Blake Lively Accuses ‘It Ends With Us’ Co-Actor & Director Justin Baldoni of Misconduct, Sparking Legal Battle

Blake Lively has taken legal action against her It Ends With Us co-star and director, Justin Baldoni, alleging sexual harassment and a deliberate attempt to tarnish her reputation. The lawsuit, obtained by TMZ, reveals details about the alleged incidents on set. In response, Baldoni's legal team dismissed the claims as “false, outrageous, and shameful,” emphasizing their belief in his innocence.

According to the lawsuit, Lively raised issues of a hostile workplace during filming, leading to a crucial meeting. The actress demanded changes, such as stopping the display of explicit content and avoiding inappropriate conversations about Baldoni’s past or other personal topics. TMZ reported additional demands, like no adding explicit scenes beyond the script Lively had initially approved.

The lawsuit states that the studio accepted Lively’s demands, but the film underperformed, partly due to disputes about its promotional direction. Lively reportedly wanted a focus on her character’s resilience, while Baldoni opted for a more serious approach to highlight the domestic violence narrative. This difference of opinion added to the tension between the two.

Lively also accused Baldoni and his team of orchestrating a campaign to damage her image. Alleged texts from Baldoni’s publicist suggested plans to “bury” her reputation. These allegations deepen the rift between the two and raise questions about their future collaboration on potential sequels.

Bryan Freedman, Baldoni’s lawyer, strongly denied the allegations, describing them as a tactic to shift blame. He stated that Lively’s demands and behavior during production strained the project, leading to a crisis management team’s involvement. Rumors of discord began months ago when Baldoni missed joint press events. With no official plans for a sequel, the strained relationship between Lively and Baldoni raises doubts about future projects.