American actress Blake Lively has filed a legal complaint against her It Ends With Us co-star Justin Baldoni, alleging sexual harassment and a coordinated campaign to ruin her reputation. The allegations, which surfaced recently, paint a troubling picture of a hostile work environment during the production of the film, which was released in Kenya in August by Crimson Media, and premiered at Sarit Centre.
In the romantic drama, Lively stars as Lily Bloom, a woman navigating a toxic relationship with an abusive boyfriend, played by Baldoni. The film, based on Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel, touches on themes of love, abuse, and survival. However, the legal complaint filed by Lively suggests that the behind-the-scenes dynamics were far from the empathetic environment that the film’s public image portrayed.
According to Lively’s legal team, the actress raised concerns about repeated sexual harassment and inappropriate behavior by Baldoni and a producer on the movie. These allegations were discussed in a meeting held on January 4 this year, which was attended by Lively, Baldoni, and other key figures involved in the production, including Wayfarer Studios CEO Jamey Heath. Lively brought along her husband, actor Ryan Reynolds, to address the grievances, which she described as a hostile work environment on set.
The complaint details a list of demands made by Lively to ensure a safer and more respectful working atmosphere moving forward. Among the specific requests were that Baldoni and Heath cease discussing their past struggles with pornography addiction with Lively or other crew members, and that no further inappropriate remarks about genitalia or sex scenes be added outside of the original script. Lively also demanded that Baldoni stop claiming he could communicate with her late father.
Additionally, the legal filing accuses Baldoni and the Wayfarer Studios team of engaging in a “multi-tiered plan” to undermine Lively’s public image, suggesting a deliberate attempt to retaliate against her for speaking out. Lively’s legal team argues that this was part of a larger strategy to silence her and others from addressing the alleged toxic environment during production.
In response to the allegations, Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, vehemently denied the accusations, calling them “categorically false.” He accused Lively of making numerous threats, including withholding her participation in promotional events, unless her demands were met. Freedman suggested that Lively’s actions were designed to damage the film’s release and that her claims were an attempt to generate media attention and harm Baldoni’s reputation.
Lively, for her part, denied planting or spreading negative information about Baldoni or Wayfarer Studios. In a statement through her attorneys, she emphasized that her legal action was aimed at exposing what she described as “sinister retaliatory tactics” and protecting those who may be targeted for speaking out about misconduct in the industry.
The film It Ends With Us was a commercial success, despite criticism from some quarters that it romanticized domestic violence. Lively’s performance as Lily Bloom, a woman caught in a destructive love triangle between Baldoni’s character, Ryle Kincaid, and a compassionate ex-lover, Atlas Corrigan, played by Brandon Sklenar, was widely praised. However, shortly after the film’s release, rumors of a rift between Lively and Baldoni began circulating, with Sklenar hinting at tensions in an Instagram post. The speculation grew when Lively and Baldoni were noticeably absent from the red carpet together.
In interviews, Lively spoke about the responsibility she felt towards the film’s fans and the importance of telling a story that was both emotionally complex and empowering. “Lily is a survivor and a victim,” Lively said, adding that while these labels were significant, they did not define her character’s identity. She stressed the importance of individuals defining themselves, a message that resonated deeply with those who have experienced similar struggles.
As this legal drama unfolds, the entertainment industry will undoubtedly watch closely, as Lively’s accusations bring attention to the ongoing need for safer and more respectful working conditions for actors and crew members alike.
