath have not publicly responded to the allegations.