Actress Blake Lively has filed a lawsuit against her It Ends with Us co-star Justin Baldoni, accusing him of sexual harassment during filming and organizing a “smear campaign” against her in the months following the movie’s release.
The 37-year-old Gossip Girl star stars as Lily Bloom in the adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel, which centers on an abusive relationship between Ryle Kincaid (played by Baldoni) and his partner. Lively claims that she faced a “hostile work environment” while filming and had to make several demands, including no more showing nude videos or images of women, to continue working on the project.
Lively’s complaint alleges that Baldoni and lead producer Jamey Heath engaged in “repeated sexual harassment and other disturbing behavior,” including unwanted kissing. The filing also claims that Baldoni inserted improvised gratuitous content into the film without Lively’s knowledge, causing her “severe emotional distress.”
The lawsuit is the culmination of a public rift between Lively and Baldoni, which began during the movie’s promotional tour. Fans noticed that Baldoni was absent from joint press events and had unfollowed several cast members on Instagram.
Several outlets have accused Lively of being tone-deaf and bullying, but her team has disputed these claims. Colleen Hoover, who reportedly had issues with Baldoni in the past, has come to Lively’s defense, calling her “honest, kind, supportive, and patient.”
Lively’s husband, Ryan Reynolds, also unfollowed Baldoni on Instagram, adding to the public feud. The situation has sparked a heated debate about power dynamics in Hollywood and the treatment of women in the entertainment industry.
Baldoni’s representative has dismissed Lively’s claims as “desperate attempts” to fix her reputation, which was allegedly fueled by her own comments during the campaign for the film. However, others have come to Lively’s defense, calling out Baldoni’s behavior as “false, outrageous, and salacious.”
Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/justin-baldoni-blake-lively-lawsuit-smear-campaign-b2670883.html