Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni. Getty Images(2)
Blake Lively claimed she was not the only cast member to complain about Justin Baldoni’s alleged behavior on the set of It Ends With Us.
In the lawsuit, which was filed on Friday, December 20, and obtained by Us Weekly, the introduction noted that the “concerns she raised were not only for herself, but for the other female cast and crew, some of whom had also spoken up.” (The docs alleged that there was a January meeting to discuss the “hostile work environment.”)
“As result of Mr. Baldoni’s behavior, on May 29, 2023, another cast member lodged a sexual harassment complaint about Mr. Baldoni’s ‘gross’ and ‘unwanted comment[s]’ towards her and others,” the lawsuit read.
In the docs, where Lively, 37, sued Baldoni, 40, for sexual harassment, she alleged that early in the production “another actress made a complaint about Mr. Baldoni’s comments on her appearance.” (It is not clear whether it is the same cast member as the May 2023 complaint.)
Blake Lively has sued It Ends With Us costar and director Justin Baldoni for sexual harassment. According to the lawsuit obtained by TMZ and The New York Times, Baldoni’s alleged behavior caused Lively, 37, “severe emotional distress.” The lawsuit alleges that there was a meeting conducted to address Lively’s claims that there was a “hostile […]
“Mr. Baldoni expressly acknowledged her concerns in writing, stating he would ‘adjust accordingly,’” the docs read. “Yet on June 8, 2023, that actress informed Ms. Lively that ‘outside of anything in a scene, I actually cannot talk to Justin at all.’ Mr. Baldoni later expressed suspicion regarding Ms. Lively’s friendship with this actress, as if they were colluding against him.”
The lawsuit details Baldoni’s alleged on set behavior, including referring to women in the workplace as “sexy.” According to the docs, when people on set “expressed discomfort, Mr. Baldoni would deflect or try to pass it off, which undermined Ms. Lively and others’ concerns.”
“For example, on one occasion that Ms. Lively observed, he told a female cast member that her leather pants looked ‘sexy’ when she arrived to the set,” the docs read. “When she rebuffed his comment because she was uncomfortable, rather than apologizing, he brushed it off with ‘I can say that because my wife is here today.’ Ms. Lively felt embarrassed witnessing this kind of commentary, as did others.”
In one alleged situation, Lively wore a “low-cut dress to facilitate breastfeeding, but had it covered up with a coat.” (Lively seemingly welcomed her and husband Ryan Reynolds’ fourth child, son Olin, in early 2023.)
Months after a reported rift between It Ends With Us costars Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, she sued him for sexual harassment. In the lawsuit, which was filed on Friday, December 20, and obtained by Us Weekly after it was reported on by TMZ and The New York Times, Lively accused Baldoni of launching a […]
“When the jacket briefly popped open at one point to reveal the dress, Mr. Baldoni commented about how much he liked her outfit, which flustered Ms. Lively,” the docs read. “Later that day, Mr. Baldoni pressured Ms. Lively (who was in her pre-approved wardrobe) to remove her coat in front of the crew and multiple background actors in a packed bar. He said wanted to see her “onesie” under the coat because it was zipped low to reveal her lace bra.”
The docs allege that Baldoni said, “I think you look sexy,” in a “tone that made her feel ogled and exposed.”
“With other female cast present, she said, ‘That’s not what I’m going for.’ He bristled and replied, ‘I’m sorry, hot,’” the docs read. “Deeply uncomfortable, Ms. Lively said, ‘Not that either.’ Mr. Baldoni, responded sarcastically, ‘I guess I missed the HR meeting,’ and walked away.”
Afterwards, another woman on the production allegedly spoke with Lively to “offer empathy and to share her own similar experiences with Mr. Baldoni commenting about her in sexual terms.”
Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, called Lively’s accusations “completely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious” in a statement to Us. He claimed that Lively filed the lawsuit to “fix her negative reputation” and “rehash a narrative” about It Ends With Us’ production.
Freedman alleged that Lively made “multiple demands and threats” while filming the movie, including “threatening to not show up to set, threatening to not promote the film, ultimately leading to its demise during release, if her demands were not met.”
Us reached out to Lively’s rep for comment but did not immediately hear back. In a statement to The New York Times regarding her lawsuit, Lively said, “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.”
