Blake Lively accuses 'It Ends With Us' director Justin Baldoni of harassment and smear campaign

Blake Lively, the actor and producer of the film "It Ends With Us", has accused Justin Baldoni, the director and co-star of the film, of sexually harassing him behind the scenes and trying to destroy his reputation.

According to a complaint obtained by The Associated Press and reported by The New York Times, the complaint was filed Friday with the California Department of Civil Rights and is the precursor to a lawsuit. The lawsuit names Baldoni, the film's production studio and Baldoni's public relations team as defendants.

Complaint details

Lively alleges in the lawsuit that Baldoni and the studio executed a multi-layered scheme to destroy her reputation after a meeting in which she and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, discussed "repeated sexual harassment and disturbing behavior" by Baldoni and a film producer. have left

The plan, according to Lively, included suggestions to spread theories in online forums, launch a social media campaign and spread negative news about him in the media. The complaint also states that Baldoni abruptly distanced herself from the film's promotional schedule and used content related to "domestic violence survivors" to maintain her public image.

The reaction of Baldoni's lawyer

Brian Friedman, an attorney for Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios and his representatives, called the allegations "absolutely false, offensive and aimed at public destruction." He denied Lively's claims of a coordinated campaign, stating that the studio hired a crisis manager in advance because of Ms. Lively's "numerous demands and threats during production."

He also claimed that Lively had threatened to not show up on set or promote the film if his demands were not met, although the details of those demands were not disclosed.

In a statement to the New York Times, Lively said:
"I hope my legal action can expose these sinister retaliatory tactics and protect those who speak up about misconduct. "These actions should not prevent others from speaking the truth."

Movie margins and differences

It Ends With Us, an adaptation of Colin Hoover's best-selling novel, opened in August and exceeded expectations with a $50 million opening. However, the film's release was overshadowed by rumors of a rift between Lively and Baldoni. Baldoni withdrew from the film's promotional schedule, while Lively and her husband, Reynolds, were prominently featured in the commercials.

Justin Baldoni, known for starring in Jane the Virgin and directing Five Feet Apart, previously responded to criticism of the film's romanticization of domestic violence, saying:
“If someone has real experience in this field, I can imagine how difficult it would be to portray that experience in a romance novel. For these people, I can only say that we have been very purposeful in making this film."

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