Blake Lively is taking her “It Ends with Us” co-star Justin Baldoni to court, filing a sexual harassment lawsuit that claims his actions caused her “severe emotional distress.” The 37-year-old actress addresses alleged incidents that reportedly occurred during the adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s best-selling novel. This lawsuit follows months of speculation about behind-the-scenes tensions, for example, Justin Baldoni’s solo promotional appearances and avoiding joint interviews with Lively fueled questions about their working relationship.
Among the issues detailed in the lawsuit, the actress alleges moments when her co-star showed nude videos and images of women, referenced his past “pornography addiction” in her presence, and openly discussed sexual conquests in front of her and others. The legal filing also mentions repeated comments about Lively’s weight and references to her deceased father, all of which contributed to what she describes as an uncomfortable work environment.
Justin Baldoni’s lawyer stated that the decision to hire PR crisis manager Melissa Nathan stemmed from “multiple demands and threats made by Ms. Lively during production.”
According to TMZ, Blake Lively’s demands included:
• no more showing nude videos or images of women to… pic.twitter.com/GZFYxzlQBd— Pop Base (@PopBase) December 21, 2024
In response, Bryan Freedman, Baldoni’s lawyer, calls the lawsuit “false, outrageous and intentionally salacious,” claiming it is intended to “fix her negative reputation.” Although no court date has been announced, this legal dispute has already cast uncertainty on a project that was once highly anticipated, leaving the future of It Ends with Us in question.
