Who hosted SNL Season 50 premiere? Blake Lively accuses Justin Baldoni’s alleged smear campaign against her for missing out on opening the show

Blake Lively’s s*xual harassment lawsuit against her It Ends With Us co-star and director, Justin Baldoni continues to be under significant media attention. Reportedly, the legal complaint further attributed Lively's missed chance to host the Season 50 premiere of Saturday Night Live to Baldoni's alleged smear campaign during the promotions.

In her legal filing against Baldoni, Lively alleged that his actions allegedly smeared her name, and led to the loss of significant career opportunities—including the coveted SNL Season 50 hosting role, which was then hosted by Jean Smart, on September 28, 2024.

As per Variety's report on December 22, the legal complaint reads:

“The effects on Ms. Lively’s professional life were immediate and substantial. Given the ongoing nature of the campaign and the associated negative public sentiment, Ms. Lively did not believe she could proceed with public appearances or events without being forced to openly discuss what happened on set.”

It further stated in the complaint:

“For example, Ms. Lively cancelled a critical Target corporate event for her hair care company, and she backed out of her scheduled role to host the premiere episode of the 50th anniversary season of ‘Saturday Night Live’ in September 2024.”

For the unversed, Blake Lively filed a legal complaint against Justin Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios on Friday, December 20, 2024, claiming that “the hostile work environment that had nearly derailed production of the film.

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Blake Lively claimed that a meeting had to be called during the production of the film to address her issues

As Blake Lively filed the complaint against her co-star and director, Justin Baldoni in the California Civil Rights Department, she claimed that Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios, engaged in a “sophisticated press and digital plan in retaliation for Ms. Lively exercising her legally protected right to speak up about their misconduct on the set.”

The document also states that a meeting had to be called during the production of It Ends With Us to address the issues and concerns of the actress.

During the meeting, which was also attended by Blake’s husband, Ryan Reynolds, Blake discussed issues like limiting the intimate scenes to what was discussed between the team initially, as the actress alleged that Justin wanted to allegedly improvise the kissing and s*x scenes.

In the lawsuit, Blake Lively also alleged that there were mentions of “description of their own genitalia” and “personal, physical touching of, or s*xual comments.” As per The Wrap, Blake also alleged that she was forced to appear fully nude in front of the camera in one of the scenes of the movie.

Lively mentioned that Baldoni forced her by saying that “it was ‘not normal’ for women to remain in their hospital gowns while giving birth.” The actress also claimed that Jamey Heath showed Lively and her crew graphic videos of his wife during labor and giving birth.

However, as per Deadline's December 22 report, Justin Baldoni refuted the claims and allegations as his lawyer, Bryan Freedman said in a statement:

“It is shameful that Ms. Lively and her representatives would make such serious and categorically false accusations against Mr. Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios and its representatives, as yet another desperate attempt to ‘fix’ her negative reputation which was garnered from her own remarks and actions during the campaign for the film; interviews and press activities that were observed publicly, in real-time and unedited.”

Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni’s It Ends With Us was released in August, this year. Based on Colleen Hoover’s novel of the same name, the movie also stars Brandon Sklenar, Jenny Slate, and even Hasan Minhaj