What are Blake Lively’s allegations against Justin Baldoni? Details explored

On Friday, December 20, 2024, Blake Lively filed a legal complaint against her It Ends with Us co-star Justin Baldoni. The New York Times reviewed a copy of the same on December 21, 2024.

Based on the 2016 bestselling novel of the same name penned by Colleen Hoover, the romantic drama film was released in the United States on August 9, 2024. Rumors of an alleged rift between Lively and Baldoni, also the director of the film, circulated as the two did not pose together during the film’s premiere.

In the legal complaint, Blake Lively has accused Baldoni of s*xual harassment in the form of unwanted kissing, exposure to p*rnography, violation of personal space, and a smear campaign against her. Baldoni’s representatives, however, have denied the charges.

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Blake Lively has accused Baldoni of s*xual harassment

As per the complaint reviewed by The New York Times, both Justin Baldoni, the co-chairman and co-founder of Wayfarer Studios, one of the film’s production companies, and Jamey Heath –Wayfarer chief executive officer allegedly engaged in "inappropriate and unwelcome behavior towards Mrs. Lively and others on the set of It Ends With Us".

As per a report published by BBC on December 22, 2024, Blake Lively and other members associated with the film held a meeting on January 4, 2024, to address the various concerns relating to the allegedly inappropriate behavior displayed by Baldoni and Heath on the set of the film.

Filed to the California Civil Rights Department, the complaint contains a list of 30 demands which Lively presented to the studio executives to ensure that the filming could be completed without hassle. Ryan Reynolds, her husband, was part of the meeting too.

As per the complaints, Justin Baldoni allegedly included s*x scenes involving himself and Blake Lively that the latter considered gratuitous. Additionally, the complaint also alleges that Baldoni would often enter Blake Lively’s trailer and violate her personal space. Baldoni allegedly entered into her trailer once when she was breastfeeding her infant child.

Further, Justin Baldoni and Jamey Heath reportedly discussed their p*rnography addiction with Blake Lively. The former allegedly talked about his s*x life with her. The actress has alleged that Baldoni once recounted to her how he did not always take consent from his partners before initiating the act.

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Lively has also alleged that Baldoni carried out a smear campaign against her

The complaint filed by Blake Lively contains chats carried out between Justin Baldoni, the various studio executives, and third-party members reportedly hired to carry out a smear campaign against Blake Lively.

In the filing, Lively has alleged that following the January meeting, Baldoni hired crisis PR specialist Melissa Nathan and her company The Agency Group. Nathan’s previous clients were Johnny Depp and Drake. The complaint carries pages of chats carried about between Nathan, her co-workers, and Baldoni. In one particular chat, Nathan allegedly writes:

"You know we can bury anyone."

Lively’s lawyers have alleged that Nathan’s team, helped by Baldoni and Wayfarer Studio executives, carried out a social media manipulation operation that hurt the public image and brand value of the actress.

Baldoni’s representatives have denied these allegations. As per BBC, Bryan Freedman, his lawyer, has said that in the January meeting, Lively made several threats, such as not showing up on set, “threatening to not promote the film,” among other things, if her demands were not met. About the complaint, Freedman said:

"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."

However, the actress told the BBC in a statement via her attorneys:

"I hope that my legal action helps pull back the curtain on these sinister retaliatory tactics to harm people who speak up about misconduct and helps protect others who may be targeted."

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