Blake Lively Files Legal Complaint Against Co-Star Justin Baldoni Over Allegations of Misconduct

In a bold legal move, actress Blake Lively has accused her co-star Justin Baldoni of sexual harassment and attempting to tarnish her reputation in connection with their film "It Ends With Us." Lively claims the issues arose following a meeting to discuss a hostile work environment, which included her husband, Ryan Reynolds. Baldoni's legal team has denied the allegations, stating they are categorically false.

Blake Lively has taken legal action against her "It Ends With Us" co-star Justin Baldoni, alleging sexual harassment and what she describes as a deliberate campaign to damage her public image. The legal complaint, filed recently, accuses Baldoni and his team of launching attacks against her following an intense meeting where she confronted him about “repeated sexual harassment and other disturbing behavior,” which allegedly occurred during the filming.

The meeting took place earlier this year on January 4 and included Lively’s husband, actor Ryan Reynolds, who was not involved in the film. According to the legal filing, it was meant to address a purported “hostile work environment” on set. Baldoni, who also served as director and producer through Wayfarer Studios, refuted Lively’s claims, calling them “categorically false” and asserting that they had engaged a crisis manager following Lively's alleged threats to disrupt the film’s production.

In her complaint, Lively's legal team accuses Baldoni and Wayfarer CEO Jamey Heath of “inappropriate and unwelcome behavior” and lists 30 specific demands made during the meeting. These included requests for no further conversation about Baldoni’s and Heath's purported “pornography addiction” and certain restrictions on sexual content related to Lively’s character. Further, Lively requested that Baldoni cease making comments about communicating with her deceased father.

Lively argues that Baldoni and his production company orchestrated a “multi-tiered plan” to sabotage her reputation as retaliation for her complaints about their actions. In a public statement, Lively expressed hope that her legal action would shed light on retaliatory practices that target individuals who speak out about misconduct.

In contrast, Baldoni's attorney condemned Lively’s accusations, labeling them as "shameful" and suggesting they were strategically timed to harm Baldoni's and the film's reputation. Following the initial release of "It Ends With Us," which drew mixed reviews for its portrayal of domestic violence, rumors of a rift between the co-stars heightened when they neglected to appear together at premiere events.

Based on the best-selling novel by Colleen Hoover, "It Ends With Us" delves into complex themes of love and abuse, where Lively portrays a character entangled in a perilous love triangle. In previous statements, Lively indicated her commitment to an empathetic retelling of the story, emphasizing the film's emotional depth and its capacity to inspire discussions about survival and identity.